by Amanda London·
The song “Brick” is actually autobiographical as far as Ben Folds is concerned. And whereas there is a lot of elaboration, some metaphorical, going on, the main timeline of the featured narrative breaks down as so.
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You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Ben Folds Five's Brick at Lyrics.org.
The vocalist goes to pick up his girlfriend very early in the morning on December 26, i.e. the “day after Christmas”.Her parents are out of the town, and Folds implies that he and she are using the opportunity to do something secretive.
And whereas it is never stated forthrightly,from his own explanationof this song we know that what he is doing is taking her to get an abortion. Moreover, the two of them would be teenagers at the time, thus explaining why they’re doing so secretively.Indeed he even has topawn the gifts he receivedfor Christmas in the name of paying for the procedure.
The Procedure tampers with their Relationship
And let’s just say that his sweetheart doesn’t take the experience well.Shemay be dealingwith some negative physical aftereffects, but all things considered it reads more like her conscience is bothering her.This apparently leads to Ben telling his parents the truth some weeks later.
But the conclusive idea that lies at the heart of this story is that the whole experience sorta messed their romance up, an emotional climax that the young couple apparently wasn’t expecting.
Chorus of “Brick”
And then as far as the chorus is concerned, whereas it may come off as if it has some type of connected albeit poetically-shrouded meaning, let it be known that such is not the case.Rather by the looks of things, the only reason that Ben Folds’ bandmate Darren Jessee is credited as a co-writer is because it was he who penned the chorus, as opposed, to Ben who wrote the rest of the song.
And as authored,according to Jesseeit does not have anything directly to do with the story at large. Rather it just like sounds coolly applicable, all lyrics considered.
Ben Folds Five
Ben Folds Five was actually a trio of musicians from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the same city in which this song was recorded (inside Folds’ home).The band was made up of the following:
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- lead vocalist Ben Folds
- Darren Jessee
- Robert Sledge
Facts about “Brick”
“Brick” is from the second album they put out together,“Whatever and Ever Amen”(1997), which went on to be certified platinum by the RIAA.And “Brick” itself was officially released by Epic Records on New Year’s Day, 1997.
This song is actually the biggest hit the Ben Folds Five ever achieved.It appeared on four US Billboard charts altogether and performed most impressively on theModern Rock Trackslist, where it peaked at number six.
And to note,“Brick”was not issued as a single stateside.Thus said showing was solely the result of the songbeing played on radio, as this was prior to the days of the internet-based music industry.
“Brick”also made its way onto the top 30 of the UK Singles Chart.
The music video to this track was directed by Kevin Bray.And it features Hollywood actress Ariana Richards, who previously appeared in theJurassic Parkmovie franchise, portraying the role of the vocalist’s romantic interest.
Even though this proved to Ben Folds Five biggest hit overall,the tune did not sit wellwith the band’s established fanbase at the time.Moreover, Ben Folds went on to explain that hisbuddies weren’t feeling“Brick”either.
Thenhe himself actually“tried to talk the manager and label people out of” releasing it.But ultimately they did so anyway, a decision we’re sure he has come to appreciate given its impressive critical reception. For instance, Aussies seemto really dig it.
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Scrynt Cauldein says:
November 6, 2021 at 4:33 am
I KNEW what this meant before even attempting to verify it (on a couple different music websites). “And whereas it is never stated forthrightly” in the song, when you know, you know… and I KNEW.
Because I went through it with my girlfriend – but we stayed together and eventually did have a kid… after we were married. She’s now my ex-wife (not my ex-girlfriend).
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Anonymous says:
March 20, 2022 at 11:44 pm
the year before this song came out.. my girlfriend and I accidentally got pregnant. After 5 months of coming to personal terms with the new reality of being a father, what my relationship with her was and wasn’t etc… there was a miscarriage. She began bleeding and when it got bad we went to the hospital. That was the loneliest I’d ever felt in my young life. Waiting in the waiting room silently with her mom. Feeling sick about the whole thing. What she had been feeling. The light that reality will shed on everything you ‘knew’ as a kid. It ended up being the beginning of the end for us. Different process but it did result in very similar feelings. The song was pretty obvious when I heard it and we were in the downturn.
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