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.
Eddie Walker
Ben Folds Five Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Put the name tag on your smock
We've come to see you, Eddie Walker
We may pack a little tight, the girl up front says, it's alright
And look there's more of us still getting off the bus
We wish you'd come back home with us
Eddie Walker, this is your life
This ones you when you were small
And you're learnin' how to walk
They'd pick you up and you keep falling down
There you are with Aunt Louise, you're bouncing on her knees
Remember all those trees behind the garden
They're gone, oh, they all got cut down when she died
Eddie Walker, this is your life, you never had a son or a wife
You sure had a hell of a time, oh, Eddie Walker, this is your life
This one's you and Mary Jo
Well, she couldn't come, she says, hello
No, Eddie Walker and she doesn't hate your guts
It's just the whole thing's shook her up
How they picked you up and you kept falling down
Eddie Walker, this is your life, no, Eddie Walker, this is your life
You never had a coat or a tie, you never had a reason to cry
An' this whole stack and all of these
Are just a mist or overseas
We're gonna leave you, Eddie Walker
The song "Eddie Walker" by Ben Folds Five is a touching ballad that tells the story of a man who never quite figured out how to walk through life. The lyrics seem to be narrated by someone who knew Eddie Walker, probably a friend or a relative. They visit Eddie, who works in a factory, and bring him a name tag to wear on his smock. They've come to see him, to let him know that he's not alone in the world, and that someone cares.
The lyrics describe Eddie's life through a series of images - him learning to walk as a child, his moments with his aunt Louise, and his failed romantic relationship with Mary Jo. The song is a tribute to Eddie's life, but it is also a reminder that sometimes life is unfair. Eddie did not have a family of his own, nor did he have many of the things that people typically associate with success, such as a coat or a tie. But the singer reminds Eddie (and the listener) that he had something much more valuable: a hell of a time.
The song is a poignant reminder that we should not judge people by their material possessions or their accomplishments. Eddie may not have had a lot, but he lived his life with passion and joy, and that is something we could all learn from.
Line by Line Meaning
Won't you smile, you look so shocked
Please don't be shocked, Eddie. We are here for you and want to make you happy
Put the name tag on your smock
You should be identified properly so everyone knows who you are
We've come to see you, Eddie Walker
We are here to spend time with you and to show you how appreciated you are
We may pack a little tight, the girl up front says, it's alright
We might be a tight crowd, but it's okay with the girl up front
And look there's more of us still getting off the bus
Even more people are arriving to celebrate your life with you
We wish you'd come back home with us
We want you to come back home with us and continue to be a part of our lives
Eddie Walker, this is your life
This is your life and we're here to celebrate it with you
This one's you when you were small
This picture is of you when you were a child
And you're learnin' how to walk
You were still learning how to walk in this picture
They'd pick you up and you keep falling down
Your loved ones helped you whenever you fell, but you kept trying until you could stand on your own
There you are with Aunt Louise, you're bouncing on her knees
This picture is of you bouncing on Aunt Louise's knees and having a good time
Remember all those trees behind the garden
Think back to the beautiful trees that used to be behind the garden
They're gone, oh, they all got cut down when she died
Unfortunately, the trees were cut down when Aunt Louise passed away
Eddie Walker, this is your life, you never had a son or a wife
Your life may not have included a spouse or children, but it has been full of love and experiences
You sure had a hell of a time, oh, Eddie Walker, this is your life
You've had a great time throughout your life and we're celebrating your accomplishments
This one's you and Mary Jo
This picture is of you and Mary Jo
Well, she couldn't come, she says, hello
Mary Jo couldn't make it, but she sends her greetings
No, Eddie Walker and she doesn't hate your guts
Mary Jo doesn't hate you and hopes you're doing well
It's just the whole thing's shook her up
The event has made her emotional and she's not sure how to handle it
Eddie Walker, this is your life, no, Eddie Walker, this is your life
We're reminding you again that this celebration is all about your life
You never had a coat or a tie, you never had a reason to cry
You may not have had fancy clothes or shed many tears, but you've still had a meaningful life
An' this whole stack and all of these
All of these photos
Are just a mist or overseas
Could represent a distant memory or something that's no longer within reach
We're gonna leave you, Eddie Walker
We'll be leaving soon and we hope you enjoyed the celebration
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: FOLDS, Ben Folds
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind