As of fall 2006, Ben Folds has released five solo LPs. His first album, Fear of Pop: Volume 1, an album of spoken word and instrumental compositions, was recorded and released while Ben Folds Five was still together. Since it was an uncharacteristic release, and officially released under the moniker of 'Fear of Pop', it is widely considered that his first "proper" solo album was Rockin' the Suburbs (2001), on which he played all the instruments by himself. A year later, in 2002, he released Ben Folds Live, a collection of live solo recordings. In late 2003, two solo EPs, Speed Graphic and Sunny 16, were released, with a third entitled Super D released in mid-2004. In 2005, Folds released a second studio album called Songs for Silverman. Most recently Folds has released the album "Supersunnyspeedgraphic, the lp" a compliation of his EPs, a The Bens track called "Bruised," "Still" from the motion picture of 2006 "Over the Hedge" for which Folds wrote all the songs, his cover of the Dr. Dre song "Bitches Ain't Shit", and, with the kind permission of his good friend Neil Hannon, a cover of The Divine Comedy song "Songs of Love". "Supersunnyspeedgraphic, the lp" otherwise includes remastered takes from the three internet EPs from 2002-2004. Ben claims that he wanted to have the CD in hard format so he could "put it past him."
Ben resides in Nashville. He often tours the United States, the United Kingdom, other countries in Europe, Japan, and Australia.
Folds' tours are famous for his solo act as "Ben Folds and a piano", often having the audience become involved by "playing" the accompanying instruments (such as the trumpet and saxophone harmonies in "Army") and singing choir-like backing vocals on "Not the Same". His concerts are charismatic, yet calm - an enjoyable experience for most. And although Folds is constantly putting out new songs, his concerts rarely omit classic fan favorites such as "Philosophy," "One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces," and "Army." Also, a seemingly fan favorite that started in Chicago, IL was "Rock this Bitch," a song where Folds has to come up an impromptu new tune with the words "Rock this Bitch" in it; though the song seems to be phasing out, it still makes appearances on tours, such as the November 2006 tour and the Spring US College tour of 2007 and 2008.
Folds also produced and arranged the William Shatner album, Has Been (2004); he previously worked with Shatner on the songs "In Love" and "Still in Love" for Fear of Pop.
Folds described his former band, Ben Folds Five, as "punk rock for sissies," and his oddball lyrics often contain nuances of depression, melancholy and self-conflict. Folds also provided a number of songs for film soundtracks. Some of these include "Lonely Christmas Eve" for the Jim Carrey film How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (2000), and a rendition of the Beatles' "Golden Slumbers" for the film I Am Sam (2001). He (as The Bens) has also done charity compilations, from singing "Wicked Little Town" (from film and stage show Hedwig and the Angry Inch) on the benefit album "Wig in a Box" (2003) to appearing on No Boundaries, a benefit album for Kosovo refugees, with the song "Leather Jacket." (written by Darren Jessee)
On a planned tour of Australia, Folds teamed up with solo artists Ben Kweller and Ben Lee to travel the country together as The Bens, at the suggestion of a fan on Ben Kweller's official website. The trio also went on to record a four-track EP together, entitled The Bens.
In summer of 2004, Folds co-headlined an American tour with fellow rockers Rufus Wainwright and Guster. His second solo studio album, entitled Songs for Silverman, was released in the U.S. on April 26, 2005, featuring Jared Reynolds on bass, and Lindsay Jamieson on the drums, thus returning to the trio format, which had been so successful earlier, in earnest. This album includes the track "Late," a tribute to the late singer-songwriter Elliott Smith, and also features backing vocals from "Weird Al" Yankovic on "Time." (Folds had played piano for Yankovic's song "Why Does This Always Happen to Me?" and "Weird Al" directed Folds' music video for Rockin' the Suburbs). In January of 2007 Lindsay Jamieson left the band and was replaced by Sam Smith, of The Comfies on drums.
Folds performed with Rufus Wainwright and Ben Lee in the summer of 2005 as part of the "Odd Men Out" tour. In addition, Folds has performed with many other famous musical names, including Weezer. Folds has also shown the complexity behind his authentic sound by performing with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, in March 2005, and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, in November 2005. A DVD recording of Folds playing with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra was released in December, 2005.
Folds was the first artist to do a "Live at Myspace" concert, held on October 24, 2006 in his recording studio in Nashville, the show was an hour long and had requests from the internet submitted via Myspace's Messenger. It also entailed several stunts, including a suicide attempt, and a falling audience member during "Jesusland". The DVD of the broadcast (almost whole) was released in February of 2007.
