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.
I'm Not The Man
Ben Folds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What will the version be when all is said and done?
Will they remember all of the places seen, the poems lost
Or am I just wondering on? Yeah, I'm just wondering on
There could be fewer days ahead than gone
And all I've spent are long since on my way
To learn that nothing comes for free
I'm not the man I used to be
So it all comes out in the wash
What would you see?
Tattered pages in the ink stained pockets of your jeans?
So I've come to pay my respects at the wake
I've buried it all and I'm dancing on my own grave
There could be fewer days ahead than gone
And all I've spent are long since on my way
To learn that nothing comes for free
But I'm not the man
I'm not the man I used to be
Don't leave me behind
Don't leave me behind
Like I left you behind
There could be fewer days ahead than gone
And all I've spent are long since on my way
To learn that nothing comes for free
I had a lot of time to waste
I wrote the lines upon my face
Chasin' down the shots they bought for me
And I'm not the man, I'm not the man
I'm not the man, but I used to be
I used to be my father's son
(I used to be) number one
(I used to be) paper and pencil
(I used to be) endless potential
(I used to be) Heaven and Earth
(I used to be) my net worth
(I used to be) one public, drunken moment
(I used to be) high paid and low rent
(I used to be) a man on a mission
My best chart position
The man in the mirror
You're proud of your cure
A new day, a new town
Your racehorse, your cash cow
'Til I let you all down
No, I want to be I want to be
I just want to be
The lyrics of Ben Folds's song "I'm Not The Man" delve into themes of self-reflection, identity, and change. The singer ponders what legacy he will leave behind and how he will be remembered by others. He questions whether his experiences and creations will be significant or if he is simply drifting along without purpose. The uncertainty of the future is palpable as he contemplates the passage of time and the realization that nothing in life comes without cost.
As the song progresses, the singer acknowledges that he is not the same person he used to be. He reflects on the evolution of his character and the ways in which life's challenges and experiences have shaped him. There is a sense of resignation and acceptance in his realization that everything eventually comes to light and is "washed" away. The imagery of "tattered pages in the ink stained pockets of your jeans" evokes a sense of wear and tear, of memories and stories that have been carried along the journey.
The singer pays respects to his past self, symbolically burying his previous identity and embracing the person he has become. There is a poignant acknowledgment of the passage of time and the inevitability of change. He pleads not to be left behind, recognizing the importance of connection and companionship in navigating life's twists and turns. The lyrics convey a mix of nostalgia for the past and a yearning for growth and renewal.
The song culminates in a series of reflections on the singer's past self, with references to familial ties, personal achievements, and moments of both pride and regret. He acknowledges the complexities of his journey and the multifaceted nature of his identity. The repetition of "I used to be" highlights the contrast between who he was and who he is now, illustrating the continuous evolution of the self. Ultimately, the singer expresses a desire to be true to himself and find a sense of purpose and fulfillment in his existence.
Line by Line Meaning
What will they write about me?
What will be my legacy in the eyes of others?
What will the version be when all is said and done?
What will the final story of my life look like?
Will they remember all of the places seen, the poems lost
Will people remember the experiences I've had and the things I've created?
Or am I just wondering on? Yeah, I'm just wondering on
Or am I simply drifting through life, unsure of my purpose?
There could be fewer days ahead than gone
I may have more past than future ahead of me
And all I've spent are long since on my way
I have already expended much of my time and energy
To learn that nothing comes for free
I have come to realize that success requires effort
But I'm not the man
I have changed and evolved from who I used to be
What would you see?
What do you perceive when you look at me?
Tattered pages in the ink stained pockets of your jeans?
Remnants of my past mistakes and experiences that I carry with me?
So I've come to pay my respects at the wake
I have been reflecting on the end of an era
I've buried it all and I'm dancing on my own grave
I have moved on from my past and am celebrating my growth
Don't leave me behind
Please don't forget about me or abandon me
There could be fewer days ahead than gone
I may have limited time left in my life
I had a lot of time to waste
I had plenty of opportunities but squandered them
I wrote the lines upon my face
Life's experiences have left their mark on me
My best chart position
When I was at my prime in terms of success
You're proud of your cure
You are confident in your ability to overcome challenges
A new day, a new town
Starting fresh, moving on to a new chapter in life
'Til I let you all down
Until I disappointed everyone around me
No, I want to be I want to be
I desire to become the person I aspire to be
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Alicia Witt, Benjamin Folds
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind