Fred Jones, Part 2

*Ben Folds*

Fred sits alone at his desk in the dark,

there's an awkward young shadow who waits in the hall.

Yeah, he's cleared all his things and he's put them in boxes;

things that remind him that life has been good.

Twenty-five years, he's worked at the paper,

the man's here to take him downstairs;

and "I'm sorry, Mr. Jones, it's time"

There was no party, and there were no songs,

'cause today's just a day like the day that he started,

and no one is left here who knows his first name,

and life barrels on like a runaway train

where the passengers change, but they don't change anything

you get off someone else can get on

and "I'm sorry, Mr. Jones, it's time"

*w/John Mcrae*

Street light shines through the shades,

casting lines on the floor, and lines on his face

he reflects on the day.

Fred gets his paints out and goes to the basement

projecting some slides

onto a plain white canvas

and traces it, fills in the spaces.

He turns off the slides, and it doesn't look right.

Yeah, and all of these bastards have taken his place,

he's forgotten but not yet gone.

and "I'm sorry, Mr. Jones...

and "I'm sorry, Mr. Jones...

and "I'm sorry, Mr. Jones, it's time"

*Ben Folds: "John Mcrae of Cake, y'all"*