Revolting Children Lyrics - Matilda

Song Overview

Song Credits

• Producer: Chris Nightingale & Tim Minchin
• Composer: Tim Minchin
• Orchestration: Chris Nightingale
• Conductor & Keyboards: Bruce O’Neil
• Recording Engineer: Rupert Coulson
• Mastering Engineer: Rupert Coulson
• Recorded At: AIR Studios, London
• Release Date: 2011-09-13
• Genre: Musicals, Pop
• Album: Matilda The Musical (Original London Cast Recording)

Song Meaning and Annotations

In Matilda the Musical, the song “Revolting Children” serves as a powerful anthem of rebellion, cleverly playing on the dual meaning of the word “revolting.” On one hand, it denotes the children's uprising against oppression; on the other, it humorously references their perceived unruliness. This linguistic twist echoes Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes, where traditional tales are subverted, much like the children in the musical subvert their own narratives.

From Suppression to Expression

Leading up to this song, Miss Trunchbull subjects the students to a spelling bee with severe consequences—missteps lead to the dreaded Chokey. In a bold act of defiance, the children intentionally misspell words, signaling the start of their collective resistance. This moment marks a shift from passive acceptance to active rebellion, as they challenge the arbitrary rules imposed upon them.

Musical Nuances and Cultural Adjustments

The song's composition reflects its rebellious spirit. While predominantly set in a steady 4/4 time, it unexpectedly shifts to a 7/8 meter, catching listeners off guard and mirroring the children's unpredictable defiance. Additionally, certain lyrics were adapted for different audiences; for instance, “vaulting” in the original Stratford and West End versions was changed to “bolting” in the Broadway production to better resonate with American viewers.

Empowerment Through Language and Action

Throughout the song, the children reclaim language as a tool of empowerment. They spell out words like “N-O-R-T-Y” (a playful take on “naughty”) and “2-L-8-4-U” (“too late for you”), asserting their autonomy and challenging the authority that seeks to suppress them. This linguistic rebellion is complemented by physical acts of defiance, such as using hockey sticks as swords and drawing on chalkboards, symbolizing their break from conformity.

Philosophical Undertones

Beneath its energetic surface, “Revolting Children” touches on deeper themes of self-determination and the questioning of imposed morals. The children's realization that they can define right and wrong for themselves aligns with postmodern ideas about the subjective nature of truth and the importance of individual agency in challenging societal norms.

In essence, “Revolting Children” is more than just a catchy tune; it's a rallying cry for empowerment, encouraging listeners to question authority and embrace their inner strength to effect change.

"We are revolting children, living in revolting times"

The wordplay in “Revolting Children” spins like a carnival ride of double meanings. On one hand, these kids are literally "revolting" – they’re rebelling against the tyrannical Miss Trunchbull, the iron-fisted headmistress whose punishments are medieval at best. On the other hand, the song cheekily reclaims the insult – to be “revolting” in her eyes is to be proudly disobedient, creatively insubordinate, gloriously unruly. This anthem erupts at a climactic moment in *Matilda the Musical*, as the students finally rise together. It’s not just about breaking rules — it’s about unshackling themselves from fear. Lines like:

“Never again will she get the best of me / Never again will she take away my freedom”

showcase a turning tide. The children aren't just fighting back — they’re finding their voice, their power, their rhythm. Musically, the song is pure Broadway rebellion — a blitz of drums, brass, and shouted chants. Composer Tim Minchin injects mischievous wordplay (S-P-L how we like!) with the kind of sly brilliance that echoes Roald Dahl’s own mischievous tone.

“If enough of us are wrong, wrong is right”

— this line dances on the edge of satire. It teases the idea that rules, when blind and brutal, deserve to be broken. There's political commentary here if you want to hear it. And there’s joy. Real, infectious joy in the way the cast yells their defiance.

The Chalk Line Revolution

As children draw "rude pictures on the board" and weaponize hockey sticks, this is less a schoolyard mutiny and more a symbolic upheaval of oppressive systems. The classroom becomes a battlefield, chalk becomes ammunition, and naughtiness becomes noble.

Similar Songs

1. "Do You Hear the People Sing?" – Les Misérables Cast
   Both tracks are musical theatre war cries. “Revolting Children” mirrors “Do You Hear the People Sing?” in its revolutionary heartbeat, though where Les Mis channels tragedy and bloodshed, Matilda’s rebellion is wrapped in satire and giddy school spirit. Yet they share the sense of group defiance and righteous noise-making.
2. "Naughty" – Matilda the Musical Original Cast
   This earlier track from the same musical foreshadows the full revolt. “Naughty” is Matilda’s personal mantra for rule-breaking, and “Revolting Children” is that ethos magnified. The former whispers rebellion, the latter shouts it with fists in the air. They form a thematic arc of individual mischief evolving into collective action.
3. "Stick It to the Man" – School of Rock Cast
   Both songs erupt with youthful insubordination and electric guitars (literally, in School of Rock’s case). Where “Revolting Children” uses choral chants and cheeky rhymes, “Stick It to the Man” brings rock'n'roll swagger. Still, the heartbeat is the same: down with authority, up with self-expression.

Questions and Answers

What does "revolting" mean in the context of the song?

It’s a pun: both “disgusting” (as seen by the Trunchbull) and “rebelling” (as the kids do proudly). The children embrace both meanings to reclaim power.

Is Matilda featured in this song?

She takes a backseat here. The focus shifts to her classmates, showing how her influence has sparked a broader revolution.

What message does this song send to young audiences?

That standing up for yourself — even if it means coloring outside the lines — can be brave, just, and necessary.

Why is this song placed near the end of the musical?

It’s the narrative climax. After slow-building oppression, the kids finally strike back. It’s their victory lap and war cry rolled into one.

How does the song use language to reflect rebellion?

From incorrect spelling (“2-L-8-4-U”) to weaponizing rhymes, the song breaks linguistic rules just as the children break institutional ones.

Fan and Media Reactions

"This song always makes me tear up – kids rising together gives me chills every time."

– @MusicalMadness

"Tim Minchin's wordplay is next-level. 'Wrong is right'? Genius."

– @TheatreNerd34

"This track is such a banger, I wish my school days had ended like this!"

– @HogwartsDropout

"I never noticed how political this was until I grew up. Wow."

– @WokeOnBroadway

"The choreography, the energy, the message – this is why Matilda is still the best musical of the 2010s."

– @DanceYourHeartOut Critics and fans alike have long hailed "Revolting Children" as the thunderclap that closes Matilda with flair. It’s not just noise — it’s nuance, wrapped in a school uniform and shouting for justice.