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.
The Last Polka
Ben Folds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
At half past three
Shook her head to see him
Snoring in his sleep
"if he really loved me,"
She said,
"i wouldn't have to be so mean."
Pours from his top drawer
He sometimes likes to spread it
Out around the floor
It's evidence of what
He was like
He likes to remember when
[Chorus]
Sha-la-la sha-la-la sha-la-la
The end is growing near
Though we're treading water now
And holding back our tears
And the day is rising
Wer're singing,
Sha - la - la - la - la
In a minute it will all be coming down
And they know it now
But no one makes a sound
It's such a shame to
Ruin this bright, lazy summer day
[Chorus]
My, my. . .
The cruelest lies are often told
Without a word
My, my. . .
The kindest truths are often spoken,
Never heard
She said,
"you've been pushing me
Like i was a sore tooth
You can't respect me
'Cause I've done so much
For you."
He said, "well, i hate that
It's come to this, but baby,
I was doing fine
How do you think that i
Survived the other twenty-five
Before you?"
[Chorus]
The Last Polka by Ben Folds is a song about the end of a relationship where the couple is now treading water and holding back their tears, but they know that the end is growing near. The song opens with the woman coming back to her house at half past three and finding her partner snoring in his sleep. She expresses her frustration at having to be so mean because if he really loved her, she wouldn't have to be. The next few lines talk about how the man is a heap of junk that he likes to spread out on the floor. It's evidence of what he was like and he likes to remember when.
In the chorus, we hear about the end being near, and the couple is holding back their tears. The day is rising, and they are singing, "Sha-la-la Sha-la-la Sha-la-la." They know that in a minute, it will all be coming down, but no one makes a sound. The couple is ruining this bright, lazy summer day, and it's such a shame.
The last verse has the woman saying that her partner has been pushing her like she's a sore tooth and that he can't respect her because she's done so much for him. He responds that he hates that it's come to this, but he was doing fine before her. He asks her how she thinks he survived the other twenty-five before she came along.
All in all, The Last Polka is a song about the end of a relationship where the couple is now treading water and holding back their tears. They know that the end is coming, and it's a shame because it's ruining their bright, lazy summer day. It's about the frustration and sadness of the end of a relationship where both parties have their own reasons for why it wasn't meant to be.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, she crept back in the house
At half past three
Shook her head to see him
Snoring in his sleep
"if he really loved me,"
She said,
"i wouldn't have to be so mean."
She came home in the middle of the night to find him asleep and realized that if their relationship was strong, she wouldn't feel the need to be cruel to him.
He's a heap of junk that
Pours from his top drawer
He sometimes likes to spread it
Out around the floor
It's evidence of what
He was like
He likes to remember when
His messy room is a reflection of who he is and he likes to keep it that way to remind himself of his past self.
[Chorus]
Sha-la-la sha-la-la sha-la-la
The end is growing near
Though we're treading water now
And holding back our tears
And the day is rising
Wer're singing,
Sha - la - la - la - la
Despite knowing the end is near, they try to keep their spirits high by singing and holding back their tears.
In a minute it will all be coming down
And they know it now
But no one makes a sound
It's such a shame to
Ruin this bright, lazy summer day
They both know the end is near but choose to remain silent and enjoy the remaining moments of their summer day together.
[Chorus]
Repeating the chorus to emphasize the feeling of trying to hold onto the good times despite knowing the end is near.
My, my. . .
The cruelest lies are often told
Without a word
My, my. . .
The kindest truths are often spoken,
Never heard
Sometimes the harshest things are left unsaid, while the most meaningful words are not heard or acknowledged.
She said,
"you've been pushing me
Like i was a sore tooth
You can't respect me
'Cause I've done so much
For you."
He said, "well, i hate that
It's come to this, but baby,
I was doing fine
How do you think that i
Survived the other twenty-five
Before you?"
She accuses him of taking her for granted and not respecting her, while he argues that he was doing just fine before she came along.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANNA GOODMAN, BEN FOLDS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nategrenko4395
I don't think I've ever seen a piano played harder than this.
@whatdothlife4660
I'm gonna reference another Sessions at West 54th recording as a counterpoint: https://youtu.be/RI6973HNh8Y?t=924
@kenoquestoutdoors1081
Tigran Hamasyan has entered the chat
@Jaymz87
Ben hammer finger folds 😛
@ryomathekillers7421
This is honestly so amazing how do you get a song to sound this good
@Jaymz87
Incredible musicianship!
@dougwheeler3437
That piano needed a cigarette after that performance.
@Edgelord9000
I'll never not be impressed with how full sounding three instruments can be
@jermarule34
This song is incredible. Everytime I watch this performance I notice something new. At 2:33 Ben's straight up just slamming on the lower register with his palms. Truly made the piano a rock instrument.
@nidahogal
"If you really loved me", she said, "I wouldn't have to be so mean." What a great ending line!