Rodney Anonymous wrote the song after a real-life crush on a stern librarian at Delaware County Library System. "She never cracked a smile," he once said in a 1991 interview. "I thought, 'That's the punkest thing I've ever seen.'"
SHHHHH! This is a library! No talking!
Play with a heavy, percussive attack. The original recording has a slight swing to it, but most live versions are straight eighth-notes. The Fixed Lyrics (With Spoken Parts Clearly Marked) Here is the complete, corrected lyric sheet. The spoken interjections (the Librarian) are in bold and the vocalist (Rodney) is in regular text.
G A D Bm Joyce the Librarian, you're so severe G A D Joyce the Librarian, whisper in my ear G A D Bm Joyce the Librarian, shush me once again G A D Joyce the Librarian, this is not a sin
So grab your guitar, tune up, and remember: This is a library. No talking. But rocking out? That’s allowed.
D G You stamped my books and shushed me D A When I was talking loud D G I knew that it was destiny D A When you led me to the crowd D G You pointed to a sign that read D A "Please have some respect" D G And then you shoved me in the corner D A And this is what I expect...