A Brand New Book
Composer(s): Graham Parker
Performer(s): Graham Parker



I once read the story
of somebody's life 
I had a few moments to spare 
He was a good man
who lived with his wife 
With the usual kids in his hair 
There was happiness a lot of weirdness 
And a sprinkle of tragedy 
I pulled it by chance from a second-hand bin 
But it could've been written just for me

Because the words came out, not twist and shout 
'Cause that's not what a grown man writes about 
That chapter's over, let it blow over 
I found that I've become the owner 
Of a brand new book
A brand new book (then)

I've travelled far and I've travelled wide 
And I guess I'll be travelling on
Fill another suitcase up with possessions 
And put on a Badfinger song 
I've got much more than most people have 
And a little less than a few 
But you can't measure these things by weight 
They either drag you down or they lift you

Because the words came out, not twist and shout 
'Cause that's not what a grown man writes about 
That chapter's over, let it blow over 
I found that I've become the owner 
Of a brand new book
A brand new book (then)

I don't read between the lines 
I'm not ready for what I'll find 
I don't believe that love is blind 
It just can't see straight, it just can't see straight oh yeah
Read all about it, read all about it yeah
A brand new book (twice)

I read that book for an hour or two 
And then I looked up at the night sky 
I saw the Big Dipper and then the Big Bopper 
And I realised how much time had gone by 
Every page had something to say 
But one thing that struck me as true 
The clock just keeps ticking as if you're not there 
Man it either drags you down or it lifts you 

Because the words came out, not twist and shout 
'Cause that's not what a grown man writes about 
That chapter's over, let it blow over 
I found that I've become the owner 
Of a brand new book
A brand new book (then)