Folds supports the independent music scene, creating his own record label (Attacked By Plastic) and doing promotional work for independent record stores across the country.
In 2008, September 16 marked the release of Amanda Palmer's solo album which was produced by Folds. Two days following that release, Ben Folds Five had a one-time reunion concert held in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the same place the band was formed. Weeks later, he released his third solo album entitled Way To Normal, released on September 30. Folds also recorded a fake album that was leaked intentionally during the summer to please fans and in an attempt to stop the real album from leaking. The fake tracks were recorded and mixed over a period of only several days. The leak contained 6 fake songs with names similar to the real songs or the album, and three songs from the actual release (except the song Cologne, which was an orchestral version of a song by the same name on the final album).
Since December 2008, Folds has been collaborating with English novelist Nick Hornby, writing the music while Hornby writes the lyrics. This album was originally planned to be recorded over a course of 3 days, the same amount of time in which the fake album was recorded, but Folds has since been recording the album in a more standard format, albeit attempting to retain the live recording format. He has also played several songs from the upcoming album at live shows since mid-2009, and the album is slated to be released on September 27th of 2010.
From December 14 through 21, 2009, Folds was featured as a judge on NBC's a cappella competition The Sing Off alongside Nicole Scherzinger and Shawn Stockman and offered insightful, constructive comments and criticisms to the contestants. On the final show, in a departure from his a cappella purism, showcased his talents and played the roaring, riffing piano background on "Why Can't We Be Friends?" sung by the two finalist groups, Tufts Beelzebubs from Tufts University near Boston and Nota, from San Juan, Puerto Rico. He again returned for the show's second season, and has been confirmed to return for the third season in September 2011 alongside Stockman and new judge Sara Bareilles.
Recently Ben Folds was assumed to be the anonymous pianist playing songs to random ChatRoulette users, named "Merton." Although Ben Folds has admitted to NOT being Merton, he paid tribute to the YouTube star at a concert in Charlotte in "Ode To Merton."
Ben Folds recently released his first album since So There, What Matters Most in June of 2023 after a 12 year hiatus.
Evaporated
Ben Folds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And what I've thrown away
And where the hell I've ended up
On this glary, random day
Were the things I really cared about
Just left along the away
For being too pent up and proud
Feeling hungover and old
And the sun was shining bright
And I walked barefoot down the road
Started thinking 'bout my old man
It seems that all I want to get into a car and go
Anywhere
Here I stand
Sad and free
I can't cry
And I can't see
What I've done
Oh God what have I done?
Don't you know I'm numb, man
No I can't feel a thing at all
'Cause it's all smiles and business these days
And I'm indifferent to the loss
I think that there's a soul somewhere
That's leading me around
I wonder if she knows which way is down
Here I stand
Sad and free
I can't cry
And I can't see
What I've done
Oh God what have I done?
I poured my heart out
I poured my heart out
It evaporated
See
Blind man on a canyon's edge
Of a panoramic scene
Maybe I'm kite that's flying high and random
Dangling on a string
Or slumped over in a vacant room
Head on a stranger's knee
I'm sure back home
They think I've lost my mind
Here I stand
Sad and free
I can't cry
And I can't see
What I've done
Oh God what have I done?
The lyrics of Ben Folds's song "Evaporated" tell the story of someone who is reflecting on their life, and realizes that they are not where they thought they would be. The first verse is about looking back at what they have kept with them and what they have thrown away, and questioning where they have ended up. They ask themselves if the things that they really cared about were left behind because they were too pent up and proud. The second verse talks about waking up feeling hungover and old, and walking barefoot down the road. The singer starts thinking about their old man and how they just want to get into a car and go anywhere.
Throughout the song, the singer feels lost and unable to connect with their emotions. They describe themselves as numb and indifferent to the loss. They wonder if there is a soul leading them around, and if she knows which way is down. The final verse describes the singer as a blind man on a canyon's edge, either flying randomly like a kite or slumped over in a vacant room with their head on a stranger's knee. They worry that back home, people will think that they've lost their mind.
Overall, "Evaporated" is a lament about feeling disconnected and lost, and wondering if there is any way to find meaning or direction in life. The line "I poured my heart out, I poured my heart out, it evaporated, see" suggests that the singer has tried to express themselves and share their feelings, but nothing seems to stick.
