Walk across the courtyard, towards the library
I can hear the insects buzz and the leaves 'neath my feet

Ramble up the stairwell, into the hall of books
Since we got the interweb these hardly get used

Duck into the men's room, combing through my hair
When god gave us mirrors he had no idea

Looking for a lesson in the periodicals
There I spy you listening to the AM radio

Karen of the carpenters, singing in the rain
Another lovely victim of the mirror's evil way

It's not like you're not trying, with a pencil in your hair
To defy the beauty the good lord put in there

Simple little bookworm, buried underneath
Is the sexiest librarian
Take off those glasses and let down your hair for me

So I watch you thru the bookcase, imagining a scene
You and I at dinner, spending time, then to sleep

And what then would I say to you, lying there in bed?
These words, with a kiss, I would plant in your head

"What is it inside our heads that makes us do the opposite?
Makes us do the opposite of what's right for us?
Cause everything'd be great, and everything'd be good
If everybody gave like everybody could"

Sweetest little bookworm
Hidden underneath
Is the sexiest librarian
Take off those glasses and let down your hair for me
Take off those glasses and let down your hair for me

Simple little beauty, heaven in your breath
The simplest of pleasures, the world at it's best


Lyrics submitted by bkendrick, edited by coubob

Librarian Lyrics as written by James Edward Olliges Jr.

Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Librarian song meanings
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18 Comments

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  • +6
    General Comment

    The mirror is a good/bad thing. The librarian doesn't realize that she is beautiful and sexy. The mirror has not corrupted her. If you ask most guys they will tell you that this is the type of girl they find to be the sexiest. The type that isn't corrupted by her looks in any form or fashion. She is just naturally beautiful.

    Also, this song is basically pure poetry. He describes an entire love scene, yet never truly describes the librarian. The listener can practically walk with the singer and see and feel what he does. The scene is painted perfectly for you in your mind's eye. Yet the librarian is left up to the listener. She has the stereotypical glasses and pencil in hair hair, but what the girl looks like... totally up to the listener. It allows you put fall in love with your own librarian. Then the song goes deeper by explaining that its not about the beauty she has outwardly, but her entire beauty.

    Pure poetry... its amazing.

    Comebakatzon June 17, 2008   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Plus Karen Carpenter was anorexic, so she was definitely obsessed with her appearance and looking good, and it eventually killed her.

    frey78on June 16, 2008   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Right on about the appearance thing regarding the "mirrors" line. Jim is saying that the mirror couldn't show him the beauty he sees in the libriarian.

    Great descriptiveness...this song stood out on the album right away and I remember actually envisioning walking to the library, with the "buzz on the leaves 'neath my feet". ((GOOSEBUMPS))

    Painbirdon July 17, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    hooooooly shit this is one of the best songs I've heard in years. This band is incredible

    19Stranger99on June 11, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think it's obviously about him seeing a librarian and thinking about what they could do together, but I would love some suggestions on what he means about the mirrors.

    scottypon June 12, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I'm in love with the librarian.

    BCKnighton November 19, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    i always thought the line was, "'cause everything'd be great, and everything'd be good, IF everybody gave like everybody could." doesn't that make more sense?

    readingkerouacon December 08, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    the best song of the new album for sure

    cherrycoceon June 13, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is amazing.. His voice sounds so good with the acoustic guitar and strings..

    louisruben88on June 21, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Great song, beautiful recording....but the best part is the fact that he says "interweb!"

    Ok, maybe that's not the BEST part, but it's hilarious and awesome.

    z4ckm0rrison October 27, 2008   Link

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