I’d Rather Read a Book

[Chorus]
Well, I'd rather read a book
You know I never tire
Of the feel and the look
Of a loved and treasured book
It's all that I desire
And if I have a dream
To which I could aspire
It's just for a little nook
Where I can read a book
Alone and by the fire

[Verse 1]
"Here, Johnson
Ya swot
What's the matter with us today?
Always got your head buried in a book you have, ain't ya?
Come on lads, let's get him, heh-heh-heh
He has me fee
Here's his book and his glasses
Throw 'em in the pond
Let's see you read now, Johnson, eh?
Ya swot"

[Chorus]
'Cause I'd rather read a book
You know I never tire
Of the feel and the look
Of a loved and treasured book
It's all that I desire
And if I have a dream
To which I could aspire
It's just for a little nook
Where I can read a book
Alone and by the fire

[Verse 2]
"Now look, son
You know I want you to get on and like study hard
But not all the time, eh?
It ain't natural
You wanna get out more
Go a disco
Go to the pictures
Chat up a bird
Sow a few wild oats
Have a bit of fling
You know what I mean?
Don't you"?

[Chorus]
Well, I'd rather read a book
You know I never tire
Of the feel and the look
Of a loved and treasured book
It's all that I desire
And if I have a dream
To which I could aspire
It's just for a little nook
Where I can read a book
Alone and by the fire

[Verse 3]
"Mr. Johnson
You're just not one for the corporate image, are you?
I mean, you're
Not one of the lads
We never seem to see you down the wine bar lunchtimes
And I'm sure I'd never heard you tell even a slightly risqué joke
Don't you think you ought to give your mind a little more to just Mixing in"?

[Chorus]
Well, I'd rather read a book
You know I never tire
Of the feel and the look
Of a loved and treasured book
It's all that I desire
And if I have a dream
To which I could aspire
It's just for a little nook
Where I can read a book
Alone and by the fire

[Verse 4]
Excuse me, miss
Do you have this book in stock, please?
You do? Good
You've read it have you?
Yes, well, I hoped it would be
I wonder if
When I've read it we could meet somewhere
Have a cup of coffee and discuss it?
We could?
Good

[Verse 5]
"Dear, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson
We have everything you need at our wonderful new super store
We have TVs and videos galore
We have hardware, software, underwear
And everywhere you go
You get a chance to enter our wonderful free competition
A holiday for two in Disneyland, the U. S. of A
We have everything you need
For the bedroom, the bathroom, the kitchen, the diner
Spend your money with us
There's nowhere finer
You won't regret it"

[Chorus]
Well, we'd rather read a book
You know we never tire
Of the feel and the look
Of a loved and treasured book
It's all that we desire
And now we found a dream
To which we could aspire
Yes, we found a little nook
Where we can read our book
Together by the fire

[Outro]
Yes, we found a little nook
Where we can read our book
Together by the fire