Ben Folds lyrics

compilation: The Best Imitation Of Myself: A Retrospective (2011)

Brick (Radio Mix) lyrics - Ben Folds

6 AM, day after Christmas

I throw some clothes on in the dark

The smell of cold, car seat is freezing

The world is sleeping, I am numb

Up the stairs to her apartment

She is balled up on the couch

Her mom and dad went down to Charlotte

They're not home to find us out

And we drive

Now that I have found someone

I'm feeling more alone

Than I ever have before

She's a brick and I'm drownin' slowly

Off the coast and I'm headed nowhere

She's a brick and I'm drownin' slowly

They call her name at seven-thirty

I pace around the parking lot

And I walk down to buy her flowers

And sell some gifts that I got

Can't you see

It's not me you're dying for?

Now she's feeling more alone

Than she ever has before

She's a brick and I'm drownin' slowly

Off the coast and I'm headed nowhere

She's a brick and I'm drownin' slowly

As weeks went by, it showed that she was not fine

They told me, "Son, it's time to tell the truth."

And she broke down and I broke down

'Cause I was tired of lying

Driving back to her apartment

For the moment, we're alone

Yeah, she's alone and I'm alone

Now I know it

She's a brick and I'm drownin' slowly

Off the coast and I'm headed nowhere

She's a brick and I'm drownin' slowly

Philosophy lyrics - Ben Folds

Won't you look up at the skyline

At the mortar, block, and glass

And check out the reflections in my eyes

See they always used to be there

Even when this all was grass

And I sang and danced about a high-rise

And you were laughing at my helmet hat

Laughing at my torch

Go ahead you can laugh all you want

I got my philosophy

(Keeps my feet on the ground)

And I trust it like the ground

That's why my philosophy

Keeps me walking when I'm falling down

I see that there is evil

And I know that there is good

And the in-betweens I never understood

Won't you look at me I'm crazy

But I get the job done

I'm crazy but I get the job done

I say go ahead and laugh all you want

But I got my philosophy

(Keeps my feet on the ground)

And I trust it like the ground

That's why my philosophy

Keeps me walking when I'm falling down

I pushed you 'cause I loved you guys

I didn't realize you weren't having fun

And I dragged you up the stairs

And I told you to fly

You were flapping your arms

Then you started to cry, you were too high

Too high...

Now you take this all for granted

You take the mortar, block, and glass

And you forget the speech that moved the stone

But it's really not that you can't see

The forest from the trees

You've never been out in the woods alone

So you can laugh all you want to

I've got my philosophy

(It keeps my feet on the ground)

And I love you you're my friend

But you got no philosophy

Now it's time for this song to end

Landed (Strings Version) lyrics - Ben Folds

We'd hit the bottom

I thought it was my fault

And in a way I guess it was

I'm just now finding out

What it was all about

We'd moved to the West Coast

Away from everyone

She never told me that you called

Back when I was still

I was still in love

'Til I opened my eyes and walked out the door

And the clouds came tumbling down

And it's bye-bye, goodbye I tried

And I twisted it wrong just to make it right

Had to leave myself behind

And I've been flying high all night

So come pick me up

I've landed

The daily dramas

She made from nothing

So nothing ever made 'em right

She liked to push me

And talk me back down 'til I believed I was the crazy one

And in a way

I guess I was

But I opened my eyes and walked out the door

And the clouds came tumbling down

And it's bye-bye, goodbye I tried

Treading the sea of a troubled mind

Had to leave myself behind

Singing bye-bye, goodbye I tried

If you wrote me off

I'd understand it

'Cause I've been on

Some other planet

So come pick me up

I've landed

And you will be so

Happy to know

I've come alone

It's over

But I opened my eyes and walked out the door

And the clouds came tumbling down

And it's bye-bye, goodbye I tried

Down comes the reign of the telephone czar

It's okay to call

And I will answer for myself

Come pick me up

I've landed

One Angry Dwarf And 200 Solemn Faces lyrics - Ben Folds

September '75, I was 47 inches high

My mom said by Christmas I would have

A bad-ass mother G.I. Joe for your little minds to blow

I still got beat up after class

Yeah, now I'm big and important

One angry dwarf and 200 solemn faces are you

If you really wanna see me

Check the papers and the TV

Look who's tellin' who what to do

Kiss my ass goodbye

Don't give me that bullshit, you know who I am

I'm your nightmare little man

Vic, you stole my lunch money, made me cry

Jane, remember second grade?

Said you couldn't stand my face

Rather than kiss me

You said you'd rather die

I'm big and important

One angry dwarf and 200 solemn faces are you

If you really wanna see me

Check the papers and the TV

Look who's tellin' who what to do

No, kiss my ass goodbye

You'll be sorry one day

Yes you will, yes you will

You shouldn't push me around

'Cause I will, yes I will

You will be sorry when I'm big

Yes you will, yes you will

You will be sorry

Now I'm big and important

One angry dwarf and 200 solemn faces are you

If you really wanna see me

Check the papers and the TV

No, look who's tellin' who what to do

Kiss my ass

Kiss my ass goodbye now

Kiss my ass

Kiss my ass goodbye now

Kiss my ass

Kiss my ass goodbye now

Kiss my ass

Kiss my ass goodbye now

September '75, I was 47 inches high

September '75

Don't Change Your Plans lyrics - Ben Folds

Sometimes I get the feeling

That I won't be on this planet for very long

I really like it here

I'm quite attached to it, I hope I'm wrong

All I really wanna say

You're the reason I wanna stay

I loved you 'fore I met you

And I met you just in time

'Cause there was nothing left

I sat here on my suitcase

In our empty new apartment 'til the sun went down

Then I walked back down the stairs

With all my bags and drove away

You must be freaking out

All I know is I gotta be

Where my heart says I oughta be

It often makes no sense, in fact

I never understand these things I feel

Don't change your plans for me

I won't move to L.A

The leaves are falling back east

That's where I'm gonna stay

You have made me smile again

In fact, I might be sore from it

It's been a while

I know we've been together many times before

I'll see you on the other side

But don't change your plans for me

I won't move to L.A

The leaves are falling back east

That's where I'm gonna stay

All I really wanna say

Is you're the reason I wanna stay

But destiny is calling and won't hold

And when my time is up I'm outta here

All I know is I've gotta be

Where my heart says I oughta be

It often makes no sense, in fact

I never understand these things

I feel

I love you, goodbye

Smoke lyrics - Ben Folds

Leaf by leaf and page by page

Throw this book away

All the sadness, all the rage

Throw this book away

Rip out the binding and tear the glue

And all of the grief we never even knew

We had it all along

Now it's smoke

The things we've written in it

Never really happened

All the things we've written in it

Never really happened

And all of the people come and gone

Never really lived

All the people come have gone

No one to forgive

Smoke

We will not write a new one

There will not be a new one

Another one, another one

Here's an evening dark with shame

(Throw it on the fire)

Here's the time I took the blame

(Throw it on the fire)

Here is the time when we didn't speak

It seems, for years and years

And here's a secret

No one will ever know

The reasons for the tears

They are smoke

Smoke

We will not write a new one

There will not be a new one

Another one, another one

Where do all the secrets live?

They travel in the air

You can smell them when they burn

They travel

Those who say the past is not dead

Can stop and smell the smoke

You keep saying the past is not dead

Well, stop and smell the smoke (you keep saying)

You keep on saying the past is not even past (you keep saying)

And you keep saying (you keep saying)

We are smoke

Smoke

Kate lyrics - Ben Folds

She plays "Wipe Out" on the drums

The squirrels and the birds come

Gather around to sing the guitar

Oh, I

Have you got nothing to say?

When all words fail, she speaks

Her mix tape's a masterpiece

Walks through the garden

So the roses can see

Oh, I

Have you got nothing to say?

And you can see

Daisies in her footsteps

Dandelions (dandelions)

Butterflies (butterflies)

I wanna be Kate

Kate

Every day she wears the same thing

I think she smokes pot

She's everything I want

She's everything I'm not

Oh, I

Have you got nothing to say?

She never gets wet

She smiles and it's a rainbow (oh, whoa)

And she speaks (and she speaks)

And she breathes (and she breathes)

I wanna be Kate

Kate

Down by Rosemary and Cameron

She hands out the Bhagavad Gita

I see her around every couple days

I wanna see her so that I can say, "Hey, Kate"

She never gets wet

She smiles and it's a rainbow

You can see (you can see)

I wanna, wanna, wanna, wanna be Kate

Kate

No, no

Kate

No, no, no, no, no, no

Still Fighting It (Extended Version) lyrics - Ben Folds

Good morning, son

I am a bird

Wearing a brown polyester shirt

You want a Coke?

Maybe some fries?

The roast-beef combo's only nine ninety five

It's okay, you don't have to pay

I've got all the change

Everybody knows

It hurts to grow up

And everybody does

It's so weird to be back here

Let me tell you what

The years go on and

We're still fighting it, we're still fighting it

And you're so much like me

I'm sorry

Good morning, son

Twenty years from now

Maybe we'll both sit down and have a few beers

And I can tell you 'bout today

And how I picked you up and everything changed

It was pain

Sunny days and rain

I knew you'd feel the same things

Everybody knows

It sucks to grow up

And everybody does

It's so weird to be back here

Let me tell you what

The years go on and

We're still fighting it, we're still fighting it

You'll try and try and one day you'll fly

Away from me

Good morning, son

I am a bird

Good morning, son

It was pain

Sunny days and rain

I knew you'd feel the same things

Everybody knows

It hurts to grow up

And everybody does

It's so weird to be back here

Let me tell you what

The years go on and

We're still fighting it, we're still fighting it

Oh, we're still fighting it, we're still fighting it

And you're so much like me

I'm sorry

House lyrics - Ben Folds

There's a sign up in the yard and the, the furniture has gone

Filled with fetid memories unworthy of a song

Flashes of sad and angry faces come and go

Could anyone live between those walls and never know?

And I could go there but I'm not going

Pulse is slowing, no, I'm not nervous anymore

I've had the nightmares, I've seen some counselors

But I'm not going back up in that house again

It's just like waking up in that second and a half

The bliss of not remembering before it all comes flooding back

So what do I do as all these voices come and go?

Could anyone live inside my head and never know?

And I could go there, I'm not going

Pulse is slowing, no, I'm not nervous anymore

I've seen the nightmares and some counselors

I'm not going back up in that house again, in that house again

I'm not sorry for what I'm feeling

Blow the walls out, bring the ceiling to the ground

I've had the nightmares, seen the counselors

I'm not going back up in that house again

Julianne (1997 Version) lyrics - Ben Folds

I met this girl, she looked like Axl Rose

Got drunk and took her home and we slept in our clothes

And in the morning, put my feet on the floor and thought:

"Being awake never felt like this before"

And Julianne, you 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 sing a song, yeah, 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 feel 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, yeah, and it won't be the blues

I don't miss Julianne

I got a bag of trash, got my bag of trash

I walk 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've been born again

You know that Julianne, she would have a fit

She'd find a reason for the things that I did

She 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 hard as I can

I don't miss Julianne

I can try hard as I can

I don't miss Julianne

Video lyrics - Ben Folds

Barren stares as they light up the screen

Bearing teardrops that shatter in slow-motion

Novocaine our brains and we're out like lights

As I'm growing older I'm bored

I remember when misery thrilled me much more

When I can't relax

And I'd like to go back

But that's gone

Yeah, that's gone, turn around

Turn the volume down

We're counting the days down

'Til the day when we live in a video

I'll be stone-faced and pale

You'll pout in stereo

24 hours every day of the year

Oh, what fun I can't wait 'til the future gets here

Closing in on the pain and the torture

He's slamming the doors like it's something to strive for

The girl tearing the curtains down looks funny as hell

And of sense of humor can there be any doubt

Yeah well natural selection just weeded it out

Used to keep me from laughing out loud

But that's gone

We don't think that way no more

That's gone, turn around, turn the volume down

We're counting the days down

'Til the day when we live in a video

I'll be stone-faced and pale

You'll pout in stereo

24 hours every day of the year

Oh, what fun I can't wait 'til the future gets

Well I've seen some old friends sort of die

Or just turn into whatever must've been inside

And whatever all of us had then in common

Grew up and left home

We don't think that way no more

Turn around, turn the volume down

We're counting the days down

'Til the day when we live in a video

I'm stone-faced and pale

You'll pout in stereo

24 hours every day of the year

Oh, what fun I can't wait 'til the future gets here

Missing The War lyrics - Ben Folds

All is quiet

His tired eyes

See figures jotted down

And clothes all strewn around the bedroom floor

Now nothing's adding up

And nothing's making sense

She's sleeping like a baby

She doesn't know he wasn't meant for this

I'm missing the war (ba ba ba ba)

I'm missing the war all night (ba ba ba ba)

Missing the war (ba ba ba ba)

I'm missing the war (aah...)

He drove home again

Pissed and beaten

It's really no big deal

It happens all the time

It's no big deal

I'm missing the war (ba ba ba ba)

I'm missing the war all night (ba ba ba ba)

Missing the war (ba ba ba ba)

I'm missing the war

'Til beads of sunlight hit me in the morning

So much time, so little to say

Time may fly

And dreams may die

The shaking voice that tells him go

Still thinks he might

He knows he won't

I'm missing the war (ba ba ba ba)

I'm missing the war all night (ba ba ba ba)

Missing the war (ba ba ba ba)

I'm missing the war (aah...)

(Aah...)

Missing the war (aah...)

Mess lyrics - Ben Folds

Was a time when I had nothing to explain

Oh, this mess I have made

But then things got complicated

My innocence has all but faded

Oh, this mess I have made

And I don't believe in God

So I can't be saved

All alone, as I've learned to be

In this mess I have made

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

All the untested virtue

The things I said I'd never do

Least of all to you

I know he's kind and true

I know that he is good to you

He'll never care for you more than I do

But I don't (No, I don't)

Believe in love

So I can't (So I can't)

Be tamed (Be saved)

All alone as I've learned to be

In this mess (In this mess)

I have made

The same mistakes

Over and over again

There are rooms in this house that I don't open anymore

Dusty books and pictures on the floor

But she will never see

She'll never see that part of me

I want to be for her

What I could never be for you

And I don't (No, I don't)

Believe in God

So I can't (So I can't)

Be saved (Be saved)

All alone as I've learned to be

In this mess (In this mess)

I have made

Ooh

Magic lyrics - Ben Folds

From the back of your big brown eyes

I knew you'd be gone as soon as you could

And I hoped you would

We could see that you weren't yourself

And the lines on your face did tell

It's just as well

You'd never be yourself again

Saw you last night

Dance by the light of the moon

Stars in your eyes

Free from the life that you knew

You're the magic that holds the sky up from the ground

You're the breath that blows these cool winds 'round

Trading places with an angel now

Saw you last night

Dance by the light of the moon

Stars in your eyes

Free from the life that you knew

Saw you last night

Stars in the sky

Smiled in my room

Selfless, Cold And Composed lyrics - Ben Folds

I said what you wanted to hear

And what I wanted to say

So I will take it back

And all the dishes intact?

