Barnaby, Hardly Working Lyrics

Lyric discussion by foreverdrone 

Cover art for Barnaby, Hardly Working lyrics by Yo La Tengo

What a shame no one's taken on these lyrics. I've always found this one of Yo La Tengo's most enigmatic. Puzzling.

Clearly, the protagonist is preparing for a date. "They took a ride" would suggest he got there.

Then there's the switch from "he" to "I", just before the startling ending.

As for the repetition of the last line...is he dead? I just don't know...