September '75 I was 47 inches high
Mom said someday I would have
A bad ass mother G.I. Joe
For your little minds to blow
I still got beat up after class
Now I'm big and important
One angry dwarf
And 200 solemn faces
Are you
If you want to see me
Check your papers and your T.V.
Look who's tellin' who what to do
Kiss my ass good-bye
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
Now I'm big and important
One angry dwarf
And 200 solemn faces
Are you
If you want to see me
Check your papers and your T.V.
Look who's tellin' who what to do
Kiss my ass good-bye
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 be sorry
Ben Folds Five - Whatever and Ever Amen Album Lyrics
Ben Folds Five - Whatever and Ever Amen Lyrics
Writer: BEN FOLDS
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Fair
well, he shouted out his last word
and he stumbled through the yard
and she shattered her last china plate
and spun off in the car
when he lunged onto the hood
she stopped to tell him she'd been wrong
he was thrown head over heels
into the traffic coming on
but then...
all is fair
all is fair in love
did you get my other letters?
sometimes I think I oughta call
'cause you know I often wonder
if you open them at all
every couple nights or so
ya know, you pop into my dreams
I just can't get rid of you
like you got rid of me
ah, but I send my best
'cause God knows you've seen my worst
yeah, well...
all is fair
all is fair in love
all this breathing in
never breathing out
all this breathing in
never breathing out
all this breathing in
never breathing...
out
well, I guess she made her way
through the mob too late to hear him say
that he'd gotten all he'd wanted
a crowd to watch him bear the pain
he'd been keeping in
(so what) so what?
all is fair
all is fair in love
yeah, well,
all is fair
all is fair in love
am I right?
am I right?
and I'm lonely and I'm right
I'm lonely and I'm right
yeah!
(that's good.)
(I liked that one too.)
(do you want to just take that one?)
and he stumbled through the yard
and she shattered her last china plate
and spun off in the car
when he lunged onto the hood
she stopped to tell him she'd been wrong
he was thrown head over heels
into the traffic coming on
but then...
all is fair
all is fair in love
did you get my other letters?
sometimes I think I oughta call
'cause you know I often wonder
if you open them at all
every couple nights or so
ya know, you pop into my dreams
I just can't get rid of you
like you got rid of me
ah, but I send my best
'cause God knows you've seen my worst
yeah, well...
all is fair
all is fair in love
all this breathing in
never breathing out
all this breathing in
never breathing out
all this breathing in
never breathing...
out
well, I guess she made her way
through the mob too late to hear him say
that he'd gotten all he'd wanted
a crowd to watch him bear the pain
he'd been keeping in
(so what) so what?
all is fair
all is fair in love
yeah, well,
all is fair
all is fair in love
am I right?
am I right?
and I'm lonely and I'm right
I'm lonely and I'm right
yeah!
(that's good.)
(I liked that one too.)
(do you want to just take that one?)
Writer: BEN FOLDS
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Brick
Six 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 drowning slowly
Off the coast and I'm headed nowhere
She's a brick and I'm drowning slowly
They call her name at seven-thirty
I pace around the parking lot
Then 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 drowning slowly
Off the coast and I'm headed nowhere
She's a brick and I'm drowning 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
And now I know it
She's a brick and I'm drowning slowly
Off the coast and I'm headed nowhere
She's a brick and I'm drowning slowly
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 drowning slowly
Off the coast and I'm headed nowhere
She's a brick and I'm drowning slowly
They call her name at seven-thirty
I pace around the parking lot
Then 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 drowning slowly
Off the coast and I'm headed nowhere
She's a brick and I'm drowning 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
And now I know it
She's a brick and I'm drowning slowly
Off the coast and I'm headed nowhere
She's a brick and I'm drowning slowly
Writer: Ben Folds, Darren Jessee
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Song For The Dumped
1! 2! 3! 4!
so, you wanted
to take a break
slow it down some
and have some space
well, f*ck you too!
give me my money back
give me my money back, you bitch
I want my money back
and don't forget
and don't forget
to give me back my black t-shirt
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
and don't forget
and don't forget
to give me back my black t-shirt
hey, hey!
so, you wanted
to take a break
slow it down some
and have some space
give me my money back
give me my money back, you bitch
I want my money back
I want my money back
and don't forget
so, you wanted
to take a break
slow it down some
and have some space
well, f*ck you too!
give me my money back
give me my money back, you bitch
I want my money back
and don't forget
and don't forget
to give me back my black t-shirt
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
and don't forget
and don't forget
to give me back my black t-shirt
hey, hey!
so, you wanted
to take a break
slow it down some
and have some space
give me my money back
give me my money back, you bitch
I want my money back
I want my money back
and don't forget
Writer: BEN FOLDS, DARREN JESSEE
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Selfless Cold And Composed
I
said what you wanted to hear
and what I
wanted to say
so, I
will take it back
are all of the dishes in tact?
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
and you've done no wrong
get out of my sight
it's easy to be
easy and free
when it doesn't mean anything
to 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 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 could 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
and it doesn't mean anything
you can take anything
you can take anything
you're so
selfless, cold
so selfless, cold
so selfless, cold
and composed
(cool.)
said what you wanted to hear
and what I
wanted to say
so, I
will take it back
are all of the dishes in tact?
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
and you've done no wrong
get out of my sight
it's easy to be
easy and free
when it doesn't mean anything
to 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 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 could 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
and it doesn't mean anything
you can take anything
you can take anything
you're so
selfless, cold
so selfless, cold
so selfless, cold
and composed
(cool.)
Writer: BEN FOLDS
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Kate
She plays wipeout 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 the daisies
in her footsteps
Dandelions, butterflies
I wanna be Kate
Everyday she wars the same thing
I think she smokes pot
She's everything I need, 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
And she speaks and she breathes
I wanna be Kate
Down by the Rosemary and Cameron
She hands out the
Bhagaved Gita
I see her around every couple days
I wanna meet her so that
I can say...hey Kate
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 the daisies
in her footsteps
Dandelions, butterflies
I wanna be Kate
Everyday she wars the same thing
I think she smokes pot
She's everything I need, 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
And she speaks and she breathes
I wanna be Kate
Down by the Rosemary and Cameron
She hands out the
Bhagaved Gita
I see her around every couple days
I wanna meet her so that
I can say...hey Kate
Writer: ANNA GOODMAN, BEN FOLDS, DARREN JESSEE
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Smoke
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
and 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
that we didn't speak,
it seemed for years and years and
here's the secret
no one will ever know
the reasons for the tears
they are...
smoke
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 on saying
the past is not even past, and
you keep saying
we are...
smoke
smoke
smoke
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
and 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
that we didn't speak,
it seemed for years and years and
here's the secret
no one will ever know
the reasons for the tears
they are...
smoke
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 on saying
the past is not even past, and
you keep saying
we are...
smoke
smoke
smoke
Writer: BEN FOLDS, ANNA GOODMAN
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Cigarette
Fred Jones was worn down
From caring for his often
Screaming and crying wife
During the day but
He couldn't sleep at night for fear that she
In a stupor from the drugs that didn't even
Ease the pain would set the house on blaze
With a cigarette.
From caring for his often
Screaming and crying wife
During the day but
He couldn't sleep at night for fear that she
In a stupor from the drugs that didn't even
Ease the pain would set the house on blaze
With a cigarette.
Writer: BEN FOLDS
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Stevens Last Night In Town
Everyone gather round now
Sing us a song
Just in case by tomorrow
It happens he's gone
For two weeks and seven days
Our fair foreign friend
I have this feeling
We might never see Steven again
But we thought he was gone
Now he's come back again
Last week it was funny
Now the jokes wearing thin
Everyone knows now
That every night now
Will be Steven's last night in town
He's charmed everyone here
Except 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
Now he's come back again
Last week it was funny
Now the jokes wearing thin
Everyone knows now
That every night now
Will be Steven's last night in town
We were talking bout something
Seems like was funny
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 past
And forgotten
But we thought he was gone
Now he's come back again
Last week it was funny
Now the jokes wearing thin
Everyone knows now
That every night now
Will be Steven's last night in town
Sing us a song
Just in case by tomorrow
It happens he's gone
For two weeks and seven days
Our fair foreign friend
I have this feeling
We might never see Steven again
But we thought he was gone
Now he's come back again
Last week it was funny
Now the jokes wearing thin
Everyone knows now
That every night now
Will be Steven's last night in town
He's charmed everyone here
Except 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
Now he's come back again
Last week it was funny
Now the jokes wearing thin
Everyone knows now
That every night now
Will be Steven's last night in town
We were talking bout something
Seems like was funny
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 past
And forgotten
But we thought he was gone
Now he's come back again
Last week it was funny
Now the jokes wearing thin
Everyone knows now
That every night now
Will be Steven's last night in town
Writer: BEN FOLDS
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Battle Of Who Could Care Less
do you not hear me anymore?
