Written by Ron Mael.
Produced by Todd Rundgren.
Engineered by James L… Read Full Bio ↴Written by Ron Mael.
Produced by Todd Rundgren.
Engineered by James Lowe.

RON: For some reason, this one took between eighteen and twenty takes to get. To answer those of you who think it's only a bunch of gibberish, let me say that besides the gibberish angle, we have here a tune about a celebration of being thrown for an old man named Fletcher just before his death. His friends didn't want to wait until he died to get together.
RUSSELL: The instrumental's [sic] really good.

Fletcher Honorama
Sparks Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Fletcher Honorama won't you rally 'round
the man who's on a limb?
Sing the songs that please him very softly
while we jolt him with a hymn

Please, go easy now with him
Because this is his final whim
So be sure that the boy don't die before the morn

Fletcher Honorama shall we justify the eighty Junes you've seen?
Since that might be stretching things
we'll merely sing the songs that made you scream

Please, go easy now with him
Because this is his final whim
So be sure that the boy don't die before the morn

Intakes and mistakes and lunch pails
and headaches were willed to your one living twin
I think that maybe you should have kept half
of them, after all you worked for them
After all you worked for them

Telecast in fifty states and brought to you
by Anti-Wrinkle Dew
That's Fletcher Honorama see the world
now from a different point of view

You, go easy now with him
Because this is his final whim

So be sure that the boy don't die before the morn
So be sure that the boy don't die before the morn

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of “Fletcher Honorama” by Sparks are about an old man named Fletcher Honorama who is on his deathbed. The first verse of the song is calling for people to come to Fletcher’s side to support him in these final moments, and to sing the songs that brought him joy in a gentle way, so as not to distress him. The chorus repeats the idea that he is near death and that we should take care to make sure that he doesn't pass away before morning. The second verse discusses how long Fletcher has lived and suggests that in light of his long life, they will simply sing the songs that he loved. The final verse seems to be discussing the regrets that Fletcher may have had in his life, and suggests that he should have kept half of his successes for himself.

Overall, the song is both melancholic and celebratory. It’s a tribute to a life lived, with a focus on the importance of being present for others when they need us. The song seems to be suggesting that in our final moments, all we want is comfort and companionship, rather than material success or achievement.

Line by Line Meaning

Fletcher Honorama won't you rally 'round the man who's on a limb?
Will you support the man who's in a difficult position, Fletcher Honorama?

Sing the songs that please him very softly while we jolt him with a hymn
Sing songs that make him happy, while secretly causing him discomfort

Please, go easy now with him Because this is his final whim So be sure that the boy don't die before the morn
Be careful not to harm him, as this is his last request, and ensure he doesn't die before morning

Fletcher Honorama shall we justify the eighty Junes you've seen? Since that might be stretching things we'll merely sing the songs that made you scream
Can we find meaning in the many years of your life, Fletcher Honorama? Since that's too difficult, we'll stick to singing the songs you enjoyed

Intakes and mistakes and lunch pails and headaches were willed to your one living twin I think that maybe you should have kept half of them, after all you worked for them After all you worked for them
Various experiences were shared with your twin, while you may have deserved some of them. Perhaps you should have kept half, as they were earned through your effort

Telecast in fifty states and brought to you by Anti-Wrinkle Dew That's Fletcher Honorama see the world now from a different point of view
Fletcher Honorama, now sponsored by a cosmetic product, can see the world in a new way

You, go easy now with him Because this is his final whim So be sure that the boy don't die before the morn So be sure that the boy don't die before the morn
Please be gentle with him, this is his last request, and make sure he lives until morning

Contributed by Xavier O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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