[G] And she [D] said, "Do you [Em] know the [C] weight..." (Repeat and fade)
Though she'd never been kissed It's not something she'd missed Until some weeks before; When George, a rotarian, Handsome lotharian, Walked through the library door.
In the vast landscape of folk and acoustic rock storytelling, few characters are as vividly painted as "Joyce the Librarian." Known for its driving rhythm and narrative lyrical structure, this song is a favorite for acoustic guitar players. However, many online chord sheets are riddled with errors, missing the specific chord changes that give the song its energy.
[G] And she [D] said, "Do you [Em] know the [C] weight [G] Of the [D] words that you [C] read?" [G] And I [D] said, "I [Em] don't [C] know [G] I pre[D]fer the world to the [C] page" joyce the librarian lyrics and chords fixed
Verse: G - Em - C - D Chorus: C - G - Am - D Bridge: Am - F - G - C
B C#m A Oh, Joyce, what E B A B Behind those stacks and heavy doors? E B C#m A Is there a story that you haven't told? E B A B E Before the pages turn and you grow old?
And when George joined the queue She knew just what to do, She smiled and removed her specs . . Then looked in horror 'Cause he'd come to borrow " The Further Joy of Sex". [G] And she [D] said, "Do you [Em] know the [C] weight
Oh, [C] Joyce the librarian, [G] keeping up the quiet[D] Living in a world of books, a [G] solitary riot[C] Shushing all the noisy kids, [G] filing up the [Em] shelves[Am] We were reading chapters we could [D] never read ourselves [G]
Increase the volume slightly ("shouting" the chorus) to emphasize the chaos.
The lyrics are the heart of the song. Over the years, many versions have appeared online with small errors or omissions. Below is the complete, corrected lyric from the original performance, presented in its full, unaltered glory. [G] And she [D] said, "Do you [Em]
Before diving into the chords, it is important to understand the song's narrative. It tells the story of Joyce, a strict, forty-something, sandal-wearing, vegetarian librarian living with her mum. Her quiet life is turned upside down when George, a "handsome Lotharian" and Rotarian, enters the library.
C G Joyce the Librarian Em D She knows where it's at C G Joyce the Librarian Am D G She'll find the book you never knew you had