The Book Of Love

Album: Scratch My Back (2010)
Play Video
  • The book of love is long and boring
    No one can lift the damn thing
    It's full of charts and facts and figures
    And instructions for dancing

    But I
    I love it when you read to me
    And you
    You can read me anything

    The book of love has music in it
    In fact that's where music comes from
    Some of it is just transcendental
    Some of it is just really dumb

    But I
    I love it when you sing to me
    And you
    You can sing me anything

    The book of love is long and boring
    And written very long ago
    It's full of flowers and heart-shaped boxes
    And things we're all too young to know

    But I
    I love it when you give me things
    And you
    You ought to give me wedding rings

    And I
    I love it when you give me things
    And you
    You ought to give me wedding rings
    You ought to give me wedding rings Writer/s: Stephin Raymond Merritt
    Publisher: Rough Trade Publishing
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 8

  • Mary Brockman from AnonI like to imagine this is God speaking through Jesus, on the Mount. Giving " Wedding Rings"...advise on healing to the The Children of the Beatitudes...don't know what he artist had in mind...
  • Chris BergmanMy son and his husband used this beautiful song for their first wedding dance this past weekend. It was a perfect choice and the dance brought tears to my eyes.
  • Teresa from Cleveland, OhioJust heard this song and I fell in love with it. I have been a fan of Peter for 35 years and this may be my new favorite.
  • Stan from Illinois The first time I heard it on Shall.we Dance it gripped me so that I was brought to tears. Even now as the opening melody goes through my head my eyes start to water. Such a beautiful song that was played in my wedding.
  • Ellie from London, United KingdomI first hear this song when I was 11 or 12 from the film "Shall We Dance?" and I've been in love with this song ever since, especially Peter Gabriel's version. This song just sends me into my inner thoughts where I think about love and the people in my life and when I reach my happy thoughts while listening to this song I tear up every time
  • Maicod from NetherlandsI didn't know this was not an original song of Gavin James but by Peter Gabriel. I came here because I was curious if the song title and lyrics could also be read as describing the Bible.
  • John from Aberdeen, United KingdomFeatured on last episode of fab US TV series Scrubs
  • Adam from Lehman, Pabest love song ever, love peter gabriel on this song
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Prince

PrinceFact or Fiction

Prince is shrouded in mystery, making him an excellent candidate for Fact or Fiction. Is he really a Scientologist? Does he own an exotic animal?

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.

Van Dyke Parks

Van Dyke ParksSongwriter Interviews

U2, Carly Simon, Joanna Newsom, Brian Wilson and Fiona Apple have all gone to Van Dyke Parks to make their songs exceptional.

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside Story

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside StorySong Writing

The in-depth discussion about the making of Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neeley, who played Jesus in the 1973 film.

Amy Grant

Amy GrantSongwriter Interviews

The top Contemporary Christian artist of all time on song inspirations and what she learned from Johnny Carson.

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New York

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New YorkSong Writing

Can you be married in one country but not another? Only if you're part of a gay couple. One of the first famous singers to come out as a lesbian, Janis wrote a song about it.