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Kristine From The 7th Grade
Composed and Performed by Ben Folds
Arranged by Jherek Bischoff

Ben Folds premiered a new song with the National Symphony Orchestra on July 20, 2022 as part of the “Declassified: Ben Folds Presents” concert series at the John F Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts.

With the National Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Enrico Lopez-Yañez

DECLASSIFIED®: Ben Folds Presents - In this concert series, NSO Artistic Advisor Ben Folds breaks down barriers between music genres. Folds selects the artists to showcase both classical and modern music arranged specifically for the National Symphony Orchestra.

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Lyrics:

Are you the same Kristine I knew from 7th grade?
Yeah, it’s definitely you, just with a new last name
Someone who laughed a lot is what I remember the most
But the face in your profile suggests maybe not so much anymore

‘Cause I got the emails these last two years every day
And I just don’t reply because I don’t really know what to say
Kristine from the 7th grade…

The anger, THE ALL CAPS, and all the pseudo-science
The misspellings… they must be on purpose – we went to a good school, Kristine!
So what would you imagine I might take from this deluge of memes?
The cryptic, dark bible quotes; guns and dead fetuses? Kristine, seriously… are you okay?

‘Cause this world can be wonderful, too
Do you ever see it that way, Kristine from the 7th grade?

There’s a break in the rain
A perfect time for a walk
The smell of wet leaves, and warm smiles, and hellos…
These things exist in the real world, you know?

Oh, what a shame, Kristine!
This disease that makes strangers of friends!
But if these days if it’s really usses and thems
I want you to take me off of both of those lists

‘Cause this world can be so wonderful, too
Do you ever see it that way?