spiffytee Posted July 5, 2010 Share Posted July 5, 2010 So here are the lyrics (pretty cryptic): 6am 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 7:30 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" 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 I'm alone 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 Could anyone explain what's he mean by lying and drowning and heading nowhere, etc? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reverend Jax Posted July 5, 2010 Share Posted July 5, 2010 It's about a guy taking his girlfriend to get an abortion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Hakujin Posted July 5, 2010 Share Posted July 5, 2010 It's about a guy taking his girlfriend to get an abortion. Yep. That's what the song is about. As for "what's he mean by lying and drowning and heading nowhere, etc? " You could take it to mean the unborn baby, the girlfriend, or (as I see it) the situation itself is the titular "brick" drowning the narrator in sadness/regret/emptiness. I think most people would likely view the narrator as being someone feeling weighed down by this responsibility--a young man with an unwanted pregnancy, pining for his lost youth and having his whole life now mapped out as a father with limited opportunities. Thus making it a rather selfish lament or justification for the abortion. However, I take it that it is not the responsibility that's weighing him down, but rather his inability to handle said responsibility as the abortion is the ultimate decision reached by the young couple. . . Sorry, I'm a Ben Fold's fan and have thought about this song more than some here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HypnotizinChikns Posted July 5, 2010 Share Posted July 5, 2010 Probably one of my favorite Ben Fold's songs. I read an interview where he said it was a mutual decision between him and his girlfriend, but that her parent's did not agree (or did not know? i'm not sure and i can't find the interview now) but that his girlfriend at the time had a really hard time dealing with the whole situation between herself and her parents. the whole "heading nowhere" is the loss of youth, and future, and the fact that despite the fact they care very much for each other, the choice they made is going to tear them apart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HypnotizinChikns Posted July 5, 2010 Share Posted July 5, 2010 oh i should also add, that he now has twins and these two songs were made for them. very powerful stuff, he's a great songwriter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The NZA Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 jesus, this song got 10x sadder when you guys fleshed it out like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiffytee Posted July 6, 2010 Author Share Posted July 6, 2010 it is quite sad. i read that he wanted to keep the child but his girlfriend didn't and that they both sold their christmas gifts to pay for the abortion. how is it that their relationship could fall apart if they both agreed on the decision... unless her parents forced her to not see him anymore because of the abortion he and she mutually decided to do? but the song seems to hint that her parents didn't know. oh wait, i get it. the parents found out later... so they broke up because of the parents or because he regret his decision? im thinking he broke down both to admit the truth and regretting his decision and couldn't stay with her because everything that happened reminds him and guilts him. thanks guys... that definately has a given me a different perspective- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reverend Jax Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 oh i should also add, that he now has twins and these two songs were made for them. very powerful stuff, he's a great songwriter. Well, as long as we're posting other Ben Folds songs, I'm posting one of my favorites, Philosophy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the division of joy Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 I absolutely love this song. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Hakujin Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 Hell, if we're listing fave Ben Fold's songs then here're two of my fave upbeat ones... And a duet w/ Regina Spektor that's pretty fuckin' awesome as well. . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HypnotizinChikns Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reverend Jax Posted July 6, 2010 Share Posted July 6, 2010 Weird Al directed that video, and in return, Ben Folds played piano on Weird Al's Why Does This Always Happen To Me? I didn't know it was Ben Folds before the first time I heard the song, but the moment I heard it I immediately thought "that has to be Ben Folds on piano. Anyway, more of my favorites, from BFF's first album, Julianne. I love the smashing noises that accompany every drum fill. ...and One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiffytee Posted January 27, 2011 Author Share Posted January 27, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the division of joy Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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