You can't judge a book
Rick Springfield Lyrics


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You Can't Judge a Book by looking at the cover
No, you can't judge a man by looking at the cover
And You Can't Judge a Book by looking at the cover

When I was young and went to school
My mama taught me the magic rule
And what she said I tried my best to follow
She said

You Can't Judge a Book by looking at the cover
No, you can't judge a man by looking at the cover
And You Can't Judge a Book by looking at the cover

Then I left school and moved around
And what I saw and what I found
Made me remember what she said to follow
She said

You Can't Judge a Book by looking at the cover
No, you can't judge a man by looking at the cover
And You Can't Judge a Book by looking at the cover

And now I think, by now I'd know, that what appears is not always so
And I remember what she said to follow
She said

You Can't Judge a Book by looking at the cover





No, you can't judge a man by looking at the cover
And You Can't Judge a Book by looking at the cover

Overall Meaning

Rick Springfield's song "You Can't Judge a Book" reflects the age-old adage that one shouldn't form an opinion based solely on someone's appearance. In the first verse, Springfield recalls his mother teaching him the "magic rule" that you can't judge a book by looking at the cover. Throughout the song, he emphasizes this idea by repeating the phrase "you can't judge a man by looking at the cover" and drives the point home with the line "by now I'd know, that what appears is not always so." This underscores that just because someone may look a certain way, it does not necessarily reflect their true nature or character.


As Springfield encounters different people throughout his life, he continues to see the truth in his mother's words. He sings about remembering her advice to "follow" the idea that you can't judge someone by their appearance. This message is especially important in a world where people are quick to make assumptions based on surface-level features such as race, gender, or clothing.


Overall, "You Can't Judge a Book" encourages listeners to look beyond a person's outer appearance and focus on their inner qualities. It reminds us that first impressions can be deceiving and that we should take the time to get to know someone before making a judgment about them.


Line by Line Meaning

You Can't Judge a Book by looking at the cover
Appearances can be deceiving and should not be relied upon to form judgments about something or someone.


No, you can't judge a man by looking at the cover
One should not make assumptions about a person based solely on their outward appearance, as it may not accurately reflect their true character or nature.


And You Can't Judge a Book by looking at the cover
The idea that one should not make hasty or uninformed judgments about something or someone, especially based on surface-level observations or appearances.


When I was young and went to school
The song's narrator reminisces about his past and his upbringing.


My mama taught me the magic rule
His mother provided him with an important lesson that has remained with him throughout his life.


And what she said I tried my best to follow
He made a conscious effort to take his mother's advice to heart and apply it in his life.


Then I left school and moved around
The singer left school and began to experience the world outside of the protective bubble of his upbringing.


And what I saw and what I found
The artist's experiences led him to witness situations where appearances did not accurately reflect reality.


Made me remember what she said to follow
His past was brought to mind when he saw for himself just how important his mother's words of wisdom were.


And now I think, by now I'd know, that what appears is not always so
The artist shares his realization that appearances can be deceiving and that things are not always as they seem.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: RICK SPRINGFIELD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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