The members of the band are Ben Folds, the lead singer and pianist, who also wrote most of the songs; Robert Sledge on bass; and Darren Jessee on drums. The group enjoyed the success of the single Brick in 1997, a ballad written by Folds (with a chorus by Jessee) about his high school girlfriend getting an abortion. This song has, to a large degree, misrepresented the band to fans who aren't familiar with their other work; "Brick" is a serious ballad, whereas most of their music is characterised by jazz inflections and witty, humorous lyrics.
After the band's not-so amicable breakup in October 2000 over Ben's over shadowing of Sledge and Jessee, Folds began a solo career. Robert Sledge's subsequent band International Orange has broken up, while Darren Jessee is the frontman for the band Hotel Lights.
Folds once described their music as "punk rock for pussies" - a reaction to the angst prevalent in 90s rock. When asked about his band's name he jokingly responded "you mean a trio isn't five?". In other interviews the band said that the name was simply because Ben Folds Five sounded better than Ben Folds Three.
Ben Folds has continued with producing music on his own, striking a subtler tone than Ben Folds Five's earlier recordings. His personal relationship with William Shatner has opened the doors for a great professional one. Ben Folds produced William Shatner's album Has Been and they have since worked together on The 'Over The Hedge' soundtrack.
On September 18, 2008 at the UNC Memorial Hall in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the band reunited for the first time in nearly 10 years for one special gig playing their critically acclaimed final album: The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner in its entirety.
The House Songfacts reports that the trio got together in 2011 to record three new Ben Folds Five songs for the compilation,The Best Imitation of Myself: A Retrospective.
Their 4th studio album "The Sound Of The Life Of The Mind" released September 18th, 2012. A live album titled "Ben Folds Live" released soon after on June 3rd, 2013.
Another live album "The Complete Sessions at West 54th" originally recorded in June of 1997, released on July 10, 2018.
Army
Ben Folds Five Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dad said, son you're fuckin high.
And I thought, yeah there's a first for everything,
So I took my old man's advice.
Three sad semesters,
It was only fifteen grand.
Spent in bed I thought about the army,
I dropped out and joined a band instead.
Grew a mustache and a mullet,
Got a job at chic-fil-a.
Citing artistic differences the band broke up in May,
And in June reformed without me, and they got a different name.
I nuked another grandma's apple pie
And hung my head in shame.
Been thinking a lot today.
Been thinking a lot today.
Oh, I think I'll write a screenplay.
Oh, I think I'll take it to LA.
Oh, I think I'll get it done yesterday (aw shit).
In this time of introspection.
On the eve of my election,
I say to my reflection
God, please spare me more rejection.
Cause my peers they criticize me,
And my ex-wives all despise me.
Try to put it all behind me,
But my redneck past is nipping at my heels
I've been thinking a lot today.
I've been thinking a lot today.
I've been thinking a lot today.
I thought about the army
The lyrics of Ben Folds's song Army describe the journey of a young man's progression through life as he deals with rejection and finds his place in the world. The singer of the song originally considers joining the army, but his father discourages him, telling him that he is "fucking high." Despite this, the singer goes on to spend three sad semesters in college before dropping out and joining a band, much to his father's disappointment.
The song's chorus sees the singer "thinking a lot today" as he attempts to find his place in the world. He then grows a mustache and mullet and gets a job at Chick-fil-A, but the band eventually breaks up, and they reform under a different name without him. Feeling lost and ashamed, he "nuked another grandma's apple pie" and hung his head in shame.
The song's final verse sees the singer contemplating his past and the rejection he has faced from his peers and ex-wives. He begs God to "spare him more rejection" as his "redneck past is nipping at his heels." The song ends with the refrain, "I've been thinking a lot today," as the singer continues to search for his place in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I thought about the army,
I had a thought about joining the army
Dad said, son you're fuckin high.
My dad thought it was a crazy idea
And I thought, yeah there's a first for everything,
I thought it would be a new experience
So I took my old man's advice.
I listened to my dad and didn't join the army
Three sad semesters,
I had three unsuccessful semesters in college
It was only fifteen grand.
I wasted fifteen thousand dollars on school
Spent in bed I thought about the army,
I spent time in bed thinking about the army instead of studying
I dropped out and joined a band instead.
I left college and joined a band
Grew a mustache and a mullet,
I changed my look and grew a mustache and mullet
Got a job at chic-fil-a.
I got a job at Chick-fil-A
Citing artistic differences the band broke up in May,
The band broke up because we had artistic differences in May
And in June reformed without me, and they got a different name.
In June, the band got back together without me and changed their name
I nuked another grandma's apple pie
I ruined another person's grandma's apple pie
And hung my head in shame.
I felt bad and was ashamed of what I had done
Been thinking a lot today.
I have been deep in thought all day
Oh, I think I'll write a screenplay.
I am considering writing a screenplay
Oh, I think I'll take it to LA.
I plan to take the screenplay to Los Angeles
Oh, I think I'll get it done yesterday (aw shit).
I hope to finish the screenplay quickly (even though it's unlikely)
In this time of introspection.
I am currently reflecting on my life and my choices
On the eve of my election,
As I prepare to make important decisions
I say to my reflection
I am talking to myself
God, please spare me more rejection.
I don't want to face any more rejection or failure
Cause my peers they criticize me,
My peers judge and criticize me
And my ex-wives all despise me.
My ex-wives hate me
Try to put it all behind me,
I am trying to move on from the past
But my redneck past is nipping at my heels
My past as a redneck is still affecting me
I've been thinking a lot today.
My thoughts are consumed by these issues
I've been thinking a lot today.
I can't stop thinking about these problems
I've been thinking a lot today.
These issues are overwhelming my thoughts
Lyrics ยฉ Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BEN FOLDS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nathanhulsey385
The fuzz on this bass is legendary.
@SkaterChick1972
OHHHHHH YEAH
@ramowas
more than makes up for not having a mainstay guitarist
@dr.a006
Two of my kids work at Chick-fil-A.
I shared this song with them๐
@SorrowTV
The amount of people that can't spell Nirvanna The Band is infuriating.
@aidan6083
lol I've been seeing a ton of your reddit narrations and I just randomly came across this, what the fuck. I was thinking the same thing, it's in the title of the show ffs.
@keithmpire
In the original episodes it wasn't spelled with two N's. The other people are spelling it the correct way, son.
@juliantaranto4178
Lol its you
@Ilikebigboobies
I can spell it... I just used to not be able to pronounce it. One time I couldn't pronounce my R's and L's... I swear my first language shouldn't have been English because I speak it horribly! My fam says we have a bit of Irish and maybe even British in our family origin, I mean... I believe it because I'm the only one who has a strong accent, the accent sounds British too... but I was listening to british and Irish accents and they say words like garden and garage differently like me when I hear other people say it... it just feels right to say garage as (gare-idge)
@philvogel5705
abbi Sullivan turns a simple comment into an autobiography....