Line by Line Meaning
What I've kept with me
Reflecting on personal possessions that have been kept and discarded
And what I've thrown away
Considering things that have been let go
And where the hell I've ended up
Contemplating the present situation and location
On this glary, random day
Observing the current weather and a feeling of unpredictability
Were the things I really cared about
Questioning whether the important things were forgotten or disregarded
Just left along the away
Wondering whether they were abandoned
For being too pent up and proud
Speculating whether pride and self-restraint led to loss
Woke up way too late
Having overslept and feeling regretful
Feeling hungover and old
Feeling the effects of alcohol and aging
And the sun was shining bright
Observing the brightness of the sun's rays
And I walked barefoot down the road
Taking a walk without shoes
Started thinking 'bout my old man
Recalling memories and thoughts of a father figure
It seems that all I want to get into a car and go
Feeling a strong urge to travel
Anywhere
Without a specific destination in mind
Here I stand
Reflecting on current physical position
Sad and free
Feeling a range of emotions
I can't cry
Suppressed emotions prevent tears
And I can't see
Unclear about actions and consequences
What I've done
Thinking about past choices
Oh God what have I done?
Expressing regret and guilt
Don't you know I'm numb, man
Admitting emotional numbness
No I can't feel a thing at all
Incapable of experiencing emotions
'Cause it's all smiles and business these days
Surrounded by people who fake happiness and prioritize work
And I'm indifferent to the loss
Unaffected by losses
I think that there's a soul somewhere
Believing in the existence of a guiding force
That's leading me around
Aware of being led by this force
I wonder if she knows which way is down
Questioning the direction and purpose of this force
I poured my heart out
Expressing oneself openly and deeply
I poured my heart out
Emphasizing the deep emotions
It evaporated
Realizing that these emotions were not reciprocated or disappeared
See
Calling attention or providing emphasis
Blind man on a canyon's edge
Imagery depicting an isolated and unaware figure
Of a panoramic scene
Surrounded by a vast and sweeping view
Maybe I'm kite that's flying high and random
Metaphorical idea of being aimless and unpredictable
Dangling on a string
Lacking control or direction
Or slumped over in a vacant room
Depressed and lacking motivation
Head on a stranger's knee
Feeling vulnerable and comforted by a stranger
I'm sure back home
Assuming what others are thinking or feeling about oneself when absent
They think I've lost my mind
Believing that others would judge negatively or harshly
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BEN FOLDS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@giothemath
What I've kept with me and what I've thrown away
Know where the hell I've ended up on this glary random day
Where the things I really cared about, just left along the way
For being to pent up and proud
Woke up way too late feeling hung over and old
And the sun was shining bright, I walked barefoot down the road
Started thinking about my old man, it seems that all men
Wanna get into a car and go anywhere
Here I stand, sad and free
And I can't cry, I can't see
What I've done?
No, God, what have I done?
Don't you know I'm numb, man? No I can't feel a thing at all
'Cause it's all smiles and business these days and I'm indifferent to the loss
And I've faith that there is a soul somewhere that's leading me around
I wonder if she knows which way is down
Here I stand, sad and free
And I can't cry and I can't see
What I've done?
No, God, what have I done?
And I poured my heart out
And I poured my heart out
It evaporated, see
Blind man on a canyon's edge of a panoramic scene
Or maybe I'm a kite that's flying high and random dangling a string
Or slumped over in a vacant room, head on a stranger's knee
I'm sure back home they think I've lost my mind
Here I stand, sad and free
I can't cry and I can't see
What I've done?
No, God, what have I done?
@Flabtke316
Such a moving song when I heard it at 17. Hits like a truck at 43.
@victoriawellspring7503
Dang dude got me crying in the parking lot on my lunch break.
@RachelEC023
Whatever and Ever Amen may be the best album, as a whole - of all time. It's certainly my favorite, has been since it came out, probably always will be.
@jellyjamforever
Fuck yes!!! Pardon my French
@ohmybillnye
yep, I'm not even the biggest fan of One Angry Dwarf and I still think this is my favorite complete album ever.
@AnalogCinema
I was so lucky to have Ben Folds in high school when I needed his art most. 20 years later... still moves me
@barrylamb2148
I'm 67 years old and a lover of lyrics. When I discovered Ben Folds , via my son, I realised there was more than my old stand by's Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Warren Zevon, Mark Germino etc. I'm born again. Even went to a Ben Folds concert.
@quikdrw63
Awesome! Love James Taylor. Ben Folds is great!!!!
@utubeismuhkrakaneliterally1807
Barry Lamb - saw them at the SF Fillmore, a small intimate venue. i was only a few feet from ben pounding that piano. the experience was ecstasy.
@jellyjamforever
Barry Lamb fortunately there is still great music, unfortunately it's not on the radio like back in your day when radio was still awesome. There is a lot of great music these days. Unfortunately you have to dig for it