The Fan

I’m going to tell you a secret

About your sister

She doesn’t really like football

Don’t say I told you that

Because it’s important to her

That she thinks

She likes football

But trust me--

She doesn’t

She’s lonely, you know

She’s always been lonely

That’s just how she is

And what's worse is
She never knew
What to do about it

She would I call her at home

On Friday nights

On Saturday nights

Every night

I would call her

And she’d always be home

On her couch, I guess

Or, you know, wherever

And I would tell her to do something
To get out and do something

And--

And that’s how it used to be

Until your aunt dragged her

To that football game last year

And then--

Wow

She’s got friends

She’s got a community

She’s got a place to go

And things to look forward to

She’s a fan

And there’s no rule, you know

There’s no rule that says

You have to be a fan of something

From the time you’re born

And there’s nothing that says

You can’t just enjoy something

Because it adds to your life

In a way nothing else will
Even if maybe you don't really like that thing
As much as you think you do

There’s nothing that says

If something gets you out of the house

And gives you an excuse

To be around people

Instead of sitting on a couch

Staring at a tv show

You’ve watched a thousand times

Then I say Good

I say Great

I say That’s great

And I’m happy for her

And you should be too

Don’t make people feel shitty

When they finally find something
That makes them happy

Because chances are

It won’t make them happy forever

I mean, maybe it will

I hope it will

But if it doesn’t

You don’t want to be the one

Who ruined it for them

While they were still enjoying it

Your sister was lonely

And now she’s not

She has friends now

She has people who smile

When they see her

She has something to cheer for

And something to get invested in

And something to get upset about

Really upset

And not just that stupid malaise you get

When you don’t even care enough about anything

To get really upset

But upset like--

Like you wanna murder somebody upset

And that’s--

You know, that’s life

That’s real life

Wanting to murder somebody?

That’s how you know

You’re alive

And as nice as it is

To be someone like you

Who stands there

All by yourself

And just shouts about

This or that

Or whatever it is

You feel passionate about

And doesn’t, you know

Care what anybody else

Has to say about it
And doesn't get lonely
Even if they're by themselves
Every single night
For the rest of their lives
Because they're so confident
And so sure of themselves--

Not everybody can do that

Some people, you know

They need a crowd

They need a crowd

And an arena

And--and--

A team

And she’s got that now

And I’m glad

I’m glad she’s finally got something

To cheer for