I Made Myself a Friend

I made myself a friend I made him out of twigs and ash and clay And sometimes, I pretend he says exactly what I'm wanting him to say He always says just what I needed to hear He leans right in close and he whispers in my ear And suddenly all of my troubles disappear Because I know the happiest ones Had to fight to get there I made myself a friend Made him out of sawdust and tears Sometimes, I pretend I've known him for many many years We talk and reminisce about all the good times we've had I fix him when he crumbles, and he calms me when I'm sad And if ever I'm in trouble, if my thinking drives me mad Well, then I'll know I've never been alone Well, it sure don't feel that way Well, I made myself a friend Made him out of tin cans and wire I made myself a friend Melted down and forged him in a fire Well, I made myself a friend Made him out of iron pots and pans Well, I made myself a friend Made him with my bare goddamn hands Well, I made myself a friend And I know he isn't real Even I cannot pretend You can make love out of steel But something isn't proper The metal's gone cold There's green spots in the copper And there's pyrite in the gold If the omnipotent powers chose to let me grow old Well, then I'll know the loneliest ones Praise the setting sun And I just can't look away