Ben Folds Five - Cigarette Lyrics

found this song ten years ago age 13 and it's still one of the saddest things i've ever heard. and most beautiful.

Seeing clearrer 2 pac veesigz😢😢😢😢😀😶😶😶😶😶

ive given up ciggies now but this song brings me the memories in my highschooldays listening to this and smoking my sorrow away in the AMs best ever!

Anyone familiar with the subject matter of the song? It's pretty sad.

Old comment, but it's a fictional story about a man who is caring for his wife whose mental state is declining. Like the song says, he's worried that in her state of delirium/use of medication, she might burn the house down with a cigarette.

The lyrics/story were inspired by a real article about a man in a similar situation with his wife.

Fred Jones was worn down
from caring for his often
screaming and crying wife
during the day but
He couldn't sleep at night for fear that she
In a stooper from the drugs that didn't
ease the pain would set the house on blaze
with a cigarette.

Mari Garassyová stupor* love this song

Fred Jones part 1... The conclusion

this song kills me inside.

I hear this song and I laugh after hearing his explanation of the song being a run on sentence from a newspaper headline. People commenting seem to be looking too far into the song.

that's what Ben wrote it about but with any great art it is open to interpretation

+strungoutboy21 He wrote a whole 'nother song about ol' Fred Jones and his struggles in life, so...

I read that too, but despite its length, it isn't a run-on sentence. It's grammatically correct.

love this song
ty ben folds, helped get me through high school

Probably my favorite Ben Folds song. You tend to like what you find relatable

Fred Jones was worn out from caring for his often screaming and crying wife during the day but he couldn't sleep at night for fear that she, in a stupor from the drugs that didn't ease the pain, would set their house ablaze with a cigarette.

I wish more artists would attempt to be as original in their own way, like Ben did (oxymoron intended).

i need a cig right now...

Most definitely

Isn't this where "Fred Jones Part 2" comes from?

I believe so.

His wife died

the "adaptation" songs by Ben Folds (Five) like this one, Smoke, Your Most Valuable Possession, etc...are often the most eerie. The band's music may generally sound upbeat but there is a lot more dark content than you see initially. a LOT more.

Enjoy your burrito.

Once in a while, there comes a song that just speaks to you, and it reaches out to you, it's meaning clear and personal. This is one of those times for me.

I love those crickets in the background. They just add so much to the song.

I've been listening to this song for 20 years and I just heard them for the first time today...

This whole song's lyrics are just a run on sentence he read in a newspaper.

@chadizzle618 I think I can hear em, yep!

i heard this on newgrounds set to a perfect flash (it was acctualy the first one i saw there). when i hear this i get the feeling that mrs. jones has lung cancer and is going through chemo or somthing and she is so jadded from pain she just can't quit no matter how bad she gets, or how distraut mr jones is

Fred Jones Part 2 is a kind of continuation of this I believe.

listening to the album by memory in succession on youtube.made it this far. the one about dudes last night in town is next right??????????????

@NotSoWellThoughtOut sorry, didn't mean to post that twice :/

Fred Jones was worn down
from caring for his often
screaming and crying wife
burning the day but (
He couldn't sleep at night for fear that she
In a stupor from the drugs that didn't even
ease the pain would set the house on blaze
with a cigarette.

Fred Jones was worn down
from caring for his often
screaming and crying wife
during the day but
He couldn't sleep at night for fear that she
In a stupor from the drugs that didn't even
ease the pain would set the house on blaze
with a cigarette.

its a shame its such a short song,
its so lovely :)

Thanks for the upload!

"...caring for his *often screaming and crying wife, during the day."

I had looked on youtube for this video forever, and began to think it did not exist. Since I hadn't heard it in years. Thank you for this upload. I missed this song a lot. You'd like to think i'd have more ambition ot search it out.

For some reason this song reminds me of James and the Giant Peach.