Sheldon Harnick - A Trip to the Library lyrics

[ILONA] I didn't know what to do or where to go And somehow, my feet started walking down the street Across the bridge, past the Metropol Cinema And do you know where? [SIPOS] No, where? [ILONA] Right into the library! [SIPOS] The library? [ILONA] Can you imagine? [SIPOS] (laughter) Well, how did you like it? [ILONA] Oh, you've never seen such a place So many books! So much marble And so quiet And suddenly all of my confidence dribbled away with a pitiful plop My head was beginning to swim and my forehead was covered with cold perspiration I started to reach for a book and my hand automatically came to a stop I don't know how long I stood frozen a victim of panic and mortification Oh, how I wanted to flee When a kindly voice, a gentle voice Whispered, "Pardon me." [SIPOS] "Pardon me?" [ILONA] Uh-huh And there was this dear, sweet Clearly respectable thickly bespectacled man Who stood by my side and quietly said to me, "Ma'am Don't mean to intrude, but I was just Wondering are you need of some help?" I said no, yes I am The next thing you know I'm sipping hot chocolate and telling my troubles to Paul Whose tender brown eyes kept sending compa**ionate looks A trip to the library Has made a new girl of me For suddenly I can see The magic of books! (laughter) I have to admit in the back of my mind I was praying he wouldn't get fresh And all of the while I was wondering why an illiterate girl should attract him Then all of a sudden he said that I couldn't go wrong with The Way of All Flesh Of course it's a novel, but I didn't know or I certainly wouldn't have smacked him! Well he gave me a smile that I couldn't resist And I knew at once how much I liked this Optometrist [SIPOS] Optometrist? [ILONA] Op-tom-e-trist You know what this dear, sweet, slightly bespectacled gentlemen said to me next? He said he could solve this problem of mine I said, "How?" He said, "If I'd like he'd willingly read to me some of his favourite things" I said "When?" He said "Now!" His novel approach seamed highly suspicious And possibly dangerous too I told myself, wait, think Dare you go up to his flat? What happens if things go wrong It's obvious he's quite strong (laughter) He read to me all night long Now how about that! It's hard to believe how truly domestic and happily hopeful I feel I picture my Paul there reading aloud as I cook As long as he's there to read There's quite a good chance, indeed A chance that I'll never need To open a book Unlike someone else Someone I dimly recall I know he'll only have eyes for me My optometrist Paul