DDPro's Website > Tom Paxton Chords > Who's Been Checking Out Dirty Books?
See also: When the Big Bad Books Go 'Boo!'
C Who's been checking out dirty books? F C Who's been looking them dirty looks? C Who's been checking out dirty books G7 From the public library? C Sneaking out smut right off of the shelf, F C About Snow White and the Seven Elves. C I hope they're all ashamed of themselves; G7 C If they're not, they ought to be. F Didn't I warn you, didn't I say, C "Chickens come home to roost some day"? F That's what you get when you pay no heed G C And the schools keep teaching them kids to read.
Open up a library, what do you get?
Romeo and Juliet.
Surely be some folks regret
The day the library came.
Yes, that's how low a town can sink;
They'll come like thirsty souls to drink.
Next thing, folks'll start to think
I've read that day of shame.
Oh, didn't I warn you, didn't I say,
"Chickens come home to roost some day"?
That's what you get when you pay no heed
And the schools keep teaching them kids to read.
One picture in my mind I'll say
Of Andrew Carnegie spinning in his grave -
Sorry for all the money he gave
To build that library.
God knows what things are coming to;
What lurid things young folks will do
With The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew
Available for free.
Oh, didn't I warn you, didn't I say,
"Chickens come home to roost some day"?
That's what you get when you pay no heed
And the schools keep teaching them kids to read.
Now kids are checking out ABCs,
With pictures bright and clear as you please.
They're way beyond the birds and the bees,
To way things actually are.
There's nothing wrong with fear and doubt
And never knowing what it's all about.
I didn't - and look how I turned out;
I say they've gone too far.
Oh, didn't I warn you, didn't I say,
"Chickens come home to roost some day"?
That's what you get when you pay no heed
And the schools keep teaching them kids to read.
(Words and music by Tom Paxton, 1981)
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