"My self” might sound like “my shelf” if someone (such as the Scottish accent of actor Sean Connery) pronounces it.
“I was at home last night, and a book fell on my head.I suppose I’ve only got my shelf to blame” was posted on Twitter by Russell P on October 24, 2009. “A book just fell on my head. I have only my shelf to blame. (via @justinewalshe)” was posted on Twitter by Jerry T Brown on October 25, 2009. Authorship of the joke is uncertain.
Twitter
Russell P
@parsl
I was at home last night, and a book fell on my head.I suppose I’ve only got my shelf to blame.
4:14 PM · Oct 24, 2009·Twitter Web Client
Twitter
Jerry T Brown
@JerryTBrown
A book just fell on my head. I have only my shelf to blame. (via @justinewalshe)
8:27 PM · Oct 25, 2009·Twitter Web Client
Twitter
David Burton
@Phishtitz
A book just fell on my head. I guess I only have my shelf to blame
6:16 AM · Oct 31, 2009·Twitter Web Client
Twitter
Jeremy Taylor
@MrWriteCzech
I put up a new bookshelf in a hurry. Unfortunately it fell down and hit me on the head. I suppose I only have my shelf to blame.
11:34 AM · Dec 18, 2009·Twitter Web Client
Twitter
Andy Bray
@Brayaw
#jokeoftheday: a book fell on my head this morning. I’ve only got my shelf to blame…
6:38 AM · Dec 19, 2009·Twitter Web Client
16 January 2010, The Sun (London, UK), “Have a Laugh!,” pg. 9:
A BOOK fell on my head the other day.
I’ve only got my shelf to blame.
TOM O’CONNELL Kilkenny
Google Books
The Mammoth Book of One-Liners
Edited by Geoff Tibballs
London, UK” Constable & Robinson Ltd
2012
Pg. ?:
I got into bed, and a book fell on my head. I’ve only got my shelf to blame.
28 March 2012, Leicester (UK) Mercury, “Travellers return to junction,” pg. 8:
LEICESTERSHIRE LAUGHS
‘A book fall on my head yesterday - I only have my shelf to blame!’
Reddit—3amjokes
Posted by u/tuffpupp September 17, 2015
A book just fell on my head…
-and I only have my shelf to blame.
Reddit—Jokes
Posted by u/CamillaBrokenWings July 20, 2018
A book just fell on my head....
I guess I’ve only got my shelf to blame…
COMMENTS
glesgakis
Glad To Say your not a shelfish person
Google Books
Dad Jokes for Kids:
350+ Silly, Laugh-Out-Loud Jokes for the Whole Family!
By Jimmy Niro
Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks
2020
Pg. ?:
A book just fell on my head! It really hurt, but I’ve only got my shelf to blame.
Reddit—Dadjokes
Posted by u/TheBigg00F July 28, 2020
A book just fell on my head
I only have my shelf to blame
Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food restaurant on Google Maps.
Recent entries:
•
“A grown up silly straw is called a serious straw” (3/23)
•
“Baked goods implies the existence of baked evils” (3/23)
•
Entry in progress—BP (3/23)
•
“Silly straws should just be called ‘straws’ and normal straws should be called ‘serious straws‘“ (3/23)
•
“Silly Straws implies the existence of Straws That Have Had Just About Enough Of Your Shit” (3/23)
More new entries...
Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Google Maps.
Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Aug. 15, 1931, Binghamton (NY) Press, pg. 14.
Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce "The Big Apple," a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.
Also listen to a 1937 "The Big Apple" song by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra. See a 1929 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald and a 1931 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald.
This site is edited by Barry Popik.