Cigarette
Ben Folds Five Lyrics

The first verse of Ben Folds Five's song, "Cigarette" details the difficult and worn-down life of a character named Fred Jones, who is the primary caretaker of his wife who is sick with some kind of mental illness. He struggles with the constant strain of caring for his wife's needs, often being met with screaming and crying during the day. However, his greatest fear is that his wife, who is medicated but still unable to manage her behavior, will accidentally start a fire with a cigarette while in a drug-induced stupor. This verse captures the exhaustion and anxiety that can come with being a caregiver, especially in a situation where the person you're caring for is unpredictable or unable to care for themselves.

Overall, the song seems to be about the difficulty of caring for someone in a difficult and unstable situation, and the ways in which that kind of stress can build up over time. The chorus of the song is a description of Fred's life, with each line ending in the repeated refrain of "He's gonna die with a cigarette in his hand." This line feels like a reminder of the harsh and inescapable reality of life, that no matter how much we try to control or direct our lives, we will all eventually meet our end.

In conclusion, Ben Folds Five's song, "Cigarette," is a sad and somber reflection on the realities of life and the difficulty of caring for someone who is struggling. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a man who is burdened with the responsibility of caring for his sick wife, and who is constantly living in fear of what might happen next. The chorus serves as a reminder that, despite our best efforts to avoid it, we will all eventually die, and the best we can hope for is to live a life that is as fulfilling and meaningful as possible.