I know it's not your thing to care
I know it's cool to be so bored
sucks me in when you're aloof
it sucks me in, it sucks, it works
I guess it's cool to be alone
will ya never rest?
fighting the battle of who could care less
everyday you wake up late
sometimes I wish I was
that way
and 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
watch the Rockford Files
call to see if Paul can score some weed
do ya never rest?
fighting the battle of who could care less
unearned unhappiness
well that's alright I guess
and I've got
this great idea
why don't we pitch it to the Franklin f*ckin' Mint?
fine pewter portraits of
General Apathy and
Major Boredom singing
whatever and ever amen
oh well
maybe not
I'll try again
well this should cheer you up for sure
see, I've got your old I.D.
and you're all dressed up like The Cure
ya never rest
fighting the battle of who could care less
unearned unhappiness
you're my hero, I confess
I know it's not your thing to care
I know it's cool to be so bored
sucks me in when you're aloof
it sucks me in, it sucks, it works
I guess it's cool to be alone
will ya never rest?
fighting the battle of who could care less
everyday you wake up late
sometimes I wish I was
that way
and 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
watch the Rockford Files
call to see if Paul can score some weed
do ya never rest?
fighting the battle of who could care less
unearned unhappiness
well that's alright I guess
and I've got
this great idea
why don't we pitch it to the Franklin f*ckin' Mint?
fine pewter portraits of
General Apathy and
Major Boredom singing
whatever and ever amen
oh well
maybe not
I'll try again
well this should cheer you up for sure
see, I've got your old I.D.
and you're all dressed up like The Cure
ya never rest
fighting the battle of who could care less
unearned unhappiness
you're my hero, I confess
Writer: BEN FOLDS
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Missing The War
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 baaaa)
I'm missing the war all night
(ba ba ba baaaa)
missing the war
(ba ba ba baaaa)
I'm missing the war
(aaaaaahh aaaaahhhh aaaahhhh)
(aaaaaahh aaaaahhhh)
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 baaaa)
I'm missing the war all night
(ba ba ba baaaa)
missing the war
(ba ba ba baaaa)
I'm missing the war
'til beads of sunlight hit me in the morning
so much
time, so
little to say
time may fly
(time may fly)
and dreams may die
(aaaaaahhhhh)
the shaking voice
that tells him, "go"
still thinks he might
he knows he won't
I'm missing the war
(ba ba ba baaaa)
I'm missing the war all night
(ba ba ba baaaa)
missing the war
(ba ba ba baaaa)
I'm missing the war, oh...
missing the war
I'm missing the war
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 baaaa)
I'm missing the war all night
(ba ba ba baaaa)
missing the war
(ba ba ba baaaa)
I'm missing the war
(aaaaaahh aaaaahhhh aaaahhhh)
(aaaaaahh aaaaahhhh)
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 baaaa)
I'm missing the war all night
(ba ba ba baaaa)
missing the war
(ba ba ba baaaa)
I'm missing the war
'til beads of sunlight hit me in the morning
so much
time, so
little to say
time may fly
(time may fly)
and dreams may die
(aaaaaahhhhh)
the shaking voice
that tells him, "go"
still thinks he might
he knows he won't
I'm missing the war
(ba ba ba baaaa)
I'm missing the war all night
(ba ba ba baaaa)
missing the war
(ba ba ba baaaa)
I'm missing the war, oh...
missing the war
I'm missing the war
Writer: BEN FOLDS
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Evaporated
What I've kept with me
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
Woke up way too late
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?
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
Woke up way too late
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?
Writer: BEN FOLDS
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Whatever and Ever Amen is the second album by Ben Folds Five, released on March 18, 1997. Three singles were released from the album, including the lead single, "Battle of Who Could Care Less", which received significant airplay on alternative radio and on MTV, and peaked at number 26 on the UK Singles Chart and number 22 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, and the band's biggest hit, "Brick", which was a top-40 song in numerous countries.
A remaster was made available on March 22, 2005. All of the extra tracks had been previously released (as b-sides, soundtrack contributions, etc.) except for a cover of the Buggles song "Video Killed the Radio Star", which is a staple of Ben Folds Five's live show.
Performed By:
Ben Folds FiveA remaster was made available on March 22, 2005. All of the extra tracks had been previously released (as b-sides, soundtrack contributions, etc.) except for a cover of the Buggles song "Video Killed the Radio Star", which is a staple of Ben Folds Five's live show.
Genre(s): Alternative rock
Producer(s): Ben Folds, Caleb Southern
Released: March 18th, 1997
Year: 1997