How do you thank someone who has taken you from crayons to perfume?

Lulu’s “To Sir With Love” is one of the best soundtrack songs. The song manages to capture what is great about the movie in only a couple verses. The lyrics and the melody are incredible. The title of the movie is in the song! With a title like “To Sir With Love”, that is hard to pull off.

There are so many classic lines that describe a young woman’s love/admiration for her male teacher (like the above). Think of all the less poetic ways someone might try to express that in a song. There are so many ways to screw that up but Black & London nail every line.

Both the Lulu original version and the 10,000 Maniacs version with Natalie Merchant singing lead and featuring Michael Stipe from REM is really good. I suspect if you like one, you’ll like the other. Lulu enunciates better but I think Merchant has a better voice. Great movie too.

To Sir With Love Lyrics

Those schoolgirl days of telling tales and biting nails are gone.
But in my mind, I know they will still live on and on.
But how do you thank someone who has taken you from crayons to perfume?
It isn’t easy, but I’ll try.

If you wanted the sky I would write across the sky in letters
That would soar a thousand feet high ‘To Sir, With Love’.

The time has come for closing books and long last looks must end.
And as I leave, I know that I am leaving my best friend.
A friend who taught me right from wrong, and weak from strong;
That’s a lot to learn, but what can I give you in return?

If you wanted the moon I would try to make a start,
But I would rather you let me give my heart ‘To Sir, With Love’

Songwriters: Don Black / Mark London