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.
Rocky
Ben Folds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I could jump so far.
Seems that all I'd ever done,
Were smoking pot out in the car.
And this fear faded in,
From my deputies in my old school.
He says
I've been running through these fields
It's such a lovely place you drink,
Is it your imagination,
It's been years since I've been on my feet? "
Now it's rocky's day,
And it's on it's way.
Sun won't be coming out today.
Now it's rocky's day,
And it's time he went away.
Sun won't be coming out today.
Now I recall,
But I don't know who,
Told me rocky was a runner,
Won a medal back in school.
Now at christmas momma says,
You go up in rocky's room.
And as we watch the sun go down,
He thanks me for my dreams.
He says "i know you think you are,
But you're not completely free.
The man who's seen the spectre of the...
Completely free. "
Now it's rocky's day,
And it's on it's way.
Sun won't be coming out today.
Now it's rocky's day,
And it's on it's way.
Sun won't be coming out today.
Then he smiled,
And he turned and walked away.
He said over his shoulder,
"i'll be gone when you're awake."
Now it's rocky's day,
And it's on it's way.
Sun won't be coming out today.
Now it's rocky's day,
And it's on it's way.
Sun won't be coming out today.
The song "Rocky" by Ben Folds seemingly tells the story of a reminiscing narrator who recalls his own experiences with drugs and partying as a young person. The opening verse sets the scene in a park, where the singer flashes back to a time when he used to smoke pot in cars. The mention of "fear faded in" likely suggests a feeling of anxiety or paranoia that comes with drug use, which makes him consider the opinions of his old deputies from school. The singer then seems to imagine a conversation with a friend, in which the friend comments on the beauty of the area and wonders if the singer's drinking is just his imagination. The friend seems to suggest that he hasn't been able to participate in such activities himself for years.
The song then shifts to a contemplation of someone called Rocky. The singer thinks that he has heard that Rocky was a talented runner who won a medal back in school. It is revealed that the singer and his friends sometimes remember their "dreams," or lofty ambitions, and that Rocky seems to be someone who represents those aspirations. However, when the singer visits Rocky's room, Rocky suggests that the singer is not free despite believing otherwise. The song ends with Rocky walking away, saying that he'll be gone by the time the singer wakes up. "Rocky" seems to be a poignant reminder of lost youth, dashed dreams, and the limits of freedom, wrapped up in a story of nostalgia and a longing for simpler times.
Line by Line Meaning
We were in a park
The setting where the story takes place.
And I could jump so far.
The singer is able to perform a physical feat, which is juxtaposed with his previous behavior.
Seems that all I'd ever done,
The singer reflects on his past behavior and life choices.
Were smoking pot out in the car.
The artist's main activity was getting high in a car, indicating lack of direction and ambition.
And this fear faded in,
The artist recognizes a sudden, unsettling feeling.
From my deputies in my old school.
The source of the unsettling feeling is revealed to be authority figures from his past.
"ben, we both know you're a saint,
The singer hears a message from someone he knows well.
I've been running through these fields
The artist describes peaceful scenery, creating a contrast with the artist's current situation.
It's such a lovely place you drink,
The artist appreciates a place where drinking takes place, romanticizing the location.
Is it your imagination,
The artist wonders about the artist's thoughts.
It's been years since I've been on my feet? "
The singer hasn't been active in a long time, possibly indicating a sense of pity.
Now it's rocky's day,
A shift in the story's focus to a character named Rocky.
And it's on it's way.
Rocky's story is about to unfold and have significant impact.
Sun won't be coming out today.
The weather symbolism used indicates that things won't be getting better anytime soon.
Now I recall,
The singer remembers something.
But I don't know who,
There is uncertainty around the source of the artist's memory.
Told me rocky was a runner,
The memory involves information about Rocky being an athlete.
Won a medal back in school.
Rocky's achievements are further explained, indicating that his past was more successful than the singer's.
Now at christmas momma says,
The singer's mother enters the story, introducing a new character.
You go up in rocky's room.
The artist is instructed to go to Rocky's room for a specific reason.
And as we watch the sun go down,
The scene being described is picturesque but tempers the mood with a waning sun.
He thanks me for my dreams.
Rocky is grateful for something that the artist shared with him.
He says "i know you think you are,
Rocky confronts the singer with a statement that is both confident and critical.
But you're not completely free.
Rocky implies that the artist is not as in control of his life as he thinks he is.
The man who's seen the spectre of the...
The meaning of this sentence is unclear.
Completely free. "
Rocky reiterates his previous point, emphasizing that the singer is not as free as he thinks he is.
Then he smiled,
Rocky reacts positively but possibly deceptively to the singer.
And he turned and walked away.
Rocky exits the scene, leaving the artist alone with his thoughts.
He said over his shoulder,
Rocky speaks once more before leaving, adding to his previous statements.
"i'll be gone when you're awake."
Rocky's remark is ominous and possibly threatening, adding tension to the story.
Contributed by Victoria D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@shelaghnigans
Can anyone help out with lyrics? I think I have most of them, but "..." indicates where I can't discern and (???) where I'm not sure. Particularly interested in the last line of the first verse and the last line of the fourth verse. For the latter, one lyric site has "spectre of departure," but it really sounds like Ben's singing "spectre of the ..."
We were in a park,
and I could jump so far,
Seems ...[unintelligible name]... and ...[unintelligible name]... (???)
were smoking pot out in the car,
And this fear faded in,
From a ... in my old school.
He says, "Ben, we both know you're asleep,
I've been running through these fields,
It's such a lovely place you dream,
is it your imagination?
It's been years since I've been on my feet."
Now it's Rocky's day,
Send his soul on its way.
The sun won't be coming out.
Yeah it's Rocky's day,
and this time he went away.
The sun won't be coming out today.
And I recall,
but I don't know who,
told me Rocky was a runner,
won a medal back in school.
Now at Christmas Momma says,
"You go up with me to Rocky's room." (???)
And as we watch the sun go down,
he thanks me for my dreams,
Says "I know you think you are,
but you're not completely free.
The man who's seen the spectre of the ...
is completely free."
Now it's Rocky's day,
Send his soul on his way.
The sun won't be coming out today.
And it's Rocky's day,
Send his soul on his way.
The sun won't be coming out today.
Then he smiled,
and he turned and walked away.
He said over his shoulder,
"I'll be gone when you're awake."
It's Rocky's day,
Send his soul on his way.
The sun won't be coming out.
Yeah it's Rocky's day,
And a soul on his way.
The sun won't be coming out today.
Rocky's day,
Send a soul on his way,
The sun won't be coming out today.
Yeah it's Rocky's day,
Send a soul on his way,
The sun won't be coming out today.
@theVHSvlog
First stanza definitely has "and my mom and Aunt Madonna were smoking pot out in the car, and this figure faded in"