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.
Them That Got
Ben Folds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can't even win the nickel bet
Because them that's got
Are them that gets and
I ain't seen nothing yet
I see folks with fine cars and fancy clothes
That's why they're called the smarter set
What them that's got supposed to get
And I ain't seen nothin' yet
Them that gots is
Them that gets
Is something I can't see
You got to get something
'Fore you can get something
How you get the first
Is still a mystery to me
I see folks with fine car and fancy clothes
That's why they're called the smarter set
Because they manage to get
What them that's got supposed to get
And I ain't seen nothin' yet
I ain't seen nothing yet
I ain't seen nothing yet
In the song "Them That Got," Ben Folds talks about the age-old question of why some people seem to have everything while others struggle to get by. He talks about how unfair it is that the rich get richer while the poor get poorer. Folds starts by saying he only has one pair of shoes left and can't even win a small bet, showing how little he has. He then contrasts himself with the "smarter set" who have fancy clothes and cars because they "manage to get what them that's got supposed to get." He repeats the phrase "Them that gots is them that gets" to emphasize the idea that those who already have money and power will continue to accumulate more, leaving others behind.
Folds then acknowledges that he doesn't understand how the system works, saying "How you get the first is still a mystery to me." This line suggests that even though he can see the disparity between the haves and have-nots, he doesn't know how to change it. The song ends with Folds lamenting that he hasn't seen anything yet, implying that the situation will only get worse.
Overall, "Them That Got" is a commentary on the unequal distribution of wealth and power in society. Folds uses his lyrics to criticize the system that benefits the wealthy and leaves the rest struggling to get by. He paints a bleak picture of the future, implying that the situation is unlikely to change anytime soon.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm getting down to the last pair of shoes
I am almost out of options and resources.
Can't even win the nickel bet
I am not even able to succeed in small, insignificant things.
Because them that's got
Those who already possess resources and power,
Are them that gets
Are the ones who continue to succeed and accumulate more resources and power.
And I ain't seen nothing yet
My struggles and challenges are not over, and worse things may be coming.
I see folks with fine cars and fancy clothes
I observe people who possess material wealth and status symbols.
That's why they're called the smarter set
These people are often seen as intelligent and successful due to their wealth and status.
Because they manage to get
Because they are constantly obtaining and accumulating resources and power.
What them that's got supposed to get
These people are getting what is expected from the resources and power that they already possess.
Is something I can't see
I cannot understand how these people continue to succeed and accumulate resources.
You got to get something
In order to accumulate more resources and power,
'Fore you can get something
You must already possess a certain level of resources and power.
How you get the first
The process of obtaining the first set of resources and power,
Is still a mystery to me
I cannot understand how some people are able to initially acquire resources and power while others struggle.
I ain't seen nothin' yet
I do not yet know the full extent of my struggles and challenges, and more difficulties may be coming.
I ain't seen nothing yet
I have not yet experienced the worst of my challenges.
Contributed by Stella E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.