[ ]   [ ]   [ ]                        [ ]      [ ]   [ ]
Ben Folds — Not The Same
Album: Rockin' The Suburbs
Avg rating:
7.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 522









Released: 2001
Length: 4:15
Plays (last 30 days): 0
share tweet wikiwebsitesearchamg
cd
mp3
search
You took a trip
And climbed a tree
At Robert Sledge's party
And there you stayed 'til morning came
You were not the same after that

You gave your life
To Jesus Christ
And after all your friends went home
You came down
You looked around
And you were not the same after that

(AHHHH AHHHH)
You were not the same after that
(AHHHH AHHHH)
You were not the same after that

You see 'em drop like flies
From the bright sunny skies
They come knocking at your door
With this look in their eyes
You got one good trick
And you're hangin' on
You're hangin' on
To it...

You took the word
And made it heard
And eased the people's pain
And for that
You were idolized, immortalized
And you were not the same after that

Walking tall
You'd bought it all
And you were not the same after that
'Till someone died
On the water slide
And you were not the same after that

You see 'em drop like flies
From the bright sunny skies
They come knocking at your door
With this look in their eyes
You got one good trick
And you're hangin' on
You're hangin' on
To it...

(OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO)
(OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO)

You see 'em drop like flies
From the bright sunny skies
They come knocking at your door
With this look in their eyes
You got one good trick
And you're hangin' on
You're hangin' on
To it...

You're hangin' on
You're hangin' on
You're hangin' on
Comments (99)add comment
 Sweet_Virginia wrote:
Video killed the radio star in slow motion?

 

That's Funny!   {#Rolleyes}
Posted 11 years ago by dew34    [ Reply ]
Video killed the radio star in slow motion?
Posted 11 years ago by Sweet_Virginia    [ Reply ]
Love Ben....so cool to see live....the audience does the "' Ahhhhhh, ahhhhhhh!" part. +fun
Posted 11 years ago by jules44    [ Reply ]
 TerryS wrote:
PSD for me.
 
Me, too
Posted 11 years ago by oldsaxon    [ Reply ]
PSD for me.
Posted 12 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
Wow, reminds me of the 12 Rods.

I really like it. 
Posted 12 years ago by Propayne    [ Reply ]
Hi Ben,
Sorry I forgot how much I love your music, thanks to RP I am reminded!
Posted 12 years ago by stratrjb    [ Reply ]
Where did the other 4 go?

I thought he was going to join the army.

This song is very 80's. I dint like the eighties that much. 
Posted 13 years ago by gemtag    [ Reply ]
 ice-9 wrote:
First of all, the more I hear this song, the more I absolutely love it.  Just a frustrated but accepting "WTF?" when a friend drops acid and finds Jesus, a metaphor for the random and bizarre changes some people go through, daring us to make sense of it.

Secondly, if you've ever heard him do this in concert, you won't forget it.  It's excellent, particularly when the audience sings along.  For that matter, I know very few people that have seen him live that have not become fans.  He refuses to phone it in and really tears the place down.  Best concerts I've ever seen.
 

I agree wholeheartedly. I actually was never blown away by this song until I saw him play it live, which gave me a new appreciation for it.
Posted 13 years ago by Danimal174    [ Reply ]
 raelic wrote:
Many apologies to the Ben fans, but the sound of his voice just makes me throw up a little in my mouth every time I hear it.

{#Music}......Ben Folds......{#Frown}......{#Puke}
  
Perhaps you should see a gastroenterologist about that and get some Nexium® or something. {#Wink}

Posted 13 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
the inimitable stylings of Ben Folds...destined to be his generation's Todd Rundgren (brillance - lack of mass marketing = cult fanbase)...great tune btw...
Posted 13 years ago by MiracleDrug    [ Reply ]
Good tune, good mix of bass drive along with some good lyrics. Beach Boys, Brian Wilson would approve I'm sure. Dig it. Far out.
Posted 13 years ago by Kokoloco53    [ Reply ]
Never been a huge BFF fan, but I remember seeing them at a music fest back in the 90s out in a field in Kansas. They closed the festival with a truly amazing live performance, which culminated (if I recall correctly) with Ben climbing atop a tower of speakers and tossing his stool down at his piano, presumably to hit the final chord just right. I don't remember what song it was.

 ice-9 wrote:


I can confirm.  Seeing him live made me a hopeless convert, and this is usually the best song in an excellent concert.
 

