I’m feeling more alone/
Than I ever have before.
“Brick” by The Ben Folds Five is a song about a young couple that drives downtown to get an abortion the day after Christmas. We know they are young because they fund the abortion by selling some of their Christmas gifts. Also, they live at home.
The abortion story is the background to the unraveling effect it has on the relationship. It puts her into a depressive state that she is unable to recover from. She feels like a brick that is sinking and he’ll either have to hold on and sink with her or perhaps, let go…in order to save himself. “Brick” is a very strong metaphor.
“Brick” is a great song because it feels so emotional and personal, and a story that many teenagers and twenty-year olds can relate to. Folds describes the scene in a matter of fact way so that we can almost picture it in our mind’s eye. Notice he doesn’t place blame on either of them. They are in it together throughout, until much time goes by and he begins to wonder if being together is the best thing for them.
“Brick’s” unique piano track adds a lot of the personality to this song. It is relatively simple, but catchy. When Folds goes into the high register during the chorus, he sounds good and it sounds like he is providing a lot of the emotion that the otherwise black-and-white storytelling is lacking. It is an interesting technique.
Brick Lyrics
6 a.m.
Day after Christmas
I throw some clothes on in the dark
The smell of cold
Car seat is freezing
The world is sleeping
I am numb
Up the stairs to her apartment
She is balled up on the couch
Her mom and dad went down to Charlotte
They’re not home to find us out
And we drive
Now that I have found someone
I’m feeling more alone
Than I ever have before
She’s a brick and I’m drownin’ slowly
Off the coast and I’m headed to nowhere
She’s a brick and I’m drownin’ slowly
They call her name at seven-thirty
I pace around the parking lot
And I walk down to buy her flowers
And sell some gifts that I got
Can’t you see
It’s not me you’re dying for
Now she’s feeling more alone
Then she ever has before
She’s a brick and I’m drownin’ slowly
Off the coast and I’m headed to nowhere
She’s a brick and I’m drownin’ slowly
As weeks went by
It showed that she was not fine
They told me, “