Ben Folds Five » Tracks » Brick

Ben Folds Five – Brick (4:31)

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About This Track

“Brick” is a song performed by Ben Folds Five released on their 1997 album Whatever and Ever Amen and later on Ben Folds Live[1]. The verses were written by Ben Folds about his high school girlfriend undergoing an abortion, and the chorus was written by the band’s drummer, Darren Jessee. “Brick” was one of Ben Folds Five’s biggest hits, gaining much mainstream radio play in the USA, the UK, and Australia in 1998. It has been called the ‘saddest song in the happiest chord’ - the song being in the key of D major.

Backstory

On the album Ben Folds Live, Folds explained: “People ask me what this song’s about… I was asked about it a lot, and I didn’t really wanna make a big hairy deal out of it, because I just wanted the song to speak for itself. But the song is about when I was in high school, me and my girlfriend had to get an abortion, and it was a very sad thing. And, I didn’t really want to write this song from any kind of political standpoint, or make a statement. I just wanted to reflect what it feels like. So, anyone who’s gone through that before, then you’ll know what the song’s about.[2]

On Ben Folds’ recent iTunes Originals compilation, he confesses that he had attempted to write a song about the abortion for quite some time, but he had trouble getting the song finished because it was too literal, but thanks to Darren Jessee’s chorus, the song was given just enough mystique to be the hit that it was. (Folds even jokes that “I’ve never understood a hit chorus. I wish I did.”)
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  • awestwater

    Takes me back to college days in north carolina!

    18 days ago

  • Nakkinak

    let's face it, this song is fantastic

    January 2012

  • take-the-sky

    This song breaks my heart.

    January 2012

  • weeindianboy

    I can't imagine any of this happening... I would be a fucking wreck.

    January 2012

  • mrshammett

    when my eventual abortion happens, i'm gonna play this song all day.

    December 2011

  • glovetalker

    great song...I really like pretty much all of Ben Fold's songs...but irl he's kinda a prick; just in case anyone out there ever thinks he's friendly or cool to his fans...he ain't

    December 2011

  • mi4you

    very sad!!!!!!!!

    November 2011

  • Safiana

    Sad, beautiful masterpiece.

    November 2011

  • viaggatore

    great song!

    November 2011

  • Zanzani

    it's about Ben and his girlfriend's abortion before he got famous and stuff.

    September 2011

  • beyondmountains

    most upsetting song in the universe =/

    August 2011

  • br4t_mtl_fre4k

    <33333333

    June 2011

  • thekillingspree

    This reeks of the '90s so bad it brings tears of nostalgia to my eyes. Fuck you, awesome song! <3

    June 2011

  • FINNKILLIN

    sometimes you gotta let go of that brick... lessons learned

    June 2011

  • chadderack

    You know she's a prick, tho, right? ;)

    May 2011

  • tua81447

    When I was in 8th grade I remember sneaking, staying up all night and roaming around the neighborhood. My friends and I went to Burger King at 6am for breakfast, and this song came on. We had a sing along in the BK at 6am, anytime I hear this song it reminds me on those times. Classic 90's stuff.

    April 2011

  • KJB32

    Love the piano in this song also his voice is so raw but very enjoyable

    February 2011

  • DavosRancheros

    yea a good one

    February 2011

  • isitbeer30yet

    good to hear again :)

    February 2011

  • NickC0079

    1990's :)

    February 2011
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