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I Read Lyrics by Donna Murphy, Jere Shea

Passion (Original Broadway Cast)

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(Fosca gives a nervous, grotesque smile as the orchestra resumes, playing the piano music. Giorgio quickly rises. Fosca speaks, in rhythm to the music; her voice is lovely and elegant
But melancholy.)
[Fosca, spoken]
I hope I didn't startle you
[Giorgio, spoken]
Not at all. Signora Ricci, I'm Captain Bachetti–
[Fosca, spoken]
(simultaneously)
–Bachetti
I know. My cousin has told me all about you
(sung)
I came to thank you for the books
I would have sooner, but I've been so ill
[Giorgio, spoken]
Well, now you seem to be feeling more normal
[Fosca, spoken]
Normal? I hardly think so. Sickness is normal to me as health is to you
Excuse me. I shouldn't speak of my troubles. I've been going through a period of deep melancholy
(There is an awkward moment of silence as Adriana enters and pours Fosca a cup of coffee. As she leaves, the music becomes low and intense.)
I so enjoyed the novel by Rousseau
[Giorgio, spoken]
Oh, it's wonderful. My favorite, really
[Fosca, spoken]
The character of Julie is a great mystery
[Giorgio, spoken]
You should have kept the book longer to meditate over
[Fosca]
I do not read to think
I do not read to learn
I do not read to search for truth
I know the truth, the truth is hardly what I need
I read to dream
I read to live
In other people's lives
I read about the joys the world
Dispenses to the fortunate
And listen for the echoes
I read to live
To get away from life!
No, captain, I have no illusions
I recognize the limits of my dreams
I know how painful dreams can be
Unless you know they're merely dreams
(Smiling aridly.)
There is a flower
Which offers nectar at the top
Delicious nectar at the top
And bitter poison underneath
The butterfly that stays too long and drinks too deep
Is doomed to die
I read to fly
To skim
I do not read to swim
I do not dwell on dreams
I know how soon a dream becomes an expectation
How can I have expectations?
Look at me
No, captain, look at me
Look at me!
I do not hope for what I cannot have!
I do not cling to things I cannot keep!
The more you cling to things, the more you love them
The more the pain you suffer when they're taken from you
Ah, but if you have no expectations, Captain
You can never have a disappointment
(Fosca gives a short laugh; music continues under.)
(spoken)
I must be mad to chatter on about myself like this to you, forgive me
[Giorgio, spoken]
I assure you–
[Fosca, spoken]
No, forgive me, please
[Giorgio, spoken]
But truly, there is nothing to forgive–
[Fosca]
Have you explored the town?
It is remote
Isn't it?
And provincial, don't you think?
[Giorgio, spoken]
Yes
[Fosca]
And everything so brown:
The streets, the fields, the river even
Though there are some lovely gardens
(spoken)
You do like gardens, I hope?
[Giorgio, spoken]
Yes
[Fosca]
Good, I can show you gardens
And then of course there is the castle
(spoken)
The ruined castle
[Giorgio, spoken]
Ah
[Fosca, spoken]
I find it lovely. Probably because it's ruined, I suppose
[Giorgio, spoken]
I didn't know there was a castle
[Fosca]
I like to take excursions there
When I'm in better health
Perhaps you'll join me
And my cousin
One day...
[Giorgio, spoken]
That would be delightful. I don't believe I've seen a flower or a garden since the day I arrived
(Fosca suddenly gets up and slowly leaves the room. Confused, Giorgio rises and, after she has gone, takes his books and begins to leave.)
Credits
Donna Murphy

Donna Murphy

Jere Shea

Jere Shea

About “I Read” by Donna Murphy

Read the complete lyrics to "I Read" by Donna Murphy, Jere Shea from the album "Passion (Original Broadway Cast)". On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Broadway, Musicals, Pop.

"I Read" is performed by Donna Murphy, Jere Shea. from the album "Passion (Original Broadway Cast)" This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "I Read", explore more songs by Donna Murphy, Jere Shea using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"I Read" is credited to Donna Murphy, Jere Shea. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"I Read" appears on "Passion (Original Broadway Cast)".

Visit the Donna Murphy, Jere Shea artist page at /artist/donna-murphy for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.