The Mad Clarinet is a song originally by Graeme Jefferies' band, Cakekitchen, released on their 1995 album Stompin' Thru the Boneyard. It has been covered by the Mountain Goats during at least one live show.
Lyrics[]
I don't mean to scare you, you're leaving soon But the wallpaper's melting, thoughts turning blue The lightbulb is giving out shots in the dark And the mad clarinet's run away with your heart Remember that old tune The one that you cried to when you fell Yeah it felt like you'd lost your mind You were not twenty-one when he first saw you How his melody cheered you, pitch rang so true Placed your lips to the mouthpiece, struck out a part Now the mad clarinet's run away with your heart Do you remember that old tune The one that you cried to when you fell It felt like you'd lost your mind When you left that sucker on a moonlit night You didn't bother looking left or you wouldn't look right You nearly got run over by a ten ton truck Got your pride you tried to make out like you When he received you, your hope simply fell through So you cried Yeah it felt like you'd lost your mind