SIX O'CLOCK NEWS
By John Prine
As recorded by John Prine on “John Prine” (1971)

Wanda had a baby in nineteen-fifty-one.
The father was a stranger and a stranger was the son.
Call that child James Lewis, call these rooms a home.
Changing all them diapers, polish all that chrome.
C'mon, baby, spend the night with me.

All around the schoolyard, playing all the games,
Running, laughing, back and forth, the kid with two first names.
Stranger in the closet, lock the diary.
The past is running faster, singing harmony.
C'mon, baby, spend the night with me.

"God bless this kitchen," said the knick-knack shelf.
"The dinner's almost ready; go and wash yourself."
Jimmy's growing up now; Wanda's growing old.
The time is growin' shorter; the nights are long and cold.
C'mon, baby, spend the night with me.

Sneaking in the closet and through the diary.
Now, don't you know all he saw was all there was to see.
The whole town saw Jimmy on the six o'clock news.
His brains were on the sidewalk; blood was on his shoes.
C'mon, baby, spend the night with me.
C'mon, baby, spend the night with me.


Now, the question is, did he commit suicide because he found out he was illegitimate? What was his problem?