Lyric discussion by nickolay 

Cover art for The Booklovers lyrics by Divine Comedy, The

"Happy the man" verse is inspired by John Dryden's English translation of one of Horace's odes (Imitation of Horace, book III, ode 29, vv. 65-72).

The Dryden's original text is also quoted in "Ode to the Man", the last mini-track of the album:

Happy the man, and happy he alone He, who can call today his own He who, secure within, can say Tomorrow do thy worst, for I have lived today

Song Fact