Posted 13 years ago by alph    [ Reply ]
Many apologies to the Ben fans, but the sound of his voice just makes me throw up a little in my mouth every time I hear it.

{#Music}......Ben Folds......{#Frown}......{#Puke}
Posted 13 years ago by raelic    [ Reply ]
The fact that I do not have this record in my music collection is a serious issue that must be remedied at the first opportunity... utilizing the links at Radio Paradise of course.
Posted 13 years ago by ick    [ Reply ]
 Businessgypsy wrote:
Confirmed. Ben folds does indeed slay the audience in a most agreeable fashion.

 

I can confirm.  Seeing him live made me a hopeless convert, and this is usually the best song in an excellent concert.
Posted 13 years ago by ice-9    [ Reply ]
Oh Ben how I love you. You even make me want to watch The Sing Off.
Posted 13 years ago by gandalfbmg    [ Reply ]
Is it a coincidence that this song was just played on 9/11?  This album was released on 9/11/01.  I saw Ben at the TLA in Philly the next day performing songs off this album, and it was a surreal experience since everyone was still in shock from the previous day's events.  Of course the lyrics are also reminiscent of how the world changed that day "You were not the same after that..."

Sorry to get all melodramatic, but when I saw the date this was last played...

Anyway - more Ben Folds Five, please? 
Posted 14 years ago by malvey254    [ Reply ]

Ben Folds II by ~ripyourfaceoff
Greta  ©2006-2010 ~ripyourfaceoff

Another Ben Folds photo.



Posted 14 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]
 Delawhere wrote:
get over your compulsion to be a comment critic and well, you won't sound like a hypocrite

 PeorgieTirebiter wrote:

Get over your compulsion to be a voice critic, and you'll enjoy music/life a lot more.
 
 
OK, I'll get over my voice critic compulsion.  Peorgie, you can get over your comment critic compulsion.    Delawhere, you can get over whatever compulsion you might have.   OK?   Are we happy now?  {#Moon}

last word:   I still don't like his voice!   But I do like Neil & Bob's voices.   go figure!     Ahh.  i am enjoying life better!   Thanks! 
Posted 14 years ago by bpkengor    [ Reply ]
mikexican wrote:
Fantastic! More Ben Folds. And yeah, best concert you can see of this genre. He kills it every time.
Confirmed. Ben folds does indeed slay the audience in a most agreeable fashion.

Posted 14 years ago by Businessgypsy    [ Reply ]
 spichanator wrote:
I have always thought this song was about Jim & Tammy Faye Bakker of the PTL. Especially the reference to "someone died on the water slide". The PTL got so big at one point that they opened a christian amusement park, and yes, someone died on a waterslide. Anyone able to corroborate this? 
 

Negative.  I saw him introduce this song in concert once, and it literally is about a friend of Ben's who got high at a party thrown by Robert Sledge (former Ben Folds Five bass guitarist). 

Folds does have a song that could indirectly be about Jim and Tammy Faye and their ilk called Jesusland.  Crowded House beats up on Tammy quite a bit in their song Chocolate Cake.
Posted 14 years ago by malvey254    [ Reply ]
get over your compulsion to be a comment critic and well, you won't sound like a hypocrite

 PeorgieTirebiter wrote:

Get over your compulsion to be a voice critic, and you'll enjoy music/life a lot more.
 


Posted 14 years ago by Delawhere    [ Reply ]
Fantastic! More Ben Folds. And yeah, best concert you can see of this genre. He kills it every time.
Posted 14 years ago by mikexican    [ Reply ]
First of all, the more I hear this song, the more I absolutely love it.  Just a frustrated but accepting "WTF?" when a friend drops acid and finds Jesus, a metaphor for the random and bizarre changes some people go through, daring us to make sense of it.

