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.
Julianne
Ben Folds Five Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got drunk and took her home and we slept in our clothes
In the morning put my feet on the floor and thought
Being awake never felt like this before
And Julianne ya know she wouldn't approve
Talked all day on the phone 'cause I had nothing to do
Got rid of Axl by the afternoon
Being awake never felt so clear and blue
That's all I knew
Guess that I was innocent too
I'll sing a song and it won't be the blues
Cause I don't miss Julianne
My friend she told me she felt sorry for me
She said the truth would come crashing down on me
That I'd be sorry but the truth of it is
That I feel guilty for not giving a shit
That's all I knew
Guess that I was innocent too
I'll sing a song and it won't be the blues
Cause I don't miss Julianne
I got my bag of trash
I got my bag of trash
I drag it up and down, I drag it up and down the road
How could she miss a man
Who drags a bag of trash down the road
This week I feel like I been born again
I knew that Julianne would have a fit
She'd find a reason for the things that I did
And gave me credit for the things that I've never been
That's all I knew
Guess that I was innocent too
I can try just as hard as I can
But I don't miss Julianne
That's all I knew
Guess that I was innocent too
I can try just as hard as I can
But I don't miss Julianne
The song "Julianne" by Ben Folds Five is about a man who meets a girl that looks like Axl Rose, takes her home while drunk, and wakes up the following morning feeling different than he ever has before. He spends the day talking to her on the phone, trying to figure out what just happened to him. When his friend tells him the truth about himself, that he should be sorry for his actions, he realizes that he feels guilty but also realizes that he does not miss Julianne.
The lyrics are introspective, with the singer coming to terms with the events that occurred and the realization that he can try to be a better person but ultimately cannot change the past. The reference to Axl Rose adds a touch of whimsy to the song, and the singer's willingness to drag his bag of trash around symbolizes his determination to move forward and improve himself.
One interesting aspect of the song is the way it blends humor and darkness, with playful nods to popular culture mixed with more serious messages about self-reflection and growth. The repetition of the line "that's all I knew" highlights the singer's limited perspective, while the repetition of the final lines "I don't miss Julianne" reinforces his resolve to learn from his mistakes and move on.
Overall, "Julianne" is a thoughtful and compelling song that explores the complexities of relationships, personal growth, and the struggle to face the truth about oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
I met this girl, she looked like Axl Rose
I came across this girl who resembled Axl Rose in terms of looks
Got drunk and took her home and we slept in our clothes
In an inebriated state, I went home with her and we slept without changing our clothes
In the morning put my feet on the floor and thought, Being awake never felt like this before
The next day, waking up felt different from usual after the experience
And Julianne ya know she wouldn't approve
Julianne, who disapproves of such incidents, would not have liked it
Talked all day on the phone 'cause I had nothing to do
Since I had nothing else to do, I talked with her on the phone all day long
Got rid of Axl by the afternoon
By the afternoon, I separated from the girl I met/hooked up with aka Axl lookalike
Being awake never felt so clear and blue
Feeling awake was clearer and bluesier (more introspective) than before
That's all I knew
All I understood at that time
Guess that I was innocent too
Maybe, I was also not aware of everything
I'll sing a song and it won't be the blues, Cause I don't miss Julianne
I will sing a happy song cause I don't miss Julianne
My friend she told me she felt sorry for me
A friend of mine felt sympathy towards me
She said the truth would come crashing down on me
She warned me that the reality of the situation would be tough
That I'd be sorry but the truth of it is
That I'd end up being apologetic, but the truth remains
That I feel guilty for not giving a shit
I am feeling guilty for being indifferent towards something or someone
I got my bag of trash, I got my bag of trash
I got a bag of trash (literal or metaphorical)
I drag it up and down, I drag it up and down the road
I carry it around with me all the time
How could she miss a man, Who drags a bag of trash down the road
Why would anyone miss a man carrying a bag of trash everywhere?
This week I feel like I been born again
This week, I feel like I have been reborn
I knew that Julianne would have a fit
I was aware that Julianne would throw a tantrum
She'd find a reason for the things that I did
She would try to think of things that justify my actions
And gave me credit for the things that I've never been
She would praise me for things that I never actually did or was
I can try just as hard as I can, But I don't miss Julianne
Even if I try my best, I won't miss Julianne
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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