The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #64555 Message #1192642
Posted By: Jim Dixon
24-May-04 - 08:53 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: The Day I Read a Book (Jimmy Durante)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Day I Read A Book - Durante
Thanks to Lin in Kansas, who found another recording by Bill Schontz on his album "The Day I Read A Book," which seems to be a kids' album meant to promote reading. Obviously, he has tinkered with the lyrics a bit. He does a good imitation of Durante starting with the chorus.
Lyrics transcribed from a 2-minute sound sample at CD Baby:
VERSE: When I look back through life, I find Lots of memories remain. Certain days stay in my mind And keep running through my brain. I remember the day that Armstrong took a walk upon the moon. I remember Jimmy Durante when he first sang this old tune. Hot-cha-cha-cha! I remember it like yesterday though it was years ago. I still can hear him singin' it I know. What a voice!
CHORUS: I'll never forget the day I read a book. It was contagious, Seventy pages. There were pictures here and there, So it wasn't hard to bear, The day I read a book. It's a shame I don't recall the name of the book. It wasn't a history. I know because it had no plot. It wasn't a mystery, because nobody there got shot. The day I read a book--I can't remember when, But one o' these days, I'm gonna do it again.
SPOKEN: Ah, lit'rature! There's nothing like sitting home nights at the fireplace with a blanket, a dog, and a good book at your feet. But if you walk into my house, you'll see loads o' books, and believe me, they're not there just for appearance. I press an awful lot of flowers. My literary appetitus is stupendious. They don't write 'em quick enough for me. The book of the month didn't come out fast enough, so I read the....