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Put the Book Back on the Shelf Lyrics
Sebastian you're in a mess
You had a dream, they called you king
Of all the hipsters, is it true?
Or are you still the queen?
Like getting blood out of a stone
The city left you lost and gone
You came to dance, but there's no poignancy
When they all leave you standing alone
The wider issues of the day
Just pass you by, you're gonna pay
For looking at the floor
When people talk to you
You wrote a book about yourself
The people left it on the shelf
You'll write another one
Now you've got a story that's worth talking about
Are you happy with yourself?
Are you talking to yourself?
Are you happy with yourself?
Put the book back on the shelf
I've seen the company you keep
You're on the sofa hidden deep
While on the telly Sid James speaks
To you like God
You're always looking for a sign
But boy, you blow it every time
You hear a voice begin to speak
You ignore it and go softly to sleep
Softly to sleep
Softly to sleep
Are you happy with yourself?
Are you happy with yourself?
Are you happy with yourself?
Are you happy with yourself?
Put the book back on the shelf
Put the book back on the shelf
Put the book back on the shelf
Put the book back on the shelf
Belle and Sebastian
On the radio
Playing songs for children
Belle and Sebastian
On the radio
Playing songs to learn and sing
Belle and Sebastian
On the radio
Playing songs for children
Belle and Sebastian
On the radio
Playing songs to learn and sing
Belle and Sebastian
On the radio
And we're really sorry for all the trouble we've caused
And all the trouble we've caused
Belle and Sebastian
On the radio
Playing songs for children
Playing songs for children
Playing songs for children
You had a dream, they called you king
Of all the hipsters, is it true?
Or are you still the queen?
The city left you lost and gone
You came to dance, but there's no poignancy
When they all leave you standing alone
Just pass you by, you're gonna pay
For looking at the floor
When people talk to you
The people left it on the shelf
You'll write another one
Now you've got a story that's worth talking about
Are you talking to yourself?
Are you happy with yourself?
Put the book back on the shelf
You're on the sofa hidden deep
While on the telly Sid James speaks
To you like God
But boy, you blow it every time
You hear a voice begin to speak
You ignore it and go softly to sleep
Softly to sleep
Softly to sleep
Are you happy with yourself?
Are you happy with yourself?
Are you happy with yourself?
Put the book back on the shelf
Put the book back on the shelf
Put the book back on the shelf
On the radio
Playing songs for children
On the radio
Playing songs to learn and sing
On the radio
Playing songs for children
On the radio
Playing songs to learn and sing
On the radio
And we're really sorry for all the trouble we've caused
And all the trouble we've caused
On the radio
Playing songs for children
Playing songs for children
Playing songs for children
Song Info
Submitted by
michaelbondy On Jan 10, 2005
More Belle & Sebastian
Piazza, New York Catcher
Funny Little Frog
Get Me Away from Here, I'm Dying
Seeing Other People
If She Wants Me
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
belle and sebastian on the radio playing songs for children belle an sebastian on the radio playing songs to learn and sing belle and sebastian... on the radio playing songs for children belle an sebastian on the radio playing songs to learn and sing
belle and sebastian on the radio and we're really sorry for all the trouble we've caused and all the trouble we've caused...
belle and sebastian on the radio playing songs for children playing songs for children playing songs for children
Belle & Sebastian write the greatest songs about alienation and loneliness
Scold. Scold, scold, scold. Bad reviewers, you've skipped one of the best B & S songs.
Soft strumming guitar, a little piano, and the best trumpet solo they've ever written.
plus gorgeous cello and violin, and AMAZING lyrics that define the feeling of being lost in society. truly terrific.
are YOU happy with yourself?
lovely. i love when he sings "standing alone"
haha...and here i thought they were singing about bosnian children...
"belle went to bosnia, on the radio, singing songs for children..."
Why does Stuart always refer to a book that someone (himself) wrote? Is it possible that he actually wrote a book titled "The state (that) I am in"?
Two corrections to the lyrics:
"Like getting blood out of a stone The city left you lost and gone..."
"The wider issues of the day Just pass you by, you're gonna pay..."
What does Belle & Sebastian mean??
"Belle ét Sebastien" is a series of books by Cécile Aubry (more if you look it up on Wikipedia). They had the permission to use that name from Aubry herself (you can read it on the back cover of their first albums).