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.
Evaporated
Ben Folds Five Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And what I've thrown away
And where the hell I've ended up
On this glary, random day
Were the things I really cared about
Just left along the away
For being too pent up and proud
Feeling hungover and old
And the sun was shining bright
And I walked barefoot down the road
Started thinking 'bout my old man
It seems that all I want to get into a car and go
Anywhere
Here I stand
Sad and free
I can't cry
And I can't see
What I've done
Oh God what have I done?
Don't you know I'm numb, man
No I can't feel a thing at all
'Cause it's all smiles and business these days
And I'm indifferent to the loss
I think that there's a soul somewhere
That's leading me around
I wonder if she knows which way is down
Here I stand
Sad and free
I can't cry
And I can't see
What I've done
Oh God what have I done?
I poured my heart out
I poured my heart out
It evaporated
See
Blind man on a canyon's edge
Of a panoramic scene
Maybe I'm kite that's flying high and random
Dangling on a string
Or slumped over in a vacant room
Head on a stranger's knee
I'm sure back home
They think I've lost my mind
Here I stand
Sad and free
I can't cry
And I can't see
What I've done
Oh God what have I done?
The song "Evaporated" by Ben Folds Five is a reflective and introspective song that explores the themes of loss, growing older, and feeling lost in life. The song opens with the singer reflecting on the things that he has kept and thrown away, as well as where he has ended up on this particular day. He questions whether the things he once cared about were left behind for being too pent up and prideful. This opening verse sets the tone for the song, showcasing a sense of disconnectedness and introspection.
The second verse sees the singer waking up, feeling hungover and old, and contemplating his relationship with his father. He feels the urge to get into a car and just drive away, anywhere. This verse represents a sense of drifting, and the singer's desire to escape his current situation.
In the chorus, the singer repeats the lines, "Here I stand, sad and free, I can't cry, and I can't see, what I've done, oh God, what have I done?" This repetition reinforces the sense of confusion and loss that the singer is experiencing. He is aware that he has done something, but is unsure what it is, and he is unable to cry or see clearly.
The third verse sees the singer acknowledging that he is numb and unable to feel anything. He notes that it is all smiles and business these days, and he feels indifferent to the loss that he has experienced. He wonders whether there is a soul leading him around, and whether or not she knows which way is down.
The final verse sees the singer comparing himself to a blind man on a canyon's edge, or a kite that is flying high and random. He feels as though he is slumped over in a vacant room, with his head on a stranger's knee. He knows that back home, people likely think that he has lost his mind. This verse is a reflection of the singer's sense of disillusionment and distance from others.
Line by Line Meaning
What I've kept with me
The things I hold onto in my life
And what I've thrown away
The things I've let go of
And where the hell I've ended up
The place I currently reside, unsure how I got here
On this glary, random day
A bright, unexpected day that seems out of place
Were the things I really cared about
The things that were important to me
Just left along the way
Forgotten or given up on as I moved forward in life
For being too pent up and proud
My own faults led me to abandon what was important
Woke up way too late
I slept longer than I should have
Feeling hungover and old
Tired and worn out from my past experiences
And the sun was shining bright
Despite my despair, the world carries on with brightness
And I walked barefoot down the road
Traveling without care or direction
Started thinking 'bout my old man
My father was on my mind
It seems that all I want to get into a car and go
The urge to escape is strong
Anywhere
Just away from where I am now
Here I stand
In this moment I exist
Sad and free
I am filled with sorrow and liberation
I can't cry
I am too emotionally numb to experience tears
And I can't see
I am blinded by my own regrets
What I've done
The mistakes I've made in life
Oh God what have I done?
A desperate plea for understanding and forgiveness
Don't you know I'm numb, man
I am emotionally disconnected
No I can't feel a thing at all
I am unable to experience emotions
'Cause it's all smiles and business these days
The world moves on, indifferent to my struggles
And I'm indifferent to the loss
I am unaffected by the things that have left me
I think that there's a soul somewhere
Belief in something greater than myself
That's leading me around
Guiding my path forward
I wonder if she knows which way is down
Uncertainty about the direction I am heading
I poured my heart out
I shared my deepest emotions
It evaporated
My efforts were wasted, gone without a trace
Blind man on a canyon's edge
A person in a precarious situation
Of a panoramic scene
Surrounded by a beautiful view
Maybe I'm kite that's flying high and random
Feeling directionless yet weightless
Dangling on a string
Being controlled or manipulated by someone or something else
Or slumped over in a vacant room
A room that is empty, like my own emotions
Head on a stranger's knee
Finding solace with someone else out of desperation
I'm sure back home
My family and friends are far away
They think I've lost my mind
They do not understand my current state of mind
Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BEN FOLDS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@giothemath
What I've kept with me and what I've thrown away
Know where the hell I've ended up on this glary random day
Where the things I really cared about, just left along the way
For being to pent up and proud
Woke up way too late feeling hung over and old
And the sun was shining bright, I walked barefoot down the road
Started thinking about my old man, it seems that all men
Wanna get into a car and go anywhere
Here I stand, sad and free
And I can't cry, I can't see
What I've done?
No, God, what have I done?
Don't you know I'm numb, man? No I can't feel a thing at all
'Cause it's all smiles and business these days and I'm indifferent to the loss
And I've faith that there is a soul somewhere that's leading me around
I wonder if she knows which way is down
Here I stand, sad and free
And I can't cry and I can't see
What I've done?
No, God, what have I done?
And I poured my heart out
And I poured my heart out
It evaporated, see
Blind man on a canyon's edge of a panoramic scene
Or maybe I'm a kite that's flying high and random dangling a string
Or slumped over in a vacant room, head on a stranger's knee
I'm sure back home they think I've lost my mind
Here I stand, sad and free
I can't cry and I can't see
What I've done?
No, God, what have I done?
@Flabtke316
Such a moving song when I heard it at 17. Hits like a truck at 43.
@victoriawellspring7503
Dang dude got me crying in the parking lot on my lunch break.
@RachelEC023
Whatever and Ever Amen may be the best album, as a whole - of all time. It's certainly my favorite, has been since it came out, probably always will be.
@jellyjamforever
Fuck yes!!! Pardon my French
@ohmybillnye
yep, I'm not even the biggest fan of One Angry Dwarf and I still think this is my favorite complete album ever.
@AnalogCinema
I was so lucky to have Ben Folds in high school when I needed his art most. 20 years later... still moves me
@barrylamb2148
I'm 67 years old and a lover of lyrics. When I discovered Ben Folds , via my son, I realised there was more than my old stand by's Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Warren Zevon, Mark Germino etc. I'm born again. Even went to a Ben Folds concert.
@quikdrw63
Awesome! Love James Taylor. Ben Folds is great!!!!
@utubeismuhkrakaneliterally1807
Barry Lamb - saw them at the SF Fillmore, a small intimate venue. i was only a few feet from ben pounding that piano. the experience was ecstasy.
@jellyjamforever
Barry Lamb fortunately there is still great music, unfortunately it's not on the radio like back in your day when radio was still awesome. There is a lot of great music these days. Unfortunately you have to dig for it