Lyr Req: The Day I Read a Book (Jimmy Durante)

Subject: Lyr Req: The Day I Read A Book
From: Mrrzy
Date: 18 Nov 03 - 09:20 AM

Heard this on NPR, anybody have it it, I've looked? The only lines I remember are It wasn't a history, because it hadn't any plot, it wasn't a mystery, because nobody got shot... seemed to be about a guy who had read one book one day a while ago and was trying to remember what it was about.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Day I Read A Book
From: Sorcha
Date: 18 Nov 03 - 10:00 AM

I didn't find lyrics, but you can order the CD here.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Day I Read A Book
From: EBarnacle
Date: 19 Nov 03 - 01:09 AM

The piece is performed by Jimmy Durante. Try using that as a search parameter.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Day I Read A Book
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Nov 03 - 03:57 AM

The song is used on Daniel Pinkwater's book reviews on National Public Radio. Click here to see what Pinkwater says about Durante's song - but he doesn't give lyrics.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Day I Read A Book - Durante
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 20 Nov 03 - 10:20 AM

Here's an excerpt, pieced together from a sound sample found at Barnes & Noble and a couple of quotes from this page.

(I'LL NEVER FORGET) THE DAY I READ A BOOK
(Jimmy Durante and Jackie Barnett)

There's one day that I recall, though it was years ago.
All my life I will remember it, I know.
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 nothin' like sittin' home...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Day I Read A Book - Durante
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 24 May 04 - 08:53 AM

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....

Subject: Lyr Add: THE DAY I READ A BOOK (Durante/Barnett)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 02:14 PM

(I'LL NEVER FORGET) THE DAY I READ A BOOK
Written by Jimmy Durante and Jackie Barnett
As sung by Jimmy Durante on "Jimmy Durante and Friends" (2011)

Ahh! I can tell this isn't Durante's day, but folks, I've had my moments. Yes, I've had my moments.

When I look back t'rough life I find
Lots o' memories remain.
Certain days stay in my mind
And keep runnin' t'rough my brain.
I remember the day that Ederle swam the channel. What a splash!
I remember the Wall-Street crash,
Or when Winchell first shouted "Flash!"
But there's one day that I recall, though it was years ago.
All my life I will remember it, I know.

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 o' 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!

Why, if you walk into my house you'll see loads o' books, and believe me, they're not there just for appearances. I press an awful lot o' butterflies!

I know readin' is relaxin'. What did Napoleon do for relaxation? He read a book! What did Lincoln do for relaxation? He read a book! What does Congress do for relaxation? They book a red!

You know, I'm familiar with all the best-sellers. There's the Encyclopedia Britannia [sic], Forever Umbriago,*¹ and a new piece o' significant lit'rature which says: "Atka dritka batka setka ingallopfa alla mali shui."*² How do you like that? I been readin' the life story o' Mumbles!*³

But I love good readin'. Why last week I spent two solid days in the libr'y. Much to my regret, I buried my nose in a book, and what happened? I forgot which book I buried it in! A catastra-stroke!

It wasn't a history.
I know, because it had no plot.
It wasn't a mystery,
Because nobody there got shot.
One day I read a book; I can't remember when,
But one o' these days I'm gonna do it again, yes, sir.
One o' these days I'm gonna do it again.

---
*1 Umbriago was a fictional character that Durante wrote and sang about in a song by that name in 1944. Forever Umbriago might be an allusion to Forever Amber, a popular and somewhat scandalous novel from 1944.

*2 I have rendered this phonetically. I have no idea what it means, if anything. It sounds vaguely Latin or Italian.

*3 I have found a Mumbles who was a character in a Dick Tracy cartoon, but I'm not sure that's what Durante had in mind.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Day I Read A Book - Durante
From: Bettynh
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 06:20 PM

Another version, on youtube

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Day I Read A Book - Durante
From: Bettynh
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 06:29 PM

This is the source of Umbriago, I think

Gertrude Ederle was the first woman to swim across the English Channel