Let them be broken, broken

It's easy to be

Easy and free

When it doesn't mean anything

You remain selfless, cold and composed

You've done me no favor

To call and be nice

Telling me I

Can take anything I like

You don't owe me to be so polite

You've done no wrong

Get out of my sight

It's easy to be

Easy and free

When it doesn't mean anything

You remain

Selfless, cold and composed

Come on baby, now throw me a right to the chin

Don't just stare like you never cared, I know you did

But you just smiled like a bank teller

Blankly telling me, "Have a nice life."

Come on baby now throw me a right to the chin

Just one sign that would show me that you give a shit

Don't you just smile like a bank teller blankly telling me "Have a nice life"

Come on baby now throw me a right to the chin

Just one sign that would show me that you give a shit

But you just smile politely

And I grow weaker and I

Said what you wanted to hear

And what I wanted to say

So I will take it back

It's easy to be

Easy and free

When it doesn't mean anything

It doesn't mean anything

We can take anything

You can take anything

You're so selfless, cold

You're so selfless, cold and composed

Girl lyrics - Ben Folds

Ah, yeah

Girl, it's been a long time

Since we had it going on that way

The feeling's getting stronger

Each and every day

Wake up, oh yeah

I can feel you but you're not there

Holding on to thin air

'Cause you're dreaming of somebody else

Girl, it's been a long time

Since we had it going on that way

The feeling's getting stronger

Each and every day

(I'll be there, I'll be there)

If you call me back, girl

(I'll be there, I'll be there)

I will be your man

(I'll be there, I'll be there)

'Cause your roommate lied her ass off

(You were there, you were there)

Girl

Just Pretend lyrics - Ben Folds (with The Bens)

[Ben Kweller:]

Well I held you with our un-dry eyes

Happy years pass by

It's OK to cry

[The Bens:]

After all

In the end

Just pretend

[Ben Lee:]

Well it's sticks and stones and broken homes

That taught us how to smile

[The Bens:]

After all

In the end

Just pretend

[Ben Folds:]

There's a name that plays in my head

All day long

Like a song

She's with me every day

[The Bens:]

After all

In the end

Just pretend

Everyone needs

[Ben Kweller:]

If the sun can shine

You'll be just fine

Look into your mind

Where you're free

[The Bens:]

After all

In the end

Just pretend

[Ben Lee:]

'Cause we hurt each other once before

Let's not do that again

[The Bens:]

After all

In the end

Just pretend

[Ben Folds:]

And a voice so familiar

Wakes me up in the middle

And she thinks that I'm having a bad dream

[The Bens:]

After all

In the end

Just pretend

Everyone needs

[Ben Kweller:]

After all

It's the end

Fred Jones Pt. 2 lyrics - Ben Folds

Fred sits alone at his desk in the dark

There's an awkward young shadow waits in the hall

He's cleared all his things, and he's put them in boxes

Things that remind him, "Life has been good."

Twenty-five years

He's worked at the paper

A man's here to take him downstairs

"And I'm sorry, Mr. Jones

It's time."

There was no party, and there were no songs

'Cause today's just a day like the day that he started

No one is left here that knows his first name

And life barrels on like a runaway train

Where the passengers change

They don't change anything

You get off; someone else can get on

"And I'm sorry, Mr. Jones

It's time."

Streetlight shines through the shades

Casting lines on the floor, and lines on his face

He reflects on the day

Fred gets his paints out and goes to the basement

Projecting some slides onto a plain white

Canvas and traces it

Fills in the spaces

He turns off the slides, and it doesn't look right

Yeah, and all of these bastards

Have taken his place

He's forgotten but not yet gone

And I'm sorry, Mr. Jones

It's time

Careless Whisper lyrics - Ben Folds (feat. Rufus Wainwright)

(originally by George Michael)

I feel so unsure

As I take your hand and lead you to the dance floor

As the music dies

Something in your eyes

Calls to mind a silver screen

And all its sad goodbyes

I'm never gonna dance again

Guilty feet have got no rhythm

Though it's easy to pretend

I know you're not a fool

I should've known better than to cheat a friend

And waste a chance that I've been given

So I'm never gonna dance again

The way I danced with you

Time can never heal

The careless whispers of a good friend

Ignorance is kind

To the heart and mind

There's no comfort in the truth

Pain is all you'll find

I'm never gonna dance again

Guilty feet have got no rhythm

Though it's easy to pretend

I know you're not a fool

I should've known better than to cheat a friend

And waste a chance that I've been given

So I'm never gonna dance again

The way I danced with you

Tonight the music seems so loud

I wish that we could lose this crowd

Baby, it's better this way

We'd hurt each other with the things we want to say

We could have been so good together

We could have made this last forever

But now who's gonna dance with me

Please stay

I'm never gonna dance again

Guilty feet have got no rhythm

Though it's easy to pretend

I know you're not a fool

I should've known better than to cheat a friend

And waste a chance that I've been given

So I'm never gonna dance again

The way I danced with you

Long Tall Texan lyrics - Ben Folds

Well I'm a long tall Texan

I wear a ten-gallon hat

(He rides from Texas with his ten-gallon hat)

Yeah I'm a long tall Texan

I wear a ten-gallon hat

(He rides from Texas with his ten-gallon hat)

And people look at me and they say

"Oh Roy, oh, Roy, is that your hat?"

"Yeah, that's my hat"

Well I'm a long tall Texan

I ride it to enforce the law

(He rides from Texas to enforce the law)

Yeah I'm a long tall Texan

I ride it to enforce the law

(He rides from Texas to enforce the law)

And people look at me and they say

"Oh Roy, oh, Roy is you the law?"

"Yeah, I'm the fucking law"

Well I'm a long tall Texan

(I don't know the rest of the words

Anybody know?...)

Yeah I'm a long tall Texan

"Oh Roy, oh, Roy, is you the law?"

1, 2, 1, 2, 3, hey!

Sorry, sorry

Army lyrics - Ben Folds

Well I thought about the army

Dad said, son you're fucking high

And I thought, yeah there's a first for everything

So I took my old man's advice

Three sad semesters

It was only fifteen grand spent in bed

I thought about the army

I dropped out and joined a band instead

Grew a mustache and a mullet

Got a job at Chick-Fil-A

Citing artistic differences

The band broke up in May

And in June reformed without me

And they got a different name

I nuked another grandma's apple pie

And hung my head in shame

Oh no

I've been thinking a lot today

Whoa, I think I'll write a screenplay

Whoa, I think I'll take it to LA

Whoa, I think I'll get it done yesterday

Aw, shit

In this time of introspection

On the eve of my election

I say to my reflection

God, please spare me more rejection

'Cause my peers they criticize me

And my ex-wives all despise me

Try to put it all behind me

But my redneck past is nipping at my heels

I've been thinking a lot today

I thought about the army

Battle Of Who Could Care Less lyrics - Ben Folds

Do you not hear me anymore?

I know it's not your thing to care

I know it's cool to be so bored

It sucks me in when you're aloof

It sucks me in, it sucks it works

I guess it's cool to be alone

Do you never rest

Fighting the battle of who could care less?

Everyday

You wake up late

Sometimes I wish I was that way

You think Rockford Files is cool

But there are some things that you would change if it were up to you

So think about your masterpiece (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)

Watch the Rockford Files and call to see if Paul can score some weed

Will you never rest

Fighting the battle of who could care less?

Unearned unhappiness

That's all right, I guess

I've got this great idea

Why don't we pitch it to the Franklin fucking Mint?

Fine pewter portraits of

General Apathy and Major Boredom singing

"Whatever and ever amen"

Oh well, maybe not, I'll try again

This should cheer you up for sure

See, I've got your old I.D.

And you're all dressed up like the Cure

You never rest

Fighting the battle of who could care less

Unearned unhappiness

You're my hero, I confess

Unrelated lyrics - Ben Folds

What will it take to make me happy today?

A baby with a bagel

Or a hat that looks like hair?

What would I see to make the sun come out before me?

A dog that has to wear the leash before he can pee...

Best Imitation Of Myself lyrics - Ben Folds

I feel like a quote out of context

Withholding the rest

So I can be for you what you want to see

I've got the gesture and sounds

Got the timing down

It's uncanny, yeah, you'd think it was me

Do you think I should take a class

To lose my southern accent

Did I make me up, or make the face 'til it stuck

I do the best imitation of myself

The problem-with-you speech

You gave me was fine

I liked the theories about my little stage

And I swore I was listening

But I started drifting

Around the part about me acting my age

So now if it's all the same

I've people to entertain

You know I juggle one-handed

Do some magic tricks and

The best imitation of myself

Maybe I'm thinking myself in a hole

Wondering who I am, when I ought to know

Straighten up now time to go

Fool somebody else

Last night I was east with them and west within

Trying to be for you what you wanna see

But I can't help it with you

The good and bad comes through

Hanging out with no one but me

But it's all the same

It comes from the same place

And if my mind's somewhere else

You won't be able to tell

I do the best imitation of myself

Yes it's uncanny to see

You'd really think it was me

The best imitation of myself

Rocky lyrics - Ben Folds

We were in a park

And I could jump so far

Seems that all I'd ever done

Were smoking pot out in the car

And this fear faded in

From my deputies in my old school

He says

"Ben, we both know you're a saint

I've been running through these fields

It's such a lovely place you drink

Is it your imagination

It's been years since I've been on my feet?"

Now it's Rocky's day

And it's on it's way

Sun won't be coming out today

Now it's Rocky's day

And it's time he went away

Sun won't be coming out today

Now I recall

But I don't know who

Told me Rocky was a runner

Won a medal back in school

Now at Christmas mamma says

You go up in Rocky's room

And as we watch the sun go down

He thanks me for my dreams

He says "I know you think you are

But you're not completely free

The man who's seen the spectre of the

Completely free."

Now it's Rocky's day

And it's on it's way

Sun won't be coming out today

Now it's Rocky's day

And it's on it's way

Sun won't be coming out today

Then he smiled

And he turned and walked away

He said over his shoulder

"I'll be gone when you're awake."

Now it's Rocky's day

And it's on it's way

Sun won't be coming out today

Now it's Rocky's day

And it's on it's way

Sun won't be coming out today

Boxing lyrics - Ben Folds

Howard, the strangest things

Have happened lately

When I take a good swing

And all my dreams

They pivot and slip

I drop my fists and they're back

Laughing, Howard

My intention's become not to lose what I've won

Ambition has given way to desperation and I

Lost the fight from my eyes

Boxing's been good to me, Howard

Now I'm old, you're growing old

The whole time we knew

In a couple of years I'd be through

Has boxing been good to you?

Howard, I confess I'm scared and lonely and tired

They seem to think I'm made of clay

Another day, I'm not cut out for this

I just know what to say, I say

Boxing's been good to me, Howard

Now I'm old, you're growing old

The whole time we knew

In a couple of years I'd be through

Has boxing been good to you?

Well sometimes I punch myself hard as I can

Yelling nobody cares hoping someone will tell me how

Wrong I am

Boxing's been good to me, Howard

Now I'm old, you're growing old

The whole time we knew

In a couple of years I'd be through

Has boxing been good

Has boxing been good to you?

Julianne (1994 Version) lyrics - Ben Folds

I met this girl, she looked like Axl Rose

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 I 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 beautiful

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

A 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 a 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

You know that Julianne she 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 what I knew

Guess that I was innocent too

I can try just as hard as I can

But I don't miss Julianne

Yeah, I can try just as hard as I can

I don't miss Julianne

Evaporated lyrics - Ben Folds

What I've kept with me

And what I've thrown away

Now where the hell I've ended up

On this glary random day

Where the things I really cared about

Just left along the way

From being too pent up and proud

Woke up way too late

Feeling hung over and old

And the sun was shining bright

And I walked barefoot down the road

Started thinking about my old man

It seems that all men

Wanna 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've faith 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? Ooh

I poured my heart out

It evaporated

See?

Blind man on a canyon's edge of a panoramic scene

Or maybe I'm a kite that's flying high and random

Dangling 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?

Alice Childress lyrics - Ben Folds

Some summers in the evening after 6 or so

I walk on down the hill

Maybe buy a beer

I think about my friends

Sometimes I wish they lived out here

But they wouldn't dig this town

No, they wouldn't dig this town

Try not to think about it, Alice Childress

Try not to think about it anymore

Try not to think about it, Alice Childress

Anymore

No, not anymore, oh

Alice, the world is full of ugly things

That you can't change

Pretend it's not that way

It's my idea of faith

You can blow it off

And say there's good in nearly everyone

Just give them all a chance

Now let's give them all a chance

Try not to think about it, Alice Childress

Try not to think about it anymore

Try not to think about it, Alice Childress

Anymore

No, not anymore, oh

No, it didn't work out

No, it didn't work out the way we thought it would

No, it didn't work out

(An arranged marriage is not so good)

Thank God it's you

You know, your timing is impeccable

I'm not fooling you

I don't know what to do

Some dude just knocked me cold

And left me on the sidewalk

Took everything I had

And everything I had

Try not to think about it, Alice Childress

Try not to think about it anymore

It's getting late where you are, Alice Childress

Anymore

No, not anymore

Anymore

No, not anymore

Barrytown lyrics - Ben Folds

(originally by Steely Dan)

I'm not one to look behind I know that times must change

But over there in Barrytown they do things very strange

And though you're not my enemy

I like things like they used to be

And though you'd like some company

I'm standing by myself

Go play with someone else

I can see by what you carry that you come from Barrytown

Don't believe I'm taken in by stories I have heard

I just read the Daily News and swear by every word

And don't think that I'm out of line

For speaking out for what is mine

I'd like to see you do just fine

But look at what you wear

And the way you cut your hair

I can see by what you carry that you come from Barrytown

In the beginning we recall that the world was round

Barrytown people got to be from another world

Leave me or I'll be just like the others you will meet

They won't act as kindly if they see you on the street

And don't you scream or make a shout

It's nothing you can do about it

It was there where you came out

It's a special lack of grace

I can see it in your face

I can see by what you carry that you come from Barrytown

Amelia Bright lyrics - Ben Folds

Hey

Something, it's new

It got into me

And I hope that it got into you

But wait

Like colors, like paint

A trumpets been played

And I hope that it's got, hope that it got into you

There's no doubt

Here lies Amelia Bright

In a red 50s dress from a thrift shop nearby

I lay on my back and stared at the sky

With Amelia Bright

There's clothes that aren't put away

There's me spread all over the floor

I am lost in one place

I'm stuck and I'm strayed

And I hope that you feel the same too

And there's no doubt

Here lies Amelia Bright

In a red 50s dress from a thrift shop nearby

I lay on the grass and stared at the sky

With Amelia Bright

There's no doubt

There's nothing to work out

You're alone

'Cause you're always on your own

When you yawn, it makes me want to yawn too

Blank expressionless clue

What got into you

With a necklace no shoes

A promise or two

And a life to rewrite and improve

There's no doubt

Here lies Amelia Bright

In a red 50s dress from a thrift shop nearby

I lay on my back and stared at the sky

With Amelia Bright

Tell Me What I Did lyrics - Ben Folds

My nose was hurting

And I was shouting something

We were two kids

And I was fat and grumpy

Push you down some stairs

I said, "Your mom smells like old underwear."

And then you split my lip

Won't you tell me what I did?

Tell me what I did

Shelley was pretty

She studied algebra

She made some cookies

For the whole math class

She would talk to me

Even though I was a bully

I always knew she'd be somebody

Now she's the editor-in-chief

Of a free magazine

Tell me what I did

Tell me

The kids formed a circle

Just like "Enter The Dragon"

I was defending myself

From snowballs coming at me

I said, "I'll come back then

And get you one-on-one."

"Oh yeah? We're no longer friends,"

As he started to run

Screaming, "Tell me what I did."

Tears in my eyes

"Tell me what I did

Tell me what I did."

Tell me what I did

T-t-t-tell me what I did

Rock Star lyrics - Ben Folds

If you wanna be free

Then I want you to be

You're not mine anymore

You're public property

And your seconds are crumbs and you get them freely

You're a slave to these people who don't even know you

You think they adore you

They use you and throw you away

Give the people what they want

You've got to give the people what they want

Got to give the people what they want

Rock star

You've adapted the manners of somebody else

I don't even know you, you're somebody else

But baby, the truth is

You need their approval

To tell you you're cool

And you're willing to pay tooth and nail

Finally give them what they want

You've got to give the people what they want

Rock star

So maybe you'll come back

And maybe I'll be here

You're already gone, so just go

'Cause they're waiting for you

Got to give the people what they want

You've got to give the people what they want

Losing Lisa (Demo) lyrics - Ben Folds

The lights are off again

She took me by surprise

She's so sensitive

This shit just happens sometimes

She's my everything

She's my best friend and more

We don't do anything

We didn't do the day

Before you go

You oughta know

That I didn't mean to hurt you, I just wanted you to know

Black tears are falling down her face

And I am wrong

Black tears are falling and she won't say what I've done

She's sitting here beside me, then she is gone

Black tears are falling, falling

Remember long ago

Together we were happy

Oh so long ago

We singing songs and laughing

Walking hand in hand

Together we would make it

Life was simple then

We didn't have to think

Long ago you told me so

You spelled enough [?]

But I didn't wanna know

Black tears are falling down her face

And I am wrong

Black tears are falling and she won't say what I've done

She's sitting here beside me, then she is gone

Black tears are falling, falling

Losing Lisa

And there's nothing I can do

Black tears are falling, falling (ooh ooh)

Break Up At Food Court lyrics - Ben Folds

I tried to do it on Saturday

Say it all and be on my way

I've been sitting here staring at my fries

Didn't have shit to say for an hour and a half

Breaking up, breaking up, breaking oh...

Yeah

Paul Abe Lincoln, good ol' man

Washed face in a frying pan

And he flew out by my window with a

Stick in his saying "Hey... I'm Superman!"

Breaking up, breaking up, breaking oh...

Yeah

Breaking up, breaking up, breaking oh...

Yeah

Hiro's Song (Demo) lyrics - Ben Folds

My name is Hiro I am 51

Since 1980 life has been no fun

And I don't wanna die

I left my family for the secretary

Her name is Yuko and she is 22

She and my daughter were best friends in high school

They say it's crazy and it's temporary

It's not true

But I refuse to rot like my contemporaries

I wanna explode

In a karaoke supernova

She asked me if I've ever seen Jesus

She had backstage passes for three of us

Then she took me down to see Cornelius

Well, she was right, that man's a rock-and-roll genius!

And now she's gone and broke my heart goddamn her

Turns out she's been fucking this drum programmer

She likes his style, she likes his rock-start glamour

Well she's an infant! He can damn well have her!

Wandering lyrics - Ben Folds

She's a million miles away

From me

Separated by a hollow wooden door

And some time we can't erase

Serves me right

To let her in the first time she knocked

And all this wandering got you nothing

You were ready to but never could

Things you never saw in me

She'll see

Observations that she'd heard from other people

That she never understood

Serves her right

Not knowing just exactly what she wants

And all this wandering

Got me nothing

You were ready to but never could

Are you happy

Wandering

Remember sitting on your car

That night

Clouds rolled out unvailing lights around the bay

And you told me all those things

Remember that?

You told me you can't match your clothes

Remember that?

Confessed how when I laugh sometimes, I'm crying

And we sat and didn't talk for half an hour

Remember that?

Alone

'Cause I won't remember

Anymore

And all this wandering

The Secret Life Of Morgan Davis (Alternate Mix) lyrics - Ben Folds

His wife is tired

She wants to sleep

But all that Morgan Davis wants is cream of wheat

He waits and when she turns out the lights

He tiptoes through the darkness and steps into the night

This boring life that he leaves of buying and selling stocks makes him feel

He's growing old and tired

There's no joy in his life

Just the passing time

In this boring life

He wants the lights, the jazz

A piece of ass

A toothless bitch to blow him for a vial of crack

He cooks his junk in some Gatorade

And scores a bag of chronic on the east MLK

This secret life that he leads of buying and selling drugs keeps him up at night

He's selling hash

Screwing trailer trash

And he's making cash

It's a whoring life

My friends are all salesmen

My wife is a slut

There must be something bigger I can stick in my butt

The IRS is auditing

"My life's in a rut!"

And so he's fired his heat

He's blown his blow

It's coming up on sunrise and it's time to go

He smells like barf

His hair's a mess

He wipes the coke and lipstick off his fat hairy chest

He stumbles home from a Leslie show

He will be at work in an hour or so

He crawls in bed with his sleeping wife

Just a night to break up this boring life

Such Great Heights lyrics - Ben Folds

(originally by The Postal Service)

I am thinking it's a sign

That the freckles in our eyes

Are mirror images

And when we kiss they're perfectly aligned

And I have to speculate

That God Himself did make

Us into corresponding shapes

Like puzzle pieces from the clay

And true, it may seem like a stretch

But it's thoughts like this that catch

My troubled head when you're away

When I am missing you to death

When you are out there on the road

For several weeks of shows

And when you scan the radio

I hope this song will guide you home

They will see us waving from such great heights

"Come down now" they'll say

But everything looks perfect from far away

"Come down now" but we'll stay

I tried my best to leave

This all on your machine

But the persistent beat

It sounded thin upon listening

And that frankly will not fly

You'll hear the shrillest highs

And lowest lows with the windows down

While this is guiding you home

They will see us waving from such great heights

"Come down now" they'll say

But everything looks perfect from far away

"Come down now" but we'll stay

They will see us waving from such great heights

"Come down now" they'll say

But everything looks perfect from far away

"Come down now" but we'll stay

They will see us waving from such great heights

"Come down now" they'll say

But everything looks perfect from far away

"Come down now" but we'll stay

Time (Alternate Version) lyrics - Ben Folds

Think of me

Anyway you want

I can be

The problem if that's easier

In your head

Move the pieces around

Things I've said

Turn the memory upside down

And it makes it better I know

But sometimes it's hard to swallow

In time I will fade away

In time I won't hear what you say

In time, but time takes time you know

Tell your friends

The things they wanna hear and see

Start the drums

Band against the enemy

In time I won't mean a thing

In time I won't care what you say

In time, but time takes time you know

It might make it better, I know

But sometimes it's hard to swallow

In time I will fade away

In time I won't care what you say

In time, but time takes time you know

Don't really wanna know

Sleazy lyrics - Ben Folds

(originally by Kesha)

I don't need you or your brand new Benz

Or your bougie friends

I don't need love, looking like diamonds, looking like diamonds

(Get sleazy)

I'ma get

(Get sleazy)

Get

I don't need you or your brand new Benz

Or your bougie friends

I don't need love, looking like diamonds, looking like diamonds

I don't need you or your brand new Benz

Or your bougie friends

I don't need love, looking like diamonds, looking like diamonds

You can't imagine the immensity of the fuck I'm not givin' about you money and man servant at the mansion you live in

And I don't wanna go places where all my ladies can't get in

Just grab a bottle, some boys and let's take it back to my basement and get sleazy

Sick of all your lines, so cheesy

Sorry daddy, but I'm not that easy

I'm not gonna sit here while you circle jerk it and work it

I'ma take it back to where my man and my girls is

(Get sleazy)

I'ma get

(Get sleazy)

I'ma get

(Get sleazy)

I'ma get

(Get sleazy)

I don't need you or your brand new Benz

Or your bougie friends

I don't need love, looking like diamonds, looking like diamonds

I don't need you or your brand new Benz

Or your bougie friends

I don't need love, looking like diamonds, looking like diamonds

Rat tat tat tat on your dum dum drum

The beat so phat, gonna make me cum

Over to your place

Rat tat tat tat on your dum dum drum

The beat so phat, gonna make me cum

Over to your place

I don't mean to critique on your seduction technique

But it's really not impressing me, it's kinda weak

That you really think you're gonna get my rocks off

Get my top and socks off

By showing me them dollars in your drop box

Me and my friends, we don't buy bottles, we bring 'em

We take the drinks from the table when you get up and leave 'em

I don't care if you stare, and you call us scummy

'Cause we ain't after your affection

And sure as hell not your money, honey

I don't need you or your brand new Benz

Or your bougie friends

I don't need love, looking like diamonds, looking like diamonds

I don't need you or your brand new Benz

Or your bougie friends

I don't need love, looking like diamonds, looking like diamonds

Because The Origami lyrics - Ben Folds (with 8in8)

Because the origami didn't work

We gave you dancing lessons

Because the dancing lessons made you bored

We bought you a guitar

Because you said it made your fingers sore

We found you a pony

Because the pony broke your leg and ran away

We got you drums

But the drums annoyed our neighbours so

We gave you cooking lessons

And the cooking lessons made you fat

We bought you running shoes

If you hear this

Please

We love you Tommy

We know it never was

About origami

Because you took the shoes and ran away

We gave them your description

Now we haven't heard a thing in weeks

Because we don't know where you are

We're putting out this song

Because we think that you might hear

And know where you belong

So what did we do wrong?

If you hear this

Please

We love you Tommy

Please come home we've

Left your room

Exactly

And if you ever hear this song

Know we send our love

Take your origami skills

And make a paper dove

Send a message home

We promise not to teach you

We don't care what you've done

We hope that this will reach you

If you hear this

Please

We love you Tommy

We won't ask you

Anything

We won't be angry

Stumblin' Home Winter Blues lyrics - Ben Folds

Goodbye, streetlight, goodnight

I'm sure that I'll be fine

'Cause daylight is breaking

My head is spinning me

Stumblin' home winter blues

Sometimes I know I am wrong

Sometimes I know I am right

But lately I'm thinking

These streets are taking me

Stumblin' home winter blues

Out of line

Incomplete

In between waking up

And going to sleep

Out of line

Wasting time

In between the morning light

And where I wanna be

But it takes time

Yours and mine

Goodbye, streetlight, goodnight

I'm sure that I'll be fine

I called from a payphone

You were still sleeping

Daylight is breaking

My head is spinning me

Stumblin' home winter blues

Underground (Demo) lyrics - Ben Folds

I was never cool in school

I'm sure you don't remember me

And now it's been ten years

And I'm still wondering who to be

And I love to mix in circles, cliques, and social coteries, that's me

Hand me my nose ring!

Can we be happy?

Show me the mosh pit!

Can we be happy?

We can be happy underground

Who's got the looks?

Who's got the brains?

Who's got everything?

I got this pain in my heart, that's all

Hey you with the long and lonely face

There's got to be something else

Let me tell you something else

There was a girl that passed me by

She gave a smile but I was shy and looked down, so down

Don't look down no no! Go go underground

And now there's a place to go

In the morning now, in the evening

It's everything

I click my heels and I'm there

(Underground, underground)

Everything's heavy underground

(Underground)

You've been kicked around

(Underground)

Did life bring you down here?

We can be happy underground

We'll be decked in all black

Slamming the pits fantastic

Officer Friendly's boy's got a mohawk

He knows just where we're coming from

It's industrial, work it underground

Get down, get down, get down

[?]

In the morning now, in the evening

It's everything

I click my heels and I'm there

(Underground, underground)

Everything's heavy underground

(Underground)

You've been kicked around

(Underground)

Did life bring you down here?

Everything's heavy underground

We can be happy, we can be happy, we can be happy underground

Oh we can't, oh we can't, oh we can't be

(Underground)

You've been kicked around

(Underground)

Did life bring you down here?

Everything's heavy underground

Get down...

Oh, we can't, oh we can't, oh we can't be

Steven's Last Night In Town lyrics - Ben Folds

Everyone gather 'round now, sing us a song

Just in case by tomorrow it happens he's gone

For two weeks and seven days fair foreign friend

I had this feeling we might never see Steven again

But we thought he was gone

And now he's come back again

Last week it was funny

And now the joke's wearing thin

'Cause everyone knows now

That every night now

Will be Steven's last night in town

He's charmed everyone here, except for Tamara Easter

Who later revealed to him her innermost secrets

Won us over with stories about Linda McCartney

Lost points with the ladies for saying

He couldn't love a woman with cellulite

But we thought he was gone

And now he's come back again

Last week it was funny

And now the joke's wearing thin

'Cause everyone knows now

That every night now

Will be Steven's last night in town

We were talking 'bout something, seems like it was funny

And then Steven got quiet, I think Steven was mad

Maybe he wasn't mad, but we felt very strange

In the moment but the moment was passed

And forgotten about

We thought he was gone

And now he's come back again

Last week it was funny

And now the joke's wearing thin

'Cause everyone knows now

That every night now

Will be Steven's last night in town

Song For The Dumped (Demo) lyrics - Ben Folds

So you wanted to take a break?

Slow it down some and have some space?

Fuck you too!

Give me my money back

Give me my money back, you bitch

I want my money back

You fucking whore!

I wish I hadn't bought you dinner

Right before you

Dumped me on your front porch

Give me my money back

Give me my money back, you bitch

I want my money back

You fucking whore!

And don't forget to give me back my black t-shirt

So you wanted to take a break?

Slow it down some and have some space?

Fuck you too!

Give me my money back

Give me my money back, you bitch

I want my money back

I want my black t-shirt

Narcolepsy lyrics - Ben Folds

I should warn you

I go to sleep

I know you don't

Know what I mean

Yet

I get upset or happy

I go to sleep

Nothing hurts when

I go to sleep

But I'm not tired

I'm not tired

I know it seems that I don't care

But something in me does I swear

I don't remember all last year

I left you awake to cry the tears

While I was dreaming (in streams

Flowing between the shores

Of joy and sadness)

I'm drowning

Save me

Wake me up

I should warn you

I go to sleep

You won't know when

I go to sleep

'Cause I'm not tired

I'm not tired

I just sleep

Picture Window Lyrics – Ben Folds

They checked into the hospital New Year's Eve
Nothing to be done about that
Rainbows, daffodils; she's not naive
Symbolism's all crap

There's a big picture window in their room
On the ward, with a view of a parliament hill
But the view offers more joy than they can afford
When there's this much pain to kill

You know what hope is?
Hope is a bastard
Hope is a liar
A cheat and a tease
Hope comes near you?
Kick it's backside
Got no place in days like these

At dusk the darkness surrenders to color
As the fireworks streak the sky
And their window gives them the prettiest picture
Their useless luck makes her wanna cry

Then it turns midnight, the shitty old year spent
Another Mom gives her some sparkling wine
And she nearly gives in to the moment
But he'll still be sick in 2009

You know what hope is?
Hope is a bastard
Hope is a liar
A cheat and a tease
Hope comes near you?
Kick it's backside
Got no place in days like these

Just as she's thinking of pulling the blind down
A rocket bursts in front of her eyes
The city lit up like a crown on London
And she tries and fails to stop spirits rise

You know what hope is?
Hope is a bastard
Hope is a liar
A cheat and a tease
Hope comes near you?
Kick it's backside
Got no place in days like these

You know what hope is?
Hope is a bastard
Hope is a liar
A cheat and a tease
Hope comes near you?
Kick it's backside
Got no place in days like these

Working Day Lyrics – Ben Folds

I can do this, really, I'm good enough
I'm as good as them, but don't take it from me
Ask my friends, ask my sister
They all think my stuff is great
Up there with any of them
I just need a break

I'm a genius, really, I'm excellent
Better than them, I kick their asses
All of them, even that guy
Who thinks he's fuckin' cool
Gets all of the attention
He doesn't sell shit does he

Some guy on the net thinks I suck and he should know
He's got his own blog

I'm a loser
I'm a poser
Yeah really
It's over
I mean it and I quit
Everything I write is shit

Hey, hey
It's a working day
Hey, hey
It's a working day

Levi Johnston's Blues Lyrics – Ben Folds

Woke up this morning, what do I see
Three thousand cameras pointed at me
Dude says, "You Levi?"
I'm like, "Yes, that's me sir"
"Well you just knocked up the VP nominee's daughter"
So I tell him "No, you got it wrong mister,
Already got a girl and her name's Bristol"
They all laugh and say "Where you been, sonny?
Your mother in law's a heartbeat from the presidency"

So I say, "Mother in law? No, we aint getting married"
They say, "Soon you will boy, she just announced it"
I get on my dirtbike and ride to my girl's home
Gonna lay down the law
Tell her what's goin' on

I'm a fuckin' redneck, I live to hang out with the boys
Play some hockey, do some fishin' and kill some moose
I like to shoot the shit and do some chillin' I guess
You fuck with me and I'll kick your ass

So we talk and it turns out we don't believe in abortion
And sex outside marriage is against our religion
And when I try to tell them I'm 18 years old,
They say "Levi it's too late, you've got to do as you're told"

I'm a fuckin' redneck, I live to hang out with the boys
Play some hockey, do some fishin' and kill some moose
I like to shoot the shit and do some chillin' I guess
You fuck with me and I'll kick your ass

Doc Pomus Lyrics – Ben Folds

Man in a wheelchair in the lobby of the Forrest
With frighters, hustlers, hard-up millionaires

Mobsters, cops, whores, pimps and Marxists
All human life is there

Man in a wheelchair listens to the chatter
Writes down all the insane crap he hears

He can’t move around but it doesn’t really matter
In the Forrest all you need is eyes and ears

And out they pour, the hits and misses
Turn Me Loose, Lonely Avenue
And down in Nashville Elvis sings Suspicion
Pomus/Shuman, 1962

And he never could be one of those happy cripples
The kind that smile and tell you life’s OK

He was mad as hell, frightened and bitter
He found a way to make his feelings pay

Back at the Forrest, in the steakhouse off the lobby
Another diner gets three bullets in the head

Doc looks down and carries on eating his linguine
Tries to think up a lyric for the dead

Fred Neil, Jack Benny, and crazy Phil Spector
Pumpkin Juice and Eydie Gormé
Damon Runyon Jr. and the Duke’s orchestra
All superhuman life was there

And he never could be one of those happy cripples
The kind that smile and tell you life’s OK
He was mad as hell, frightened and bitter
He found a way to make his isolation pay

Your Dogs Lyrics – Ben Folds

I see it all, I get it, I promise you I do
Your mom walked out on you when you were only two
You’ve grown up believing that this country hates the poor
You’re a dad three times over and you’re only twenty-four

The Christians on the radio, they act like you’re scum
Self-righteous condescending bastards, each and every one
I don’t read the Bible but I try to love you, man
Every flaw and violent act, I think I understand

But your dogs, your dogs, what’s fun about those?
And that tat on your neck, and that ring through your nose?
The weed, the junk food, the violent pornography
Don’t you think you’d want to be
Just a little bit more like me?

I still have high hopes you could join our community
There’s more of us than you now, but we’d welcome the diversity
You’re not white trash, like the other neighbors say
If you want to challenge stereotyping, join the PTA

At night, when your pit bulls are scaring our children
My wife, I’ll be honest here, wants me to shoot them
And sometimes I let my fantasies run

But that’s only at night, when I’m not really thinking
And you’re listening to Metallica in your backyard and drinking
The rest of the time I think we get along fine
I never judge you, I’m a live-and-let-live guy

But your dogs, your dogs, what’s fun about those?
And that tat on your neck, and that ring through your nose?
The weed, the junk food, the violent pornography
Don’t you think you’d want to be
Just a little bit more like me?

Practical Amanda Lyrics – Ben Folds

Who'd look at that dump and see a home?
Why not move in somewhere easy?
Urinals where bedrooms ought to be
Who could be bothered,really?

You're really good at all that stuff
The nuts and bolts of living
Curtains, blinds and kitchen tables

I've got no time for dates and plans
No I'm too busy dreaming
You're the one with the attention span
You're not the free wheeler

Practical, practical
Amanda
Saved one life
And made two others
Practical Amanda

Who'd look at me
And see someone
That might be
Worth redeeming
Head and heart
And soul fucked up
Who could be bothered, really?

I've got no time for dates and plans
No I'm too busy dreaming
You're the one with the attention span
Practical Amanda

Practical, practical
Amanda
Saved one life
And made two others
Practical Amanda

Claire's Ninth Lyrics – Ben Folds

So she stands and waits and waits at the school gate
They're late, they come, so dumb
In two cars when they agreed one
And it's gone wrong on her birthday
So they go to Joe's for pizza and ice cream
They sit and stare and Claire just wants to be 9 and a half
Next year she'll tell them she only wants world peace

But Claire, Claire baby
I wish you knew how this all got twisted
I wish you could see right inside us
In all of this stuff, the best of us that we can't get out

What's the point of this
What's wrong with two birthdays
It's cool at school
Her friends, they all have two birthdays
Oh geez, he just asked the waitress out on a date on her birthday

But Claire, Claire baby
I wish you knew how this all got twisted
I wish you could see right inside us
In all of this stuff, the best of us that we can't get to

Here's the cheque
They pay with two cards like they've never met
Goodbyes outside; it's cold in LA

Claire, Claire baby
I wish you knew how this all got twisted
I wish you could see right inside us
The best of us for most of us
Or what we were, you're all that's left
It used to be our birthday too

Password Lyrics – Ben Folds

I know you
You think I don't but I do
I've been listening and I don't forget so I can do this
I can pass the test
You went to school in Chicago
Your mom's maiden name is Dupree
Your favorite actor is DeNiro
Your birthday's 03/08/83

C.H.I.C.A.G.O.
D.U.P.R.E.E.
D.E.N.I.R.O.

I know you
You think it's weird but it's not
You're all looking at it all upside down
It actually means I really love you
You used have a dog called Mantey
You only drink chardonnay
Your sister's pet name is CeeCee
You have a thing for David Blaine

M.A.N.T.E.Y.
C.H.A.R.D.O.N.N.A.Y.
C.E.E.C.E.E.

And I know you

I know you
You think I'm blind but I'm not
I've been watching and what I've noticed is distraction, boredom and vacancy
I know your favorite dish
I know your favorite band (Polyphonic S.P.R.E.E.)
You spent a year in Barcelona (B.A.R.C.E.L.O.N.A.)
That asshole's name was Anthony

Turns out you never went to T.U.L.S.A.
To see your old roommate J.A.N.E.
I think my middle name is S.U.C.K.E.R.
And I was born yesterday

I don't know you
I thought I did but I don't
I wasn't listening to the right things
One day I won't even remember your face

From Above Lyrics – Ben Folds

They even looked at each other once across a crowded bar
He was with Martha, she was with Tom
Neither of them really knew what was going on
Strange feeling of never
Heartbeats becoming synchronized
and staying that way forever

Most of the time it was just near misses
Air kisses, once at a bookstore, once at a party
She came in as he was leaving
And years ago at the movies, she sat behind him
A 6:30 showing of 'While You Were Sleeping'
He never once looked around

[Chorus:]
It's so easy from above
You can really see it all
People who belong together
Lost and sad and small
But there's nothing to be done for them
It doesn't work that way
Sure we all have soulmates but we walk past them every day, oh no

And it's not like they were ever actually unhappy in the lives they lived
He married Martha, she married Tom
Just this vague notion that something was wrong
A naked absence, a phantom limb
An itch that could never be scratched

[Chorus]

Neither of them knew what was going on
A strange feeling of never
Heartbeats becoming synchronized
And staying that way forever

Who knows whether that's how it should be
Maybe our ghosts live in that vacancy

Maybe that's how books get written
Maybe that's why songs get sung
Maybe we owe the unlucky ones

[Chorus]

Maybe that's how books get written
Maybe that's why songs get sung
Maybe we owe the unlucky ones [x2]

Saskia Hamilton Lyrics – Ben Folds

I’ve only ever seen her name on a spine
But that’s enough, I want to make her mine

Never heard her voice, never seen her smile
But I’m in love with Saskia Hamilton…

Well she’s a poet, just like I want to be
But her passport alone is great poetry
And I'm in love with Saskia Hamilton.

She got more assonance than she knows what to do with
I’m in love with Saskia Hamilton
She got two sibilants, no bilabial plosives

Saskia Hamilton, Saskia Hamilton. Yeah! Right!
Saskia Hamilton, Saskia Hamilton.
Saskia, Saskia, Saskia Hamilton

Already got a girl but she sounds real bad
I’m in love with Saskia Hamilton
She got alliteration and her surname is Dagg

No hard consonants in my girl Saskia
Every single syllable sounds like Shakespeare
I’m in love with Saskia Hamilton

Gonna live with her and it’ll all be harmonious
How could it not be, when she’s that euphonious?
Gonna marry her and it’ll all be idyllic
AND MY TEACHER JUST TOLD ME THAT SHE’S DACTYLIC!

Saskia Hamilton, Saskia Hamilton. Yeah! Right!
Saskia Hamilton, Saskia Hamilton.
Saskia, Saskia, Saskia Hamilton

Belinda Lyrics – Ben Folds

Every night around this time
He has to sing 'Belinda'
"Belinda, I love you
Don't leave me, I need you"

He tried to stop a while back
But what is he without her?
A one hit wonder with no hits is what he is

And anyway
He always hears how much it means to people
There's a lot of fortysomethings
Who wouldn't be in the world without it
So now he does it with this lyric in his head

Belinda, I loved you
I'm sorry that i left you
I met somebody younger on a plane
She had big breasts
A nice smile
No kids either
She gave me complimentary champagne

No-one ever wants to hear the song he wrote for Cindy
"Cindy, I love you
I need you, don't leave me"
And he can't blame them, they can tell
His heart was never in it
And Cindy never liked it but
She never much liked him

Belinda, I loved you
I'm sorry that i left you
I met somebody younger on a plane
She had big breasts
A nice smile
No kids either
She gave me complimentary champagne

So every night about this time
He feels the old self loathing
While the old folks in the audience sing along
And he smiles and waves the mic at them
So they can do the chorus
But he's not there, he's somewhere else
He's with Belinda
In the days before he made it all go wrong

Belinda, I love you

She gave me complimentary champagne
She gave me complimentary champagne

"Way To Normal" (2008)

Hiroshima (B B B Benny Hit His Head) Lyrics – Ben Folds

Oh-oh, Oh!

It was the start of the show
Hiroshima
and the people were shouting my name
as the house lights came down
and the spotlight followed me out
I waved down low to the crowd
as I busted ass on the front of the stage

Oh-oh Oh!
They're watching me, watching me fall

Maybe it was the course of adrenaline
as the concrete rose to meet my face
Maybe it was the sheer embarrassment
that kept me concious and standing as I
crawled back on the stage
and started pounding out the first song
There was blood on the keyboard...
..Oh my God.

Oh-oh Oh!
They're watching me, watching me fall
Oh-oh Oh!
They're watching me, watching me fall

You wanna see what's in my head?
You wanna see what's in my head?
You wanna see what's in my head?
Check it out 'cause;
I got pictures of what's in my head
I got pictures of what's in my head
They took of me in Tokyo
And I brought 'em back with me to the USA

Oh-oh Oh!
They're watching me, watching me fall
Oh-oh Oh!
They're watching me, watching me fall
Alright, fall!

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