ben July 25th, 2007 11:11AM  
This is a song about the death of a long-time older friend named Jones. From the song it sounds like he'd been living in pain for such a long time, but still took the time to be friendly and sing songs (with his "marvelous instrument"). He contemplates the time they'd spent together as Jones was lying catatonic in his death bed staring at the ceiling. The verse that starts: "In the makeup and the sunday suit/you looked just like a doll" is recalling his funeral.