Benjamin Gibbard
A Lovely Affair
Everyone that I ever knew
Was crammed into a little building with a concrete floor
Dimly lit, it smelled of stale smoke
And friends were choking back the tears that they had come there for

And I was in a little jar upon the stage
Where all my records and guitars were neatly placed

Left of the tables of food
Sat two girls I could not recall speaking to
And one told the other "Don't cry
We still have three of the others it will be alright"

And I was hovering overhead, taking it in
I could not believe he's dead; he was just beginning to begin

And there were a number of speeches
Where people said what they didn't want me to know
Telling all types of secrets
I wish I would have had a clue five days ago

It would have been quite a surprise
For me to look them dead in the eyes, and say:
"Well, it was a lovely affair
People cared more than I had ever thought they would."

Some kids stole what was left of the booze
The cleanup crew worked as hard as they thought they should
And I was in a little jar upon the stage

I could not believe he's dead; he was just beginning to begin