Ben Folds – Claire's Ninth

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So she stands and waits
And waits at the school gate
They're late, they come, so dumb
In two cars when they agreed one

And it's gone wild on her birthday

So they go to Joe's
For pizza and ice cream
They sit and stare
And Claire just wants to be 9 and a half

Next year she'll tell them she only wants world peace

But Claire, Claire baby
I wish you knew how this all got twisted
I wish you could see right inside us
Some of this stuff the best of us that we can't get out

What's the point of this?
What's wrong with two birthdays?
It's cool at school
Her friends they all have two birthdays

Aw jeez, he just asked the waitress out on a date on her birthday

But Claire, Claire baby
I wish you knew how this all got twisted
I wish you could see right inside us
Some of this stuff the best of us that we can't get to

Here's the check
They pay with two cards like they've never met
Goodbyes
Outside it's cold in LA

But Claire, Claire baby
I wish you knew how this all got twisted
I wish you could see right inside us
Some of this stuff the best of us that we can't get out

The best of us
The most of us
You're what we were
You're all that's left
It used to be our birthday too

Send "Claire's Ninth" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by blutos

Track duration: 03:48


Claire's Ninth song meanings
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6 Comments

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  • +1
    My Opinion:"Next year she'll tell them she only wants world peace."

    This line really rings true for me. Even world peace seems easier to achieve than bringing divorced parents together, even for one birthday. I actually can't remember any birthdays where both of my parents were present. =/
    Flag Audballon November 13, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Everyone already covered the story, but I just wanted to add one thing. Author Nick Hornby wrote the lyrics for this album, and Claire's Ninth is based on a short story he wrote a long time ago that he never published. Not exactly relevant, but I just thought I'd add that little tidbit.
    Flag kaymayon February 28, 2011   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:foldsbaldwin and musicislife have it right. The way I see it is Claire's parents are trying to give her "the gift" of them being together on her birthday, but it has "gone wrong on her birthday".

    I like the last verse: "Here's the check; they pay with two cards like they've never met. Goodbyes. Outside, it's cold in L.A."

    I'm not sure, but I think this means that Claire is going to live with or visit the other parent in Los Angeles. "It's cold in L.A." is just saying she's going to have to adapt to a new environment.
    Flag trevorsgon November 17, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:'Aw jeez, he just asked the waitress out on a date on her birthday'

    classic...and sounds like my childhood.
    Flag causeeffectrelationshipon November 06, 2010   Link
  • +1
    Song Meaning:Yeah, it's about a girl being taken out to dinner for her birthday by her parents who are divorced. I like the line "it used to be our birthday too", like their anniversary. Makes me sad.
    Flag musicislife11on November 04, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I could be wrong but I think it's a story about a girl named Claire and her parents take her out on her birthday but it's awkward and not much fun because they're divorced and don't seem to get along well. The singer is singing to Claire and wishes that (maybe) she was old enough to understand why things between her parents didn't work out. I really like the last verse because when there's a child involved with a couple divorced they are all that's left as some kind of proof of what used to be a happily married couple.
    Flag foldsbaldwinon September 25, 2010   Link

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