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 © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BEN FOLDS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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. 😁