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.
On Being Frank
Ben Folds Five Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And it's a long way from the dustbin of New Jersey to the top
Who would have known?
Who would have known
I had a dream, but dreams had other plans for me
For 30 years I set the thermostat
Where Frank Sinatra liked it,
I never knew which one were mine
Now he's gone, and I'm alone
And I don't know where I might be going
I rode the wind, the wind stopped blowing
Set me on the roadside coming home
But home, for me was always someone else you know
That shadows always fall, when the sun goes down
I shook the hands of mafia dons and presidents
And though they always smiled politely
With a measure of decorum
Still their eyes would scan beyond me
For a glimpse of something more
But now he's gone
Now they're gone
And I don't know where I might be going
I rode the wind, the wind stopped blowing
Set me on the roadside coming home
But home, for me was always someone else you know
That shadows always fall, when the sun goes down
Alone, the shadow of a star, don't you know
That shadows always fall, yeah shadows always fall
When the sun goes down
And I don't know where I might be going
I rode the wind, the wind stopped blowing
Set me on the roadside coming home
And home, for me was always someone else you go
The song "On Being Frank" by Ben Folds Five is about the singer's experience living in the shadow of Frank Sinatra. The song opens with the singer reflecting on the contrast between their humble beginnings in New Jersey and the glamour of Sinatra's world. The line "I had it all, or should I say I saw it all?" suggests that the singer was privy to the excesses of wealth and fame, but never fully a part of it. The second stanza reveals that the singer spent thirty years as an employee in Sinatra's orbit, adjusting the thermostat and generally tending to his needs. Despite this proximity, the singer remained outside of Sinatra's inner circle, never knowing which objects or people were his own. The next two stanzas reflect on the singer's current state of being lost and alone, without a clear sense of purpose or direction. While the singer was once part of the celebrity culture, they never truly belonged to it, and now that Sinatra and their former associates are gone, they are left with nothing.
The song is a poignant meditation on the nature of fame and celebrity, and the ways in which it can be hollow and unsatisfying. The singer's experience of being on the margins of Sinatra's world is both envy-inducing and pitiable; they were close enough to see everything, but never able to fully participate in it. The closing lines of the song reinforce this sense of displacement and isolation, as the singer describes themselves as "the shadow of a star." The song's melancholy melody and spare instrumentation emphasize the sense of loneliness and longing expressed in the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
I had it all, or should I say I saw it all?
I thought I had everything I could ever want, but in reality, I was just observing and not really living.
And it's a long way from the dustbin of New Jersey to the top
I came from humble beginnings in New Jersey and made it to the top through hard work and determination.
Who would have known?
No one could have predicted the path my life took.
I had a dream, but dreams had other plans for me
I had aspirations, but life didn't turn out the way I expected.
For 30 years I set the thermostat
For 30 years, I was responsible for setting the temperature in a place where Frank Sinatra spent time.
Where Frank Sinatra liked it,
I made sure the temperature was to Frank Sinatra's liking.
Pulled his girls, and hung his hats
I was responsible for making sure Sinatra had what he needed, including women and a place to hang his hats.
I never knew which one were mine
I never really knew what, if anything, belonged to me in that context.
Now he's gone, and I'm alone
Without Sinatra, I feel lost and lonely.
And I don't know where I might be going
I have no idea what my future holds.
I rode the wind, the wind stopped blowing
I used to feel like I was going with the flow, but now I feel stuck and directionless.
Set me on the roadside coming home
I feel like I'm stranded and left behind, coming back to a place I don't fully belong anymore.
But home, for me was always someone else you know
I always felt like my true home was wherever someone else needed me to be.
That shadows always fall, when the sun goes down
Things may not always be bright and sunny; darkness and uncertainty are always lurking.
I shook the hands of mafia dons and presidents
I've had the privilege of meeting powerful people, from organized crime bosses to world leaders.
And though they always smiled politely
Despite their polite demeanor, I always felt like they were looking beyond me.
With a measure of decorum
They maintained formality and politeness despite any underlying intentions.
Still their eyes would scan beyond me
They were always looking for something or someone more important than me.
For a glimpse of something more
They were always searching for something beyond what I could offer.
Now he's gone
Without Sinatra, I feel like I've lost a part of myself.
Now they're gone
Without those important people in my life, I feel like I'm losing my sense of purpose.
Alone, the shadow of a star, don't you know
Without anyone to follow or serve, I feel like I'm just a shadow of my former self.
That shadows always fall, yeah shadows always fall
Darkness is always present and it's hard to escape it.
When the sun goes down
When things become uncertain or difficult, it's hard to see your way through.
And home, for me was always someone else you know
My sense of belonging always came from serving others and being needed rather than in a specific place.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BEN FOLDS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind