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.
Barrytown
Ben Folds Five Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But over there in Barrytown they do things very strange
And though you're not my enemy
I like things like they used to be
And though you'd like some company
I'm standing by myself
Go play with someone else
I can see by what you carry that you come from Barrytown
I just read the Daily News and swear by every word
And don't think that I'm out of line
For speaking out for what is mine
I'd like to see you do just fine
But look at what you wear
And the way you cut your hair
I can see by what you carry that you come from Barrytown
In the beginning we recall that the word was hurled
Barrytown people got to be from another world
Leave me or I'll be just like the others you will meet
They won't act as kindly if they see you on the street
And don't you scream or make a shout
It's nothing you can do about
It was there where you came out
It's a special lack of grace
I can see it in your face
I can see by what you carry that you come from Barrytown
The lyrics of Barrytown by Ben Folds Five contain a strong sense of nostalgia and a resistance to change. The singer is addressing someone from Barrytown, a strange place where things are done differently. Even though the singer is not their enemy, they do not subscribe to the strange customs of Barrytown and prefer things the way they used to be. The singer is wary of the person from Barrytown and sees them as a representation of everything they are opposed to - the clothing, the hairstyle, the lack of grace. It is almost as if the person from Barrytown and the singer live in different worlds and are unable to coexist peacefully.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm not one to look behind I know that times must change
I understand that things change, but I prefer to stick to the familiar.
But over there in Barrytown they do things very strange
Barrytown is a place with unusual customs and behaviors.
And though you're not my enemy
I don't have a problem with you personally.
I like things like they used to be
I prefer the way things were in the past.
And though you'd like some company
Although you may want someone to be with.
I'm standing by myself
I prefer to be alone.
Go play with someone else
Find someone else to spend time with.
I can see by what you carry that you come from Barrytown
I can tell by your belongings that you are from Barrytown.
Don't believe I'm taken in by stories I have heard
I don't believe rumors or gossip.
I just read the Daily News and swear by every word
I trust the information I read in the news.
And don't think that I'm out of line
Don't think that I'm being unreasonable.
For speaking out for what is mine
For defending what I hold dear.
I'd like to see you do just fine
I hope things go well for you.
But look at what you wear
Consider how you present yourself.
And the way you cut your hair
Your hairstyle is also a reflection of your identity.
In the beginning we recall that the word was hurled
At the beginning of time, words had great power.
Barrytown people got to be from another world
Barrytown inhabitants are distinct and unique.
Leave me or I'll be just like the others you will meet
If you continue to spend time with me, you may become like the people of Barrytown who I look down upon.
They won't act as kindly if they see you on the street
The Barrytown residents may not treat you well if you are associated with me.
And don't you scream or make a shout
Don't overreact or cause a scene.
It's nothing you can do about
There's nothing we can change about our circumstances.
It was there where you came out
The way we were born shapes who we are.
It's a special lack of grace
There is something unique and unpleasant about the customs of Barrytown.
I can see it in your face
I can tell from your expression that you are from Barrytown.
I can see by what you carry that you come from Barrytown
Once again, I can tell from your belongings that you are from Barrytown.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DONALD JAY FAGEN, WALTER CARL BECKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
maning04
the movie has such great unique songs.. it really fits the movie! :)
Jeff McCaskill
All steely dan covers
Skitizen
Didn't realise it was a cover of a song composed in the 70s, no wonder it seemed to have a different flavour to his other tracks.
7sevo7
I agree with the other comment 100% ambitious to cover steely Dan. Ben folds five filled an in-between space around '95, '96 I welcomed it
julio martinez
the movie was filled with steely dan covers
Awaking Bare
Hasn't the last 11 years been wild?
Rodrigo Da Costa Leal
Nostalgia pura
Kevin Carlow
I think it's the best Dan cover aside from Joe Jackson's "King of the World", and I'm not even a BFF fan per se.
boudreaux broletariat
do it again by smash mouth tho
Shara
One of the best soundtrack and movie ever ever.....