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 all alone
You came to dance, but there's no poignancy
When they all leave you standing alone

The wider issues of the day
Don't interest you, you'll have to 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 know 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



Lyrics submitted by michaelbondy

Track duration: 06:25


Put the Book Back on the Shelf song meanings
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11 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:Pardon, it should be *one* book, not a series.
    Flag Prolaguson October 26, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:"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).
    Flag Prolaguson October 26, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:What does Belle & Sebastian mean??
    Flag DanI SantIon October 22, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment: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..."
    Flag Prolaguson October 16, 2009   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation: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"?
    Flag Prolaguson September 21, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:haha...and here i thought they were singing about bosnian children...

    "belle went to bosnia, on the radio, singing songs for children..."
    Flag tschopzillaon December 29, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:lovely. i love when he sings "standing alone"
    Flag ohkkkayon July 05, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:Belle & Sebastian write the greatest songs about alienation and loneliness
    Flag sinksinkon February 26, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment: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
    Flag mopo976on January 31, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:plus gorgeous cello and violin, and AMAZING lyrics that define the feeling of being lost in society. truly terrific.

    are YOU happy with yourself?
    Flag TearsforAffairson October 11, 2006   Link

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