"English Teacher" is a song, at it's core, about how we change as we get older.
The song looks back at how we see things differently when we are grown-ups compared to when we were at school. The verses remember how we judged our teachers in school. They talk about a dislike for English teachers, making fun of drama teachers, and even mentioning RE teachers.
The chorus then changes the mood. The adult in the song wishes they had been kinder and understood their teachers better. It shows how we grow to appreciate others and learn to be more understanding and accepting of people who are different from us.
Listen to "English Teacher" Here:
Summary Piano Song
The B-side to "English Teacher" is a song called "Summary Piano Song," which is a mix of indie rock and pop with a beautiful piano sound. The title hints at both the song's warm feeling and its theme of looking back on a life lived.
The song is told from the point of view of an older woman looking back on her life. She thinks about her love for reading and how she's good at telling stories that can make people feel things. She wants to share stories from her life and family history, all the things she never did, like traveling the world or owning a fancy car, and a life without any regrets. She believes her life is still full of possibilities where a smile means she wants another ten years of life.
