Ben Folds Five – Army

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Well I thought about the army,
Dad said, son you're fuckin high.
And I thought, yeah there's a first for everything,
So I took my old man's advice.
Three sad semesters,
It was only fifteen grand.
Spent in bed I thought about the army,
I dropped out and joined a band instead.

Grew a mustache and a mullet,
Got a job at chic-fil-a.
Citing artistic differences the band broke up in May,
And in June reformed without me, and they got a different name.
I nuked another grandma's apple pie
And hung my head in shame.

Been thinking a lot today.
Been thinking a lot today.

Oh, I think I'll write a screenplay.
Oh, I think I'll take it to LA.
Oh, I think I'll get it done yesterday (aw shit).

In this time of introspection.
On the eve of my election,
I say to my reflection
God, please spare me more rejection.
Cause my peers they criticize me,
And my ex-wives all despise me.
Try to put it all behind me,
But my redneck past is nipping at my heels

I've been thinking a lot today.
I've been thinking a lot today.
I've been thinking a lot today.
I thought about the army

Send "Army" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by kevin

Track duration: 03:23

"Army" as written by Folds

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Army song meanings
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32 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:Ben Folds is my all time favorite artist! And Ben Folds Five has some amazing songs as well! Ben is a musical genius. All of the songs move me to tears or laughter or anger and just make me emotional like good music SHOULD! I have a live version of this song and at the end, he says "I thought about...you're Mommy" instead of "the army"! ahh genius at work! I personally like it better that way. :)
    Flag embemon June 11, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Who was the band that left him, though?
    Flag AwkwardCupcakeson June 03, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:My interpretation of this song is about a white trash guy who is lost - lots of lofty dreams with no direction. Thinking about the Army is a way to legitimize himself, but that's just an easy answer.
    Flag AB1342on February 26, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i used to think it was about George Bush, probably because of the "eve of my election" thing adn teh fact that bush was pretty much a loser reject similar to this song (except for the band part i guess) until he was elected gov. of texas. but no. its about Ben Folds life basically, he joined a band and they broke up and reformed wihtout him and all that stuff. but this song could apply to a lot of people.
    Flag rustinpeace91on October 25, 2008   Link
    • 1 Reply
  • 0
    General Comment:In one of the live versions, at the end, he says "I thought about your Mommy" instead of "I thought about the army
    Flag m0hawkedon April 07, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I agree with everyone hwo said this song is about the dreams we talk about in highschool that are all just talk and no action. i think the army is sort of a stereotypical goal for people who want to make something of themselves but aren't necesarily smart. Ben sort of characterizes the way everyone else is like haha yea right and the kid's like oh you'll see but then gives up anyway lol. This song is so great because it's honest. It's not meant to be inspirational or anything like that, it's just basically a comment on human nature. And its mad catchy...go ben folds!
    Flag serenity23on March 05, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Agree with lotus. I don't care how many Grammys you have won etc. your performance as a live artist is a hell of excellent measuring stick. Ben brings people together like very few other preformers I have ever had the privilege of listening to. Do yourself a favor and check this out on bit torrent.
    Flagged osuturfmanon February 16, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I'm not sure if anyone has the live version of this, but I was just listening to it, and he got the whole audience to do the "ba ba ba ba ba ba ba" part, and it's so AMAZING.
    Love to Ben Folds and his amazing piano skills.
    Flag Lotus_9on May 11, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:He also said he never grew a mullet until recently, cause he just wanted to see what it was like to have a mullet.
    Flag tglaunon April 25, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Very Catchy.
    Flag julian333on February 18, 2007   Link

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