Secondly, if you've ever heard him do this in concert, you won't forget it.  It's excellent, particularly when the audience sings along.  For that matter, I know very few people that have seen him live that have not become fans.  He refuses to phone it in and really tears the place down.  Best concerts I've ever seen.
Posted 14 years ago by ice-9    [ Reply ]
Lame. Not their best work.
Posted 15 years ago by Mugro    [ Reply ]
I have always thought this song was about Jim & Tammy Faye Bakker of the PTL. Especially the reference to "someone died on the water slide". The PTL got so big at one point that they opened a christian amusement park, and yes, someone died on a waterslide. Anyone able to corroborate this? 
Posted 15 years ago by spichanator    [ Reply ]
 bpkengor wrote:
I sure like his music but I just can't handle his voice.
 
Get over your compulsion to be a voice critic, and you'll enjoy music/life a lot more.
Posted 15 years ago by PeorgieTirebiter    [ Reply ]
I am in complete agreement w/Tirebiter & Salty.  Peace.
Posted 15 years ago by casey1024    [ Reply ]
 saltysanford wrote:

Dig this album and the artist.  What's truly astounding is the lack of the usual hating that is usually elicited by artists like Ben Folds.  It is nice to hear a song I like by an artists I like and then see that the board isn't full of the bitching/whining and negative comments a la.. he sucks, stinks and the moronic emoticons. 

 
Amen.
Posted 15 years ago by PeorgieTirebiter    [ Reply ]
 ilibjorn wrote:

....gave your life to Christ??   2.

 

um... i think you miss the point of his song since the last line of that verse ends with, "And you were not the same after that."
Posted 15 years ago by lazylemming    [ Reply ]

....gave your life to Christ??   2.


Posted 15 years ago by ilibjorn    [ Reply ]
 holborne wrote:


If he's touring his ass off, how do his legs stay attached so he can work the pedals on the piano?

Ha ha, I slay me.
 

Saw him last week in Charleston, SC. Incredible show.
Posted 15 years ago by Darlington    [ Reply ]
 StellarSwarm wrote:
The Flaming Lips put on the craziest show I've ever seen including crowd surfing in a giant bubble, throwing like 50 huge blue balloons out for the crowd to bat around, and having the entire crowd sing the chorus to "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" acapella in an attempt to "stop traffic on Lakeshore entirely through the power of singing."
 
That sounds amazing   Thanks for sharing that story

Posted 15 years ago by DownHomeGirl    [ Reply ]
Not sure if it's just the quality of this recording, or if I'm too used to the version on the live CD, but this sounds different than how I remember it sounding on the CD. Is it just me?

Posted 15 years ago by Danimal174    [ Reply ]
 TampaPurple wrote:

He hasn't disappeared.  He's touring his ass off and has put out multiple albums and EPs since this one, plus produced a number of other projects.  The best way to stay up with him is to subscribe to his mailing list.

His new album "Way to Normal" is a great listen. 
 

If he's touring his ass off, how do his legs stay attached so he can work the pedals on the piano?

Ha ha, I slay me.
Posted 15 years ago by holborne    [ Reply ]
 toterola wrote:
I was just wondering yesterday what had happened to this guy. He is such a talent, and he seems to have dropped out of sight.
 
He hasn't disappeared.  He's touring his ass off and has put out multiple albums and EPs since this one, plus produced a number of other projects.  The best way to stay up with him is to subscribe to his mailing list.

His new album "Way to Normal" is a great listen. 
Posted 15 years ago by TampaPurple    [ Reply ]
 aaronm wrote:
The overall quality of this album is astounding. 
 

agreed... and while i like most of what i have heard from him/them... this is one of my least favorite songs he does.
Posted 15 years ago by DrGonzo    [ Reply ]
The overall quality of this album is astounding. 
Posted 15 years ago by aaronm    [ Reply ]
I was just wondering yesterday what had happened to this guy. He is such a talent, and he seems to have dropped out of sight.
Posted 15 years ago by toterola    [ Reply ]
His name is a complete sentence.  Hahah {#Angel}

Happy Halloween
Posted 16 years ago by superfido    [ Reply ]
{#Taped-shut}
Posted 16 years ago by Kittee    [ Reply ]
{#No}
Posted 16 years ago by jagdriver    [ Reply ]

Dig this album and the artist.  What's truly astounding is the lack of the usual hating that is usually elicited by artists like Ben Folds.  It is nice to hear a song I like by an artists I like and then see that the board isn't full of the bitching/whining and negative comments a la.. he sucks, stinks and the moronic emoticons. 


Posted 16 years ago by saltysanford    [ Reply ]
I sure like his music but I just can't handle his voice.
Posted 16 years ago by bpkengor    [ Reply ]
Hey Bill,  Please play Allman Bros  "Blue Sky".
Posted 16 years ago by anotherlistener    [ Reply ]
 aquinas wrote:
This album is absolutely amazing.

 
Have to agree that it's pretty good, even The Luckiest, which is corny as hell

Posted 16 years ago by tony99    [ Reply ]
katherinenz wrote:
I saw Ben Folds in 2001 when he played at Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, NC... it was his "coming home" gig, the club was packed, and this show STILL ranks as my absolute favorite concert I've ever been to... the story behind this song is hysterical
I know what you mean...I saw him in Charlotte in 2004 (I think), and this song, especially the audience participation part, was one of the highlights. I really appreciated this song a lot more after hearing it live.
Posted 16 years ago by Danimal174    [ Reply ]
I saw Ben Folds in 2001 when he played at Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, NC... it was his "coming home" gig, the club was packed, and this show STILL ranks as my absolute favorite concert I've ever been to... the story behind this song is hysterical
Posted 16 years ago by katherinenz    [ Reply ]
Less whiney than most of his. A six.
Posted 16 years ago by RadioDoc    [ Reply ]
nice song, never heard this before. Love the lyrics
Posted 16 years ago by Kokoloco53    [ Reply ]
new artist to me....!...like it and will chase up an album..thanks RP for enlightening me again!
Posted 16 years ago by linlanc    [ Reply ]
pianocomposer wrote:
I knew a guy from high school who went to San Diego state in CA and took so much acid he fried his Mensa brain...was reduced to diving for seafood on the Mendocino coast. This song really hits home for me. I think we all know friends who have done some serious damage to themselves and become someone else that we don't recognize anymore. I haven't changed much, myself. This song gets a 9 from me.
Diving for seafood sounds much better than selling Coca-Cola for a living!
Posted 16 years ago by Otomi    [ Reply ]
The intro made me think World Party.
Posted 16 years ago by earthbased    [ Reply ]
1st time hearing this on RP- LOVE this song and this CD!
Posted 16 years ago by LorraineV1    [ Reply ]
Nice!! An 8!
Posted 17 years ago by aquadonia    [ Reply ]
This album is absolutely amazing.
Posted 17 years ago by aquinas    [ Reply ]
I like Ben Folds.
Posted 17 years ago by ekeyte    [ Reply ]
I knew a guy from high school who went to San Diego state in CA and took so much acid he fried his Mensa brain...was reduced to diving for seafood on the Mendocino coast. This song really hits home for me. I think we all know friends who have done some serious damage to themselves and become someone else that we don't recognize anymore. I haven't changed much, myself. This song gets a 9 from me.
Posted 17 years ago by pianocomposer    [ Reply ]
wally42 wrote:
Great Song. True story.
My fav of BF; just bumped it up to 10
Posted 17 years ago by cmrump    [ Reply ]
greyfin10 wrote:
Well, I know for a fact that I was nowhere near BF during High School, but something very similar happened to a guy I knew. Bad trips can really whip your life into a completely different direction. Well actually, that's the way I decided to finish college and "get a life" so-to-speak; although it wasn't in any way, shape, or form lyrical to me at the time :)
...but if you were Ben Folds, there'd be a song in there somewhere... Isn't that the amazing thing that these artists really do? Take life and distill it in a way that touches the experiences of many people? Ben, hat's off!
Posted 17 years ago by robco1    [ Reply ]
Yay! Ben Folds! Not played nearly enough on RP. Keep it coming Bill!
Posted 17 years ago by manleywoman    [ Reply ]
Well, I know for a fact that I was nowhere near BF during High School, but something very similar happened to a guy I knew. Bad trips can really whip your life into a completely different direction. Well actually, that's the way I decided to finish college and "get a life" so-to-speak; although it wasn't in any way, shape, or form lyrical to me at the time :)
Posted 17 years ago by greyfin10    [ Reply ]
robco1 wrote:
Did you go to UNCG ? I knew a guy who went to a party who was never the same after a bad acid trip, and there was a guy named Robert Sledge, though it was so many years ago my memory could be making shit up... I never knew Ben very well, but we knew a lot of the same people. I'm hoping they're not in this song...and that "Carrying Cathy" isn't about the Cathy I knew back then...
I realized a few years ago that I went to high school with Ben. Didn't know him at the time. He was a year behind me. But we were in the marching band together, and there's a picture in the yearbook of us like 10 feet away from each other. Funny! There's a song of his that mentions a girl named "Tamara Easter" and I swear that sounds so familiar that she must be someone I went to school with. But I can't find her in any of my yearbooks. Oh well. LOVE Ben's music.
Posted 17 years ago by ginger    [ Reply ]
wally42 wrote:
Great Song. True story.
Did you go to UNCG too? I didn't go to the party, but I was in Phillips dorm with the guy in question, and no, he was not the same after that. In fact he was one of the reasons I never took acid. Or maybe it is about an entirely different bad trip incident. Not like they're that uncommon. What do you know? Is "Carrying Cathy" based in truth, and is it about a UNCG student? I'm hoping the answer is no...
Posted 17 years ago by robco1    [ Reply ]
was it the band's policy to only allow ND students, or the university's. because that sounds like something that a private university has the right to do. i woudln't hold that against any band. savoyard wrote:
Wanted to see them at University of Notre Dame, but they only allowed ND students. I still like them, but lost respect for them.
Posted 17 years ago by IMGoph    [ Reply ]
Great Song. True story.
Posted 17 years ago by wally42    [ Reply ]
This song and this album are spectacular. Far and away my favorite ben folds.
Posted 17 years ago by zarvok    [ Reply ]
I really like the Five's album Whatever and ever amen, would love to hear something from that!!
Posted 17 years ago by meower    [ Reply ]
jubilantme wrote:
this song rocks. when i bought ben folds live, i loooooved how he engaged the audience into singing. :)
Wanted to see them at University of Notre Dame, but they only allowed ND students. I still like them, but lost respect for them.
Posted 17 years ago by savoyard    [ Reply ]
jubilantme wrote:
this song rocks. when i bought ben folds live, i loooooved how he engaged the audience into singing. :)
So true. That live version is one of my favorite live songs ever. It just bristles with joy and good feelings.
Posted 17 years ago by okobojicat    [ Reply ]
this song rocks. when i bought ben folds live, i loooooved how he engaged the audience into singing. :)
Posted 18 years ago by jubilantme    [ Reply ]
poetjen wrote:
Whenever I've seen Ben Folds perform, he conducts the audience in a three part harmony on the "ahhhh." The last time I saw him, he ended up hopping up to stand on the piano as he raised his arms in an arc. So, now, I'm having some euphoric rock concert memories bouncing around in my head! Excellent.
I'm right there with ya Jen! Ben Folds was the first concert I ever went to that engaged the crowd so much, and what was amazing is everybody was on pitch and the harmony sounded amazing! I still get chills thinking about that first time. The only audience participation that even compares happened just this past weekend at Lollapalooza. The Flaming Lips put on the craziest show I've ever seen including crowd surfing in a giant bubble, throwing like 50 huge blue balloons out for the crowd to bat around, and having the entire crowd sing the chorus to "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" acapella in an attempt to "stop traffic on Lakeshore entirely through the power of singing."
Posted 18 years ago by StellarSwarm    [ Reply ]
I like this album considerably. It's a little uneven, but even that aspect I find charming. This song is a definite high point. I can't help but think of several of my "changed" friends -- some very much in the same way as the people in this lyrics here -- when I hear it. It's bittersweet, like all of Folds's music. Perfectly represented here.
Posted 18 years ago by number6    [ Reply ]
Whenever I've seen Ben Folds perform, he conducts the audience in a three part harmony on the "ahhhh." The last time I saw him, he ended up hopping up to stand on the piano as he raised his arms in an arc. So, now, I'm having some euphoric rock concert memories bouncing around in my head! Excellent.
Posted 18 years ago by poetjen    [ Reply ]
One of Ben's most poignant, original releases.
Posted 18 years ago by deadfdr    [ Reply ]
physicsgenius wrote:
I prefer to get my Christian Contemporary at Youth Group.
Umm...have you HEARD the lyrics? The guy takes some acid ("you took a trip"), climbs into a tree, and becomes a self-proclaimed "prophet". Sounds more like a song about a David Koresh/Jim Jones ("you see them drop like flies from the bright sunny skies") type to me and not pushing any religious views. And besides that, Ben Folds (Five) cuss like sailors! Not exactly Christian Contemporary.
Posted 18 years ago by StellarSwarm    [ Reply ]
And you're SURE this isn't actually Matthew Sweet...?
Posted 19 years ago by radiojunkie    [ Reply ]
physicsgenius wrote:
I prefer to get my Christian Contemporary at Youth Group.
Congratulations on exceeding your previous most stupid comment. Keep the "good work" coming... Excellent tune from BF.
Posted 19 years ago by Roverfish    [ Reply ]
DJB wrote:
Cool! Kinda reminds me of ELO (sans strings) a bit.
Reminds me about the Waterboys during their "big music" era. :)
Posted 19 years ago by Darkmatter    [ Reply ]
I prefer to get my Christian Contemporary at Youth Group.
Posted 19 years ago by physicsgenius    [ Reply ]
Posted 19 years ago by Trustocity    [ Reply ]
Steelhead wrote:
This is a great song to hear Ben Folds play live.
Agree. I think this is one of those rare songs that's better live. hearing it live ruined me for the studio version. Thank Christ for Ben Folds Live
Posted 19 years ago by timandjuliet    [ Reply ]
Bill, thanks so much for playing more Ben Folds lately!!!
Posted 19 years ago by ginger    [ Reply ]
This is a great song to hear Ben Folds play live. He engages the crowd to sing the crescendo-ing ahhhhhhhhh and all is good. He said that this is a real story too, the guy who took some bad acid, wouldn't come down from a tree, and turned into a born-again. Strange....
Posted 19 years ago by Steelhead    [ Reply ]
Ben Folds is much more engaging without the Five. This album (Rocking the Suburbs) takes me back to early Billy Joel (ie., Bredda and Eddie). Folds is a storyteller with a piano.
Posted 20 years ago by MadLar    [ Reply ]
DJB wrote:
Cool! Kinda reminds me of ELO (sans strings) a bit.
Yes... I agre they have this 70's elaborated arregements..Really cool
Posted 20 years ago by masterhead    [ Reply ]
I'm still kicking myself for missing BF/Guster/DaveMatthews show this summer!
Posted 20 years ago by cmrump    [ Reply ]
Love the Ben Folds. Tried uploading something from Whatever and Ever a while back and it didn't make the cut. But this'll do.
Posted 20 years ago by coldatlantic    [ Reply ]
THANK YOU for the Ben Folds, finally!!!!! The more BF/BFF the merrier!!!!!
Posted 20 years ago by frannyfran    [ Reply ]
Ridin' my rubber sled! - from "Fear of Pop"
Posted 20 years ago by Nuance    [ Reply ]
Cool! Kinda reminds me of ELO (sans strings) a bit.
Posted 20 years ago by DJB    [ Reply ]
Ben Folds tunes always make me smile. could listen to BF all day.
Posted 20 years ago by killahfunkadelic    [ Reply ]
Thanks for this! More Ben Folds/BFF, please!
Posted 20 years ago by alicewonderland    [ Reply ]
Thanks RP, I needed to hear some Ben Folds this morning.
Posted 20 years ago by bigpomp    [ Reply ]
Wow. Ben Folds is almost bearable on this track. i guess when he's not trying WAY TOO HARD to be a "wild and crazy guy" lyrically, he can almost put together a decent song.
Posted 20 years ago by Platypus    [ Reply ]
Hard not to get into this guy and his writing style...... pure genius on the piano and has a great sense of melody. Also love his smartass attitude on the title track of this CD. Rock on, Ben!
Posted 20 years ago by Mark1970    [ Reply ]
Please more Ben Folds. Please please pretty please!
Posted 20 years ago by cataloger    [ Reply ]
If you ever get a chance to see this guy live, don't miss it. He puts on a fantistic show.
Posted 20 years ago by drH    [ Reply ]