Backstory
On the album Ben Folds Live, Folds explained: "People ask me what this song's about... I was asked about it a lot, and I didn't really wanna make a big hairy deal out of it, because I just wanted the song to speak for itself. But the song is about when I was in high school, me and my girlfriend had to get an abortion, and it was a very sad thing. And, I didn't really want to write this song from any kind of political standpoint, or make a statement. I just wanted to reflect what it feels like. So, anyone who's gone through that before, then you'll know what the song's about.[2]
On Ben Folds' recent iTunes Originals compilation, he confesses that he had attempted to write a song about the abortion for quite some time, but he had trouble getting the song finished because it was too literal, but thanks to Darren Jessee's chorus, the song was given just enough mystique to be the hit that it was. (Folds even jokes that "I've never understood a hit chorus. I wish I did.")
Brick
Ben Folds Five Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I throw some clothes on in the dark
The smell of cold
Car seat is freezing
The world is sleeping
I am numb
Up the stairs to her apartment
Her mom and dad went down to Charlotte
They're not home to find us out
And we drive
Now that I have found someone
I'm feeling more alone
Than I ever have before
She's a brick and I'm drowning slowly
Off the coast and I'm headed nowhere
She's a brick and I'm drowning slowly
They call her name at seven-thirty
I pace around the parking lot
Then I walk down to buy her flowers
And sell some gifts that I got
Can't you see
It's not me you're dying for?
Now she's feeling more alone
Than she ever has before
She's a brick and I'm drowning slowly
Off the coast and I'm headed nowhere
She's a brick and I'm drowning slowly
As weeks went by
It showed that she was not fine
They told me "Son it's time to tell the truth"
And she broke down and I broke down
'Cause I was tired of lying
Driving back to her apartment
For the moment, we're alone
Yeah, she's alone and I'm alone
And now I know it
She's a brick and I'm drowning slowly
Off the coast and I'm headed nowhere
She's a brick and I'm drowning slowly
The song "Brick" by Ben Folds Five tells the story of a difficult decision that few teenagers should have to make: seeking an abortion. The singer wakes up early on the day after Christmas and goes to his girlfriend's house. She is curled up on the couch, and their parents are away. He drives her to the clinic where she gets the procedure done. As the days pass, they struggle with the decision they made, and eventually, they break down and confess to their parents. The song ends with the sad realization that the couple is now truly alone, each dealing with their own pain and regret.
The lyrics are straightforward in conveying the emotions of the situation. Each verse progresses the story and reveals the couple's fears and anxieties. The opening lines set the scene with vivid imagery of the cold winter morning, giving the listener a sense of the singer's numbness. The chorus of "She's a brick, and I'm drowning slowly" is the most famous part of the song, and it creates a metaphor for the emotional weight of the situation.
Ben Folds said in an interview that he wrote the song about a real-life experience he had with his high school girlfriend. They had an unplanned pregnancy and decided to have an abortion. Folds said he wanted to write a song that was honest and vulnerable about the difficult decision-making process that came with teenage pregnancy.
Line by Line Meaning
Six AM day after Christmas
The singer wakes up at a very early hour on the day after Christmas.
I throw some clothes on in the dark
The singer puts on some clothes in the dark so as not to wake anyone.
The smell of cold
The singer can smell the cold in the air.
Car seat is freezing
The artist's car seat is very cold.
The world is sleeping
The world around the artist is completely quiet and still.
I am numb
The singer feels emotionally numb and detached from the world.
Up the stairs to her apartment
The singer goes up the stairs to his girlfriend's apartment.
She is balled up on the couch
The artist's girlfriend is curled up on the couch in a fetal position.
Her mom and dad went down to Charlotte
The girlfriend's parents are out of town in Charlotte.
They're not home to find us out
The artist and his girlfriend are alone in the apartment and no one will find out about their actions.
And we drive
The singer and his girlfriend drive somewhere together.
Now that I have found someone
The artist has found someone to be with.
I'm feeling more alone
The singer feels more lonely than he ever has before.
Than I ever have before
The singer has never felt as lonely as he does now.
She's a brick and I'm drowning slowly
The singer's girlfriend is like a brick weighing him down and causing him to sink.
Off the coast and I'm headed nowhere
The artist feels lost and directionless, like he is adrift at sea.
They call her name at seven-thirty
The artist's girlfriend is called at 7:30 in the morning for something important.
I pace around the parking lot
The singer walks around the parking lot while waiting for his girlfriend.
Then I walk down to buy her flowers
The singer goes to buy his girlfriend some flowers.
And sell some gifts that I got
The artist sells some gifts that he received.
Can't you see
The artist wants someone to understand his situation.
It's not me you're dying for?
The artist's girlfriend is not really interested in being with him.
Now she's feeling more alone
The girlfriend is feeling even more lonely than she was before.
Than she ever has before
The girlfriend has never felt as lonely as she does now.
As weeks went by
Time passes by.
It showed that she was not fine
The girlfriend is not doing well.
They told me "Son it's time to tell the truth"
Someone tells the singer that it's time to tell the truth.
And she broke down and I broke down
The girlfriend and the artist both start crying.
'Cause I was tired of lying
The artist was tired of keeping the truth a secret.
Driving back to her apartment
The singer and his girlfriend return to her apartment.
For the moment, we're alone
The singer and his girlfriend are alone at the moment.
Yeah, she's alone and I'm alone
Neither the girlfriend nor the artist really have anyone else to turn to.
And now I know it
The artist now realizes how alone he really is.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Ben Folds, Darren Jessee
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@randomlibra
This is one of the most haunting, heart breaking songs ever.
Driving back to her apartment
For the moment we're alone
But she's alone
And I'm alone
And now I know it
That part kills me every time I hear it.
@pagemastrogiovanni9195
@@augustmoon5596 From my research I think I went to one of the free On the Bricks concerts in Centennial Park about 20 years ago to see Sting. It was wonderful!
From an article:
"Atlanta Prepares For ‘On The Bricks’
Billboard Staff
4/24/2002
Rising neo-soul star India.Arie will headline the inaugural show of Atlanta’s 2002 On the Bricks free weekly concert series. Set for May 24 in the city’s Centennial Olympic Park, the bill for the opening event will also feature singer/songwriter John Mayer, modern rock act the Calling, and locally based singer/songwriter Chrystina Lloree.
While the full schedule for the series is not yet announced, many artists who will perform in the park throughout the summer have been confirmed, including Michelle Branch, They Might Be Giants, Cracker, Blues Traveler, Sister Hazel, former Whiskeytown member Caitlin Cary, Will Hoge, the Smithereens, and Edwin McCain."
@verbavolant6895
I've fallen down the hole of 90s nostalgia. But that's okay, life is better down here anyway.
@emileesmits6585
Me too
@mickklower6465
Yep, im here right now... 98-99
@tammym8966
Same friend, same
@jeremiahclark3084
I'm here with you
@allyfowlks9067
OMG I literally just looked at my fiancé and said “oh God I’m gone down a 90s black hole right now.” But seriously...it was the epic decade.
@CountryBuns
One year later, here we are again at 6AM, day after Christmas. Here's to everybody who keeps coming back to this song year after year. Take care of each other, my friends.
@A-RonHubbard
A few hours late, but I made it.. Thanks for your comment.
@Nicole-br8rf
Happy new year, friend.
@stardust4285
You 2 Country buns lol great name btw.