remembering a friend

I once knew a man called Fred
he's dead, he's dead
He went back to the unicorn and lion
smoking Marley
and singing about Zion
the Marley which was gnarly was for his pain
well some of the time, others it was for the peace it did gain

I wonder about Fred
and sometimes remember the things that he said
or maybe those are paraphrased memories from a storm
Something that made his leaving more of the norm.

I once knew a man called Fred
He tried to play tricks with his head
play games with words
yet that was like a murder of birds
Now I wear his coat
It says Marks and Spencers on the inside note

I wonder where Fred is
if it is any of my biz
I hope that Fred did well
wonder if he heard the call of the bell

I once knew a man called Fred
Who was visited by a funny walking bird
and a camera snapping man
and of course me, the many with a pocket of absurd
funny group, could have been a strange herd

I still know a man called Fred
He is remembered even though he is dead