Hospital Song Lyrics
silas creek parkway is my only view
and the doctor just came by and told me the news
i need a second opinion
i don't believe that it's true

This is probably one of the most depressing songs I have EVER heard. The first time I heard it, I started to cry because it's frankness is totally unexpected. It's beautiful, emotional piano part is haunting. It gives me chills.

I agree, it's pretty tough ;)

Ben Folds is amazing at emotional dialogue, he uses such few words that hold such incredible emotion...especially in songs like Cigarette (Fred Jones Part 1 if you will)

I believe this was written by either Darell or Robert-- I forget which. His girlfriend was dying, I think? Apparently there was a second verse to it that was about getting married in the hospital.
Favorite BFF song: it's a toss up between this and Jane. When they wrote beautiful music, they didn't mess around.

Having spent a good portion of last year in the hospital, I can easily say that Ben manages to capture the feeling beautifully in only 35 words and just over two minutes. What an artist...

yeaahhh i live off silas creeekkkkk! i just realized that it was in this oh so beautiful song... SAY WHATTTTT

Ben has said in interviews that he's a huge Radiohead fan (their "Just" video is his favourite). This music, to me, sounds a lot like "Subterranean Homesick Alien" from "OK Computer." "Hospital Song" is slower, but compare the progression and the melody of the verses. It's cool.
But that aside, I do love this song. It's one of my favourites on the album, and one of my favourites in the Ben Folds repertoire.

Such a great song... Does anyone else think it sounds like Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds?
Totally heard Lucy in the Sky in this song.
Totally heard Lucy in the Sky in this song.

I like how this song goes right into "Army" which is the most fun song on the album. I don't know if he was making some kind of point with the contradiction of super sad/super goofy, but it's kind of annoying. So actually, I don't like it. Both are great songs though.

Ben said in an interview that he was thinking about what someone might do while they're in the hospital, and he figured that they would think about their lives, like the time they decided to join the army. This is why he goes into Army after this song.