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.
Zak And Sara
Ben Folds Five Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On a Peavey amp in 1984
While Zak without a 'c' tried out some new guitars
Playing Sara-with-no-h's favourite song
(La da da da, la da da, la da da)
(La da da da, la da da, la da da)
Often Sara would have spells where she lost time
She saw the future, she heard voices from inside
The kind of voices she would soon learn to deny
Because at home they got her smacked
(La da da da, la da da, la da da)
(La da da da, la da da, la da da)
Zak and Sara
Zak and Sara
Zak called his dad about layaway plans
And Sara told the friendly salesman that:
"You'll all die in your cars,
And why's it gotta be dark?
And you're all working in a submarine"
(Asshole)
She saw the lights, she saw the pale English face
Some strange machines repeating beats and thumping bass
Visions of pills that put you in a loving trance
That make it possible for all white boys to dance
And when Zak finished Sara's song, Sara clapped
(La da da da, la da da, la da da)
(La da da da, la da da, la da da)
Zak and Sara
Zak and Sara
The song "Zak and Sara" by Ben Folds Five follows the story of Zak and Sara, two teenagers who share a love for music. Sara is an unconventional girl who spells her name without an 'h', and Zak is a guitar enthusiast who does not have a 'c' in his name. In the opening verse, Zak is playing Sara's favorite song on his guitar while she jams on a Peavey amp. The simple act of playing music together serves as an escape from their mundane lives.
However, Sara's character also hints at something deeper. She experiences spells where she loses time and hears voices from within. These are dark and unsettling experiences that cause her to deny them later on. This parallel between music as an escape and a deeper internal conflict sets the stage for an interesting dynamic between Zak and Sara.
The chorus of "Zak and Sara" brings the two characters together as a unit. The repetition of their names serves as a reminder of their inseparability. Zak and Sara also showcase their personalities when Zak calls his dad about layaway plans while Sara tells the salesman that everyone will die in their cars. The song ends on a high note, with Sara clapping at the end of Zak's performance. The story closes with the repetition of their names, further emphasizing their connectedness.
Line by Line Meaning
Sara spelled without an 'h' was getting bored
Sara, who spells her name without the letter 'h', is feeling uninterested and uninspired.
On a Peavey amp in 1984
The setting for this scene is a music shop in the year 1984, where Sara is playing on a Peavey amp.
While Zak without a 'c' tried out some new guitars
Zak, who spells his name without the letter 'c', is exploring different guitars to play.
Playing Sara-with-no-h's favourite song
Zak is playing Sara's favorite song, despite her current state of boredom.
Often Sara would have spells where she lost time
Sara has experiences where she loses track of time.
She saw the future, she heard voices from inside
During these spells, Sara has visions of the future and hears internal voices.
The kind of voices she would soon learn to deny
However, Sara will soon train herself to ignore these voices.
Because at home they got her smacked
Sara's family punishes her for sharing her experiences at home.
Zak called his dad about layaway plans
Zak speaks to his father about payment plans for a new guitar.
And Sara told the friendly salesman that: "You'll all die in your cars, And why's it gotta be dark? And you're all working in a submarine" (Asshole)
Sara makes some bleak and cynical comments to the salesman, calling him an asshole.
She saw the lights, she saw the pale English face
During another episode of losing time, Sara has visions of bright lights and a pale English face.
Some strange machines repeating beats and thumping bass
She also sees unfamiliar machinery producing rhythmic beats and sounds.
Visions of pills that put you in a loving trance
Sara sees pills that can cause a pleasurable state of being.
That make it possible for all white boys to dance
She sarcastically notes that these pills must be the reason why all white boys can dance.
And when Zak finished Sara's song, Sara clapped
After Zak finishes playing her song, Sara shows appreciation by clapping for him.
Contributed by Alyssa N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@swizzili1140
sara spelled without an h was getting bored
on a peavey amp in 1984
while zak without a c tried out some new guitars
playing sara with no hs favorite song
la da da da da
la da da da da
zak and sara
often sara would have spells where she lost time
she saw the future she heard voices from inside
the kind of voices she would soon learn to deny
because at home they got her smacked
la da da da da
la da da da da
zak and sara
zak and sara
zak called his dad
about layaway plans
sara told the friendly salesman that
you’ll all die in your cars
and why’s it gotta be dark
and you’re all workin in a submarine
she saw the lights she saw a pale English face
some strange machine with beating beats and thumping bass
visions of pills that put you in a loving trance
that make it possible for all white boys to dance
and when zak finished Sara’s song sara clapped
la da da da da
la da da da da
zak and sara
zak and sara
yeah
yeah..
@Mordread_Flux
My big sister, who is now 25, played this song for me when I rode with her in her car. This always makes me think of her.
@tomcastelli6890
Is her name Sara, spelled without an h? Is your name Zak, spelled without a c?
@andrewthepokerchamp
This song brings back so memory memories. During marching band, our directors would play music during warm up and this is one of the songs that they chose.
@llsyd2491
i used to love ben folds' music so much as a kid without knowing who he was. i recently read an article of my favourite artist talking about ben folds and decided to check him out. boy did it make me emotional realizing i just found him again after having no idea what his name was after all these years
@ezrac704
That's pretty sick
@michaelrapaport4494
That makes no sense
@1gnore_me.
ben folds is the kind of musician you truly don't appreciate until well after their prime -- this guy defined an entire generation of indie musicians, and I think his influence is going to become even more apparent as time marches on.
@Steelburgh
I'd argue he's still in his prime! Can't wait until he releases his new album he's been working on (though it must be a ways off since his current symphony tour is all existing stuff).
@zaimahhabeeb4908
The ooohs and ahhhhs in the bg, alone, are enough to make this song great.
@leelevingate
I was lucky enough to see him do this live at the Ann Arbor folk festival. Power trio at it's best.