Some summers in the evening after 6 or so
I walk on down the hill
And maybe buy a beer
I think about my friends
Sometimes I wish they lived out here
But they wouldn't dig this town
No they wouldn't dig this town

Try not to think about it, Alice Childress
Try not to think about it anymore
Try not to think about it, Alice Childress
Anymore, no not anymore

Alice, the world is full of ugly things
That you can't change
Pretend it's not that way
It's my idea of faith
You can blow it off
And say there's good in nearly everyone
Just give them all a chance
Now let's give them all a chance

Try not to think about it, Alice Childress
Try not to think about it anymore
Try not to think about it, Alice Childress
Anymore, no not anymore

No it didn't work out
No it didn't work out the way we thought it would
No it didn't work out
An arranged marriage is not so good

Thank God it's you
Ya know, your timing is impeccable
I'm not fooling you
I don't know what to do
Some dude just knocked me cold
And left me on the sidewalk
Took everything I had
Everything I had

Try not to think about it, Alice Childress
Try not to think about it anymore
It's getting late where you are, Alice Childress
Anymore, no not anymore
Anymore, no not anymore


Lyrics submitted by kevin

Alice Childress Lyrics as written by Ben Folds Anna Goodman

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Alice Childress song meanings
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    General Comment

    There's an official BFF songbook that explains (not verbatim), "The song has nothing to do with the playwright Alice Childress. It was based on an experience of Ben's friend Anna Goodman, who was working in a hospital. It seems that one day there was a mental patient named Alice Childress who decided to douse Anna with mop water." And yes, I believe Ben just tacked on the name, as the song's not about HER either :) ...Ben has talked about his habit of using unrelated-but-real names for songs that aren't about that person or people. And who has written more "name" songs than Ben Folds? Think "Alice Childress," "Kate," "Steven's Last Night in Town," "Jane," "Annie Waits," "Zak and Sara," "Tom and Mary," "Fred Jones Pt. 2," "The Ascent of Stan," "Losing Lisa," "Eddie Walker," "Emaline"...you get the idea.

    cleverhandleon June 13, 2002   Link

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