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Ben Folds — Annie Waits
Album: Rockin' The Suburbs
Avg rating:
7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1049









Released: 2001
Length: 4:09
Plays (last 30 days): 0
And so
Annie waits, Annie waits, Annie waits
For a call
From a friend
The same
It's the same
Was it always the same?
Annie waits for the last time

The clock never stops, never stops, never waits
She's growing old
It's getting late
And so he forgot, he forgot
Maybe not
Maybe he's been seriously hurt
Would that be worse?

Headlights crest the hill
Shadows pass her by and out of sight
Annie sees her dreams:
Friday bingo, pigeons in the park

Annie waits for the last time
Just the same as the last time

Annie says "You see this is why I'd rather be alone."

And so
Annie waits, Annie waits, Annie waits
For a call
From a friend
The same
It's the same
Was it always the same?
Annie waits as the last...

Headlights crest the hill
Who will be the one for evermore?
(ooh ooh)
Annie, I could be
If we're both still lonely when we're old

Annie waits for the last time
Just the same as the last time
Annie waits for the last time
Just the same as the last time

Annie waits
But not for me
Comments (150)add comment
Has Ben Folds ever sucked?
 randyblew wrote:

NC's own! I've seen him a couple of times, opening for Tori Amos on one of her big tours doing his singalong thing, and with Ben Folds Five at a great outdoor show. Super little ditty here, a vignette of a life less lived.

It's really a heartbreaking song, wrapped in well-crafted pop. The last line is the kick in the stones. I guess a lot of his stuff is like that.
c.

Ben Folds deserves to be much better known than he is.  A really talented musician and lyricist.
 amcostigan88 wrote:

Found this album on the mantle of my first apartment in Chicago. First place I lived on my own, moved about 300 miles from home and all I had with me (primarily) was a damn good stereo, an inflatable mattress and music... this one got turned up often. I'll never forget how free I felt back then and when I hear anything off this record it zaps me right back to that place in time. 


As one gets older, it becomes harder and harder to have those moments of pure bliss and excitement from a piece of music.  It still happens, but like a junkie, it takes a giant hit to get you there.  But, damn, yeah; those moments are really part of who we are... 

Glad this track did that for you...
 rolo wrote:

seems a bit top 40 for RP ?!?



Do you realize that the oldest comment is from NINETEEN years ago!?!
I like it. A lot.
Excellent album!
Ben Folds hides three hit melodies in so many of his songs.

But please, Bill... give us Ben's masterpiece "Philosophy"... 
I have very little Ben Folds in my music library, but I sure enjoy it when Bill plays it.
NC's own! I've seen him a couple of times, opening for Tori Amos on one of her big tours doing his singalong thing, and with Ben Folds Five at a great outdoor show. Super little ditty here, a vignette of a life less lived.
 amcostigan88 wrote:
Found this album on the mantle of my first apartment in Chicago. First place I lived on my own, moved about 300 miles from home and all I had with me (primarily) was a damn good stereo, an inflatable mattress and music... this one got turned up often. I'll never forget how free I felt back then and when I hear anything off this record it zaps me right back to that place in time. 
 

It's amazing how much music is a time machine. For example, when I hear something off of XTC's Skylarking, I am 17, in my room on a beautiful spring day, thinking about a girl I had a big crush on.
The beat sounds like it's from a tiny bedroom Casio keyboard like I had in the eighties.  Like it though.
Found this album on the mantle of my first apartment in Chicago. First place I lived on my own, moved about 300 miles from home and all I had with me (primarily) was a damn good stereo, an inflatable mattress and music... this one got turned up often. I'll never forget how free I felt back then and when I hear anything off this record it zaps me right back to that place in time. 
 Proclivities wrote:
 Seems like a post-laundry vignette: Annie waits while Ben folds.
 
He reminds me a lot of Loudon Wainright III.
How come this hasn't been played since 2012?! More Ben Folds please.
I really want to like this song. It does have a nice feel...but it tends to wander into the abyss. It sounds a bit dated...and not in a great way. I like Ben Folds...but this one may take a few more listens.
 apd wrote:
This song has a great hook but I just realized why it does nothing for me - the hook is buried by a melody that goes nowhere.
And I think Ben knows that, too. 
 
It seems like a pretty complete song to me, at least as much as he probably wanted it to be; it's got verses, a chorus, a bridge - a mostly diatonic chord progression.  I'm not sure where else the melody should go; but we all hear different things.  Seems like a post-laundry vignette: Annie waits while Ben folds.
is it nap time already?...Z Z Z Z
yuck
This song has a great hook but I just realized why it does nothing for me - the hook is buried by a melody that goes nowhere.
And I think Ben knows that, too. 
Ever since I heard "Rockin' the Suburbs" I've been sort of dazed by this guy's music. He looks like your typical dork, but the songs that come out of his brain and translate through his music are amazing.  He's really getting under my skin - in a good way. {#Dancingbanana_2}
This is an excellent album, arguably Ben's best solo effort.  It covers a lot of styles, but there are no throw away tracks and a few are real gems.
I guess his music (and people paying for it) is what keeps him from taking the bullet.
 wally42 wrote:
How does this relate to this song, which is called Annie Waits?
  
Hold on!  It's not "And He Waits?"

I love that Folds revealed just how astute a musician he is during "The Sing Off." Like Shawn Stockman, he understood what the different groups were trying to do technically. (We'll pass on the requisite eye candy, Nicole Sherzinger.) What a great show, eh? Man, amazing singers all over the place. I hated to see anyone "lose." Not a loser in the bunch.
This sounds a lot better this time around!  Subwoofer helps on this one. 6
Not one of his better tunes
Bill,

Follow this up with Anna Begins by Counting Crows!
8 bit drum machine, veiled lyrics, sprinkles of keyboard virtuosity - Ben Folds can blow you away anytime he likes, he's just not that interested yet. It's coming.
Ughhh. please make it stop, about as sugar-sweet pop as it gets here on RP

Ben Folds on the Bass Guitar by ~BWluger
©2006-2010 ~BWluger

Ben Folds takes hold of the bass guitar in the middle of his song Rockin' The Suburbs at the show in Des Moines, IA on 03/09/06.


I've heard about this guy, but it seems out of place after George.  Plus it's not over yet.
Even with the goofy synth stuff going on, I have always loved this song.
Whassat about poisoning pigeons in the park? Oh wait, wrong song.
a_genuine_find
(3rd stone from the sun)
Posted: Oct 30, 2007 - 12:54 < Reply >

siandbeth wrote: This sounds like Christopher Cross.

The victim of Video killed the Radio star.

Now that's funny...I don't care who y'are.
Ben Folds has always been solid in my book....good music and meaningful lyrics.
This was the song — played on RP — that introduced me to Ben Folds. Great stuff.
One of my absolute favorite albums ever.  Bill, thanks so much for playing this!  Any chance we could hear some things from his new CD soon, or does it depend on people dutifully executing their RP Listener Station duties?
Some days I know exactly how Annie feels.  Love this song.
Oh I do love a good key change....the piano reminds me of the Jack Nicholson song in Tommy.
eastcoast wrote:
couldn't get past the beat to appreciate the lyrics
Yeah, the synth beat doesn't help this tune at all. I have a bruce hornsby album that is really sweet except for a serious abuse of drum machine... Seems like there are plenty of great drummers out there who would love to break out their sticks. So why do these guys prefer the casio sound? I just don't understand.
mrrmt wrote:
I rarely say negative things on the comments section but I must agree. Wimpy and irritating are two adjectives that come to my mind as soon as I hear any Ben Folds.
Judging by the rating being over 7, I'd say that, thankfully, you are in the minority.
kmh wrote:
I know alot of people like these guys, but I just find him whiny , wimpy & irritating... they haven't captured me.. oh well...
I rarely say negative things on the comments section but I must agree. Wimpy and irritating are two adjectives that come to my mind as soon as I hear any Ben Folds.
ArbiterOfGoodTaste wrote:
I've been trying to think of a list of songs that start with the word "And". I can think of this one and All Tomorrow's Parties by Velvet Underground and And She Was by Talking Heads. Can you think of more?
How 'bout And You And I by Yes and And the Money Kept Rolling In (And Out) from Evita.
ArbiterOfGoodTaste wrote:
I've been trying to think of a list of songs that start with the word "And". I can think of this one and All Tomorrow's Parties by Velvet Underground and And She Was by Talking Heads. Can you think of more?
How does this relate to this song, which is called Annie Waits?
siandbeth wrote:
This sounds like Christopher Cross.
The victim of Video killed the Radio star.
This reminds me of Socks in the Rhubarb, stinky ones.
This sounds like Christopher Cross.
ArbiterOfGoodTaste wrote:
I've been trying to think of a list of songs that start with the word "And". I can think of this one and All Tomorrow's Parties by Velvet Underground and And She Was by Talking Heads. Can you think of more?
"And I Love Her" by the Beatles
I've been trying to think of a list of songs that start with the word "And". I can think of this one and All Tomorrow's Parties by Velvet Underground and And She Was by Talking Heads. Can you think of more?
Remind anybody else of a certain U2 song?
MojoJojo wrote:
Nice. So, is this Ben Folds One? Ben Folds Five minus Four? Either way, it's sooper.
It's Ben Folds less the Five. The Five were actually two but that's another story for another time. ;-)
Nice. So, is this Ben Folds One? Ben Folds Five minus Four? Either way, it's sooper.
couldn't get past the beat to appreciate the lyrics
Still like BF5 better than his solo stuff, but not bad.
splooge wrote:
Well, that was fairly decent. I will put that in the maybe pile. One more decent one and I will make the procurement.
Don't wait. Just buy it. You will not be unhappy.
Well, that was fairly decent. I will put that in the maybe pile. One more decent one and I will make the procurement.
glassjawgrlxxx wrote:
Yes!!! I LOVE BEN FOLDS!!!!
I also like Ben a lot. This is an incredible album, I guess piano makes it.
kmh wrote:
I know alot of people like these guys, but I just find him whiny , wimpy & irritating... they haven't captured me.. oh well...
whiny, wimpy and irritating...what a perfect description!
This dude is so AAA.
michaelc wrote:
i'm rocking the suburbs just like michael jackson did i'm rocking the suburbs except that he was talented love that shit.
Funny! More Ben!
I know alot of people like these guys, but I just find him whiny , wimpy & irritating... they haven't captured me.. oh well...
Yes!!! I LOVE BEN FOLDS!!!!
Marr wrote:
Does anyone else hear Joe Jackson in this one? The lyrics, much of the music, and even his voice at times sounds like some classic JJ to me.
...and the piano. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what previous singer/songwriter/pianist Ben Folds reminded me of: was it Joe Jackson? Billy Joel? Finally, I figured it out: Andrew Gold. As in "Thank You For Being a Friend" and "Lonely Boy."
shell wrote:
Ben is excellent - especially live. He actually had the crowd singing successfully in three parts the last time I saw him live. (A great concert - 'The Three Bens' - Ben F, Ben Kweller and Ben Lee - an excellent young Australian artist) MORE! MORE!
I agree!!! And would love to hear more from The Bens, but was discouraged when I did a search for both Ben Lee and Ben Kweller on RP and didn't come up with anything. Does no one here know about them? If you're a Ben Folds fan, then I highly recommend "Awake Is the New Sleep"
trekhead wrote:
...Anti -Aircraft Artillery??
You're hilarious, dude.
Tom Waits for Annie Waits.
My first thought: "Wow, Todd Rundgren! Cool." I am gettin' so old.
trekhead wrote:
...Anti -Aircraft Artillery??
Or, perhaps, American Automobile Association?
Baby_M wrote:
Ben Folds, "Annie Waits" "Ben, do you have those clothes folded yet?" "Wait a minute, Annie, I'm almost done."
Ben Folds, "Annie Waits" "Ben, do you have those clothes folded yet?" "Wait a minute, Annie, I'm almost done."
i'm rocking the suburbs just like michael jackson did i'm rocking the suburbs except that he was talented love that shit.
GoldenBoy wrote:
Gave this track a 4. Ben Folds does nothing for me. He just sounds like uninspired AAA.
...Anti -Aircraft Artillery??
Gave this track a 4. Ben Folds does nothing for me. He just sounds like uninspired AAA.
Sounds a bit like Toto (the band, not the dog.)
flandersdog wrote:
I'm not familiar with enough of his work to make such a sweeping statement as "I don't like Ben Folds," but I truly dislike this song. so maybe I'm only partly wrong?
It happens. (*shrug*) Incidentally, can you believe I wrote that?
rumplestiltskin wrote:
yayyy, drum machine time!
Hiss boo on drum machines! :verymad: I don't care though, this song is great...I like his writing and adore his sweet voice.
Hearing this just makes me happy. Like a warm fuzzy but not in a sarcastic way, more like for real.
yayyy, drum machine time!
Trustocity wrote:
People who don't like Ben Folds are wrong.
I'm not familiar with enough of his work to make such a sweeping statement as "I don't like Ben Folds," but I truly dislike this song. so maybe I'm only partly wrong?
yayyy, piano time!
Angloray wrote:
anyone else feel like doing this when they hear his voice? quote> Listen to his version of 'Golden Slumbers' on the 'I am Sam' soundtrack. The guy can sing, I tell ya
Trustocity wrote:
People who don't like Ben Folds are wrong.
WHATEVER AND EVER AMEN Thanks RP! I am a BIG fan, and recently saw him live for the first time- WOW what a show! I immediately went out and bought tickets to see him later this summer at Ravinia- He just plain rocks. I, too am surprised by the negative comments- how could anyone not love a nerdy, self-depricating songwriter that sings about everything from drug addicts-turned-born again christians in "Not the Same" to the touching ballad of a man at the end of his life in "Fred Jones Part 2" This song isn't my favorite of Ben's, but like someone else said, I wouldn't rate anything of Ben's lower than a 5. If you're new to Ben or would like to check out more, get "Ben Folds Live"- it really sums up what he's all about, though I love the new album, too! Long story short? MORE BEN!!!
I saw Ben Folds at Ravinia last year. I hadn't really gotten into his music much, but I went to the concert to give it a go. I must say, I really couldn't understand what the fuss was about. Honestly I thought he was a sloppy musician bordering on a hack. He did a hell of a sales job but it didn't do anything for me.
:)
Is this a song about Tom Waits' wife? Okay, I'm kidding, before you all start jumping on me for not understanding Ben Folds. But seriously... MrKite wrote:
I've heard so many good things about Ben Folds and read lots of raving reviews and still I can't for the life of me hear anything remotely interesting in this. I feel bad - I want to like it.
I couldn't agree more. And no, I don't hear Joe Jackson. I hear Matthew Sweet, who does it a lot better.
Is this a song about Tom Waits' wife?
emilym7 wrote:
Just plain great song.
Ditto. And you're right! And what a cool tune!
Marr wrote:
Does anyone else hear Joe Jackson in this one? The lyrics, much of the music, and even his voice at times sounds like some classic JJ to me.
You know...you're right! And yes--a fantastic song!!!
Does anyone else hear Joe Jackson in this one? The lyrics, much of the music, and even his voice at times sounds like some classic JJ to me.
Just plain great song.
Ben is excellent - especially live. He actually had the crowd singing successfully in three parts the last time I saw him live. (A great concert - 'The Three Bens' - Ben F, Ben Kweller and Ben Lee - an excellent young Australian artist) MORE! MORE!
People who don't like Ben Folds are wrong. I know this because I know everything there is to know about anything. Anyone who disagrees with this opinion is wrong, as is anyone who disagrees with ANY of my opinions. Each opinion is beautifully crafted, meticulously supported and capable of breeding new genius asexually. Your ideas, meanwhile, suck.
Singer a little thin, but music more than makes up for that.
mrrmaid1 wrote:
GRRR. I have never been able to get past that very obnoxious "brick" song. The selfishness of those lyrics have forever colored my views of this artist and it would take an appology song to make me give him another chance.
Interesting how judgemental we can be? Before asking for an apology perhaps one should really understand where, and in which context a writer is writing from? In his live album Ben explains that this song is about a very sad moment in his life, when he and his girlfriend had to decide upon having an abortion. ..... this song is not try to be a political statement...... he was just writing about how he felt at the time.
Funny story. I've been a Ben Folds fan for years. Then a couple of years ago I stumbled upon the fact that he and I went to high school together. I pulled out my old yearbook and sure enough there was a picture of a "concert band" rehearsal showing Ben and me no more than 5 feet apart. I have no memory of the kid! I sure do love his music though!
this song was one of the highlights of the live show he did to promote this album a year or two ago. highly recommend seeing him in concert if you have the chance!
This Album is incredible. Annie Waits is not one of the better songs on it though.
phineas wrote:
BTW, can I infer that this song is solo Ben Folds? Is he therefore Ben Folds One? Or maybe he's The Ben Folds? But is Folds plural? I'm confused. Like the song though.
His name is Ben Folds. So it's not a plural, it's just his name :)
>>BTW, can I infer that this song is solo Ben Folds? Is he therefore Ben Folds One? Or maybe he's The Ben Folds? But is Folds plural? I'm confused.<< Well, using the naming algorithm from his previous group, this would have to make his solo efforts "Ben Folds Three". And you should really give "Rockin' the Suburbs" a listen. It's one of my favorites... Paul in Buffalo
Angloray wrote:
anyone else feel like doing this when they hear his voice? Too bad, because he does have some clever lyrics.
I wish Ben would fold.
I have not heard this one before. I really like his song writing, reminds me a little of Loudon Wainright, with maybe a little less humor. Clever lyrics, unusual turn-of-phrasing, and I love the piano- driven music. More Ben, please!
Woot! More Ben please.
I've heard so many good things about Ben Folds and read lots of raving reviews and still I can't for the life of me hear anything remotely interesting in this. I feel bad - I want to like it.
Emandango wrote:
you must be a really terrible fan if you call them "THE Ben Folds Five!" where the crap does it say that the name begins with "THE!" It's just Ben Folds Five. NO "THE" BEFORE THE NAME! When will the world understand this?
You need to have something meaningful in your life to cure this kind of behaviour. Radio Paradise Rage is bad for your blood pressure
anyone else feel like doing this when they hear his voice? Too bad, because he does have some clever lyrics.
oh... y'all don't know what it's like being male, middle class and white
Yeah, more Ben Folds or whatever they are calling themselves these days. A truly talented songwriter. An inspiration for all English majors. Reinhold was good, but Whatever and ever was a masterpiece. Haven't heard the latest, but Annie Waits is an indication that it might be very exceptional. Play some more.
josephthelevite wrote:
I believe Ben is one of the finest songwriters to come along in the last decade.
Agreed! The guy has a knack for great melodies.....
great song from a great album. this song got a lot of airplay on college radio in central NC (Ben's native haunts)--and it really grows on me the more I hear it-- If you haven't heard the rest of the 'suburbs' album, its definitely a good one. Reinhold Messner album is also outstanding. And as was mentioned earlier, skip the naked babies if you're on the fence with Ben. lighten up people....
Emandango wrote:
you must be a really terrible fan if you call them "THE Ben Folds Five!" where the crap does it say that the name begins with "THE!" It's just Ben Folds Five. NO "THE" BEFORE THE NAME! When will the world understand this?
This post may be an all-time low for RP griping. But how great is this album? I believe Ben is one of the finest songwriters to come along in the last decade.
Emandango wrote:
you must be a really terrible fan if you call them "THE Ben Folds Five!" where the crap does it say that the name begins with "THE!" It's just Ben Folds Five. NO "THE" BEFORE THE NAME! When will the world understand this?
Oh, you poor, angst-wracked soul! When, indeed, will the world understand that there's no "THE" in "The Ben Folds Five"...er, "Ben Folds Five"......umm, izzat right? BTW, can I infer that this song is solo Ben Folds? Is he therefore Ben Folds One? Or maybe he's The Ben Folds? But is Folds plural? I'm confused. Like the song though.
roland wrote:
This song is not the very best one from Ben Folds - BUT the album is grrrrrrrreat! ...like the last 3 Albums from his Band "The Ben Folds Five" before. I saw them live here in a club in Cologne - in a show of The ROLLING STONE Roadshow with TRAVIS & Gay Dad - and they were sensational.
you must be a really terrible fan if you call them "THE Ben Folds Five!" where the crap does it say that the name begins with "THE!" It's just Ben Folds Five. NO "THE" BEFORE THE NAME! When will the world understand this?
Of all the songs RP introduced me to, I really enjoy this one a great deal.
ScottFromWyoming wrote:
My wife and I bought the Ben Folds album with Brick and thought it was good enough, so we bought the "next" album, Naked Baby Pictures. Ben now has enough of our money. That thing was a nasty ripoff. It wrecked our image of him enough that anything he's done since is ruined for us. :(
Knucklehead. Didn't you know what Naked Baby Pictures was? It was not a "next" album in any sense. But I doubt Ben would mind losing every fan who jumped on the bandwagon at Brick.
Finally Ben Folds on RP! More, more, more!
Not my favorite Ben Folds song, but his worst would rate no lower than 5 on my ranking. Now, if we could hear "One Down" or "Army" or maybe even "Uncle Walter," we'd be having some real fun.
Art_Carnage wrote:
Mediocrity at its most banal.
Could not agree more!! The Blur song that played earlier and scored below a 5 had much more originality than this.
i'm surprised to hear the animosity on this page... not the kind of sentiment that i would have expected ben folds to elicit. i like this song, and like the album, and the ones that came before. don't know if i think he's a genius, but he does write a catchy tune, and sometimes his lyrics are poignant. sometimes it's just silly, but i don't have a problem with that. silly's good too. it sounds like a lot of people have had a really personal negative reaction to the music, which surprises me. like i said, i wouldn't really have expected that from ben folds...
Mediocrity at its most banal.