The lyrics depict the narrator sitting in a hard chair at a funeral, reflecting on the people present and imagining what the deceased would have thought or said. The narrator struggles to hear as people cry, but imagines the deceased making light of the situation by joking about being gone the next day.

Meaning of "Goodby Mass" by Lou Reed

"Goodby Mass" by Lou Reed delves into the complex emotions surrounding the death of a loved one. The hard chair represents the discomfort and emotional weight of the moment, as well as the inability to escape the reality of loss. The focus on the deceased's hypothetical reactions serves as a coping mechanism, allowing the narrator to find solace in humor and lightness during a heavy moment. The repeated reference to being smoke the next day hints at the transient nature of life and death, emphasizing the fleetingness of existence and the inevitability of mortality. Through vivid imagery and introspective reflections, the lyrics explore themes of grief, coping, and the passage of time.