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.
Zak and Sara
Ben Folds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On a Peavea amp in 1984
While Zak without a 'see' tried out some new guitars
Playing Sara-with-no-h's favorite song
Zak and Sara
Often Sara would have spells where she lost time
The kind of voices she would soon learn to deny
Because at home they got her smacked
Zak and Sara
Zak and Sara
Zak called his dad about layaway plans
And Sara told the friendly salesman that:
"You'll all die in your cars,
And why's it gotta be dark?
And you're all working in a submarine."
(Asshole)
She saw the lights, she saw the pale English face
Some strange machines repeating beats and thumping bass
Visions of pills that put you in a loving trance
That make it possible for all white boys to dance
And when Zak finished Sara's song, Sara clapped
Zak and Sara
Zak and Sara
The song "Zak and Sara" by Ben Folds is about two misfits who found each other and formed a meaningful connection. Sara is spelled without an "h" and is bored with her life in 1984, spending her time playing a Peavey amp. Zak doesn't spell his name with a "C," and he likes to try out new guitars while playing Sara's favorite song. They feel like outsiders in the world around them and find solace in each other's company.
Sara has a condition that causes her to have spells where she loses time and hears voices. These voices give her visions of the future, but she eventually learns to ignore them because they lead to physical abuse at home. Zak and Sara bond over their shared experiences of feeling like outcasts, and they create music together as a way to escape from their problems.
The lyrics in the second verse suggest that Sara may have a mental illness, and her visions are a symptom of her condition. When Zak calls his dad to make layaway plans for a guitar, Sara tells the salesman that everyone will die in their cars and questions why it always has to be dark. She also tells him that he's working in a submarine, which is likely a reference to feeling trapped in a small space. The chorus repeats the phrase "Zak and Sara" as a way to emphasize the strong bond they share.
Overall, "Zak and Sara" is a song about two people who find each other despite their individual struggles and create something beautiful together.
Line by Line Meaning
Sara spelled without an 'h' was getting bored
Sara without an 'h' found things mundane and uninteresting.
On a Peavea amp in 1984
Playing on an old, peculiar guitar amplifier from 1984.
While Zak without a 'see' tried out some new guitars
Zak, whose name lacked a 'c', was experimenting with different guitars.
Playing Sara-with-no-h's favorite song
Zak was performing the music that Sara liked.
Often Sara would have spells where she lost time
Sara suffered from spells of forgetfulness or lost consciousness.
She saw the future, she heard voices from inside
Sara had vivid hallucinations about what the future held and heard strange things in her head.
The kind of voices she would soon learn to deny
Sara would eventually deny and reject the voices she heard.
Because at home they got her smacked
Because of her strange behavior, Sara was punished at home.
Zak called his dad about layaway plans
Zak contacted his father regarding payment plans for purchasing something in the future.
And Sara told the friendly salesman that:
Sara said something to the kind, personable person who was trying to sell them things.
"You'll all die in your cars,
And why's it gotta be dark?
And you're all working in a submarine."
(Asshole)
Sara made an eerie statement about people dying in vehicles, questioned the reason behind the darkness, and then insulted the people working there.
She saw the lights, she saw the pale English face
Sara witnessed visions of lights and a light-skinned English person.
Some strange machines repeating beats and thumping bass
Sara saw bizarre machines creating repetitive sounds and strong bass notes.
Visions of pills that put you in a loving trance
That make it possible for all white boys to dance
She saw pills that made people experience a wonderful trance-like state and made even white guys capable of dancing.
And when Zak finished Sara's song, Sara clapped
After Zak finished playing the song Sara liked, she applauded.
Zak and Sara
Zak and Sara
Zak and Sara, the two people the song is about.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BEN FOLDS, BENJAMIN SCOTT FOLDS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@swizzili1140
sara spelled without an h was getting bored
on a peavey amp in 1984
while zak without a c tried out some new guitars
playing sara with no hs favorite song
la da da da da
la da da da da
zak and sara
often sara would have spells where she lost time
she saw the future she heard voices from inside
the kind of voices she would soon learn to deny
because at home they got her smacked
la da da da da
la da da da da
zak and sara
zak and sara
zak called his dad
about layaway plans
sara told the friendly salesman that
you’ll all die in your cars
and why’s it gotta be dark
and you’re all workin in a submarine
she saw the lights she saw a pale English face
some strange machine with beating beats and thumping bass
visions of pills that put you in a loving trance
that make it possible for all white boys to dance
and when zak finished Sara’s song sara clapped
la da da da da
la da da da da
zak and sara
zak and sara
yeah
yeah..
@Mordread_Flux
My big sister, who is now 25, played this song for me when I rode with her in her car. This always makes me think of her.
@tomcastelli6890
Is her name Sara, spelled without an h? Is your name Zak, spelled without a c?
@andrewthepokerchamp
This song brings back so memory memories. During marching band, our directors would play music during warm up and this is one of the songs that they chose.
@llsyd2491
i used to love ben folds' music so much as a kid without knowing who he was. i recently read an article of my favourite artist talking about ben folds and decided to check him out. boy did it make me emotional realizing i just found him again after having no idea what his name was after all these years
@ezrac704
That's pretty sick
@michaelrapaport4494
That makes no sense
@1gnore_me.
ben folds is the kind of musician you truly don't appreciate until well after their prime -- this guy defined an entire generation of indie musicians, and I think his influence is going to become even more apparent as time marches on.
@Steelburgh
I'd argue he's still in his prime! Can't wait until he releases his new album he's been working on (though it must be a ways off since his current symphony tour is all existing stuff).
@zaimahhabeeb4908
The ooohs and ahhhhs in the bg, alone, are enough to make this song great.
@leelevingate
I was lucky enough to see him do this live at the Ann Arbor folk festival. Power trio at it's best.