1) Jerry Butler, Jr… Read Full Bio ↴There are multiple artists called Jerry Butler:
1) Jerry Butler, Jr. (born December 8, 1939 in Sunflower, Mississippi) is an American soul singer also known as "The Ice Man" because of his cool demeanour while singing often intensely emotional lyrics.
Butler was dubbed the "Iceman" by a Philadelphia disc jockey while performing in a Philadelphia theater. However, Butler achieved what eluded many earlier Doo Wop groups during the 1950s and 1960s — longevity. Butler’s solo career had a string of hits, including "He Will Break Your Heart," "Moon River," "Make It Easy On Yourself," "Let It Be Me" (the Everly Brothers classic re-done as a duet with Betty Everett), "Brand New Me," "Ain’t Understanding Mellow," (duet with Brenda Lee Eager), and "Never Gonna Give You Up," followed by two hugely successful albums The Iceman Cometh in 1968 and Ice On Ice in 1970. The Iceman Cometh garnered Butler three Grammy nominations. Jerry Butler further made recordings for Philadelphia International Records in the 80's. His most noted song for the label was "Cooling Out"
I Could Write A Book
Jerry Butler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I never learned to spell
At least not well.
1-2-3-4-5-6-7
I never learned to count
A great amount.
To use what learning I've got.
I won't waste any time,
I'll strike while the iron is hot.
If they asked me, I could write a book
About the way you walk and whisper and look.
I could write a preface on how we met
So the world would never forget.
And the simple secret of the plot
Is just to tell them that I love you a lot.
Then the world discovers as my book ends
How to make two lovers a friend.
Use to hate to go to school
I never cracked a book;
I played the hook.
Never answered any mail;
To write I used to think was wasting ink.
It was never my endeavor
To be too clever and smart.
Now I suddenly feel
A longing to write in my heart.
If they asked me, I could write a book
About the way you walk and whisper and look.
I could write a preface on how we met
So the world would never forget.
And the simple secret of the plot
Is just to tell them that I love you a lot.
Then the world discovers as my book ends
How to make two lovers a friend.
In the opening lines of Jerry Butler's 'I Could Write A Book,' he notes that he never learned how to spell or count properly. Despite this apparent handicap, the singer suggests that he possesses an active mind burning with the desire to utilize his limited learning. Butler then speaks about how he won't waste time and instead strike while the iron is hot. The second verse shows the singer's lack of enthusiasm for formal education and how he thought writing was a waste of time. However, he now has a sudden longing in his heart to write a book, particularly about his lover. He explains how he could write about the way she walks, whispers and looks while also detailing how they met, so the world would never forget about their love.
In the chorus, Jerry Butler suggests that telling the simple secret of the plot, which is just to say "I love you a lot," is enough to make two lovers into friends, and the world discovers it as the book ends. The song speaks to the power of love, how it can inspire and ignite an individual's passions, even when they lack certain skills seemingly necessary for their pursuits. Butler's lyrics convey that anyone can write a book but writing about something they deeply love may be more effective.
Line by Line Meaning
A-B-C-D-E-G
I never learned to spell, at least not well.
1-2-3-4-5-6-7
I never learned to count a great amount.
But my busy mind is burning
My mind is always active and eager to use any knowledge I have.
To use what learning I've got.
To utilize whatever knowledge I possess.
I won't waste any time,
I'll make the most of the present opportunities.
I'll strike while the iron is hot.
I'll act quickly while the chance lasts.
If they asked me, I could write a book
I have so much to say about you that I could write a book.
About the way you walk and whisper and look.
I could describe in detail the way you move and speak, and the expression in your eyes.
I could write a preface on how we met
I could share with the world the story of how we came to be together.
So the world would never forget.
So that our story would be remembered forever by everyone who reads it.
And the simple secret of the plot
The main point of my book is easy to understand.
Is just to tell them that I love you a lot.
The core of my book is simply that I love you deeply.
Then the world discovers as my book ends
When the story is complete, everyone will know.
How to make two lovers a friend.
How we went from being lovers to caring friends will be revealed, and readers can learn from our experience.
Use to hate to go to school
I used to dislike going to school.
I never cracked a book;
I never actually opened a book to learn anything.
I played the hook.
I routinely skipped class.
Never answered any mail;
I was terrible at responding to letters.
To write I used to think was wasting ink.
I previously considered writing to be a waste of ink and effort.
It was never my endeavor
My goal was never to be too clever or smart.
To be too clever and smart.
I never wanted to seem like I was trying too hard to be smart or clever.
Now I suddenly feel
Now I experience an abrupt change of heart.
A longing to write in my heart.
I feel a strong desire to write in my heart.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: LORENZ HART, RICHARD RODGERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dwayne & Teen
on Ain't Understanding Mellow
This song is so meaningful and the Lyrics are always on point.!