Evaporated
Ben Folds Five Lyrics


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What I've kept with me
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
Woke up way too late
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?

Overall Meaning

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 © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BEN FOLDS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Chicago1975

This is hands-down the most beautiful version of the saddest song, written by one of the best modern-day songwriters, period. The orchestral arrangement just makes it that much better- my heart breaks every single time I hear this.

Kathy Gaalaas

It is absolutely breathtaking

Randy Sauvage

It’s funny knowing every word to this. I love this song, always have. I also find it great that not many people know of or appreciate ‘Ben Folds’ .... it’s like a private club.

BDV official

EXACTLY

Parrish Muhoberac

"Randy Savage. Yes I know what you mean. I saw him solo at the Sydney Opera House. When we went in, we were all asked to write down whichever Ben Folds song we want him to play. So when he went onstage, he had the bucket and randomly picked one of the cards... said "ok, this one is for someone in the audience named Angela".... and played it. I picked this song, but HE DIDNT PLAY IT!!! Even though I started a mexican wave shouting "EVAPORATED! EVAPORATED! EVAPORATED!!" haha and almost got kicked out. LOL

Tim Sullivan

Glad I'm a lifetime member

SerenityMiya2009

Just introduise a friend to them, who also had never heard of them.

Oliver Gomez

This is one of my fave songs from Ben Folds Five. I still have the cassette tape of this album.🥰✌️🤘

Katfezza

I can't think of words suitable enough to extole my love of this song. Evaporated is in my top 10 songs of all time. It feels so real and relatable, regardless of what mood I'm in. Both melancholic and uplifting. It's just a marvel of craftsmanship. I don't give a shit that it brings me to tears. I'll take the hit to manliness. Over 20 years of listening and it still matters.

Mikey de Lara

This song... melts me every time. So grateful for this and this version and the Western Australia Symphony Orchestra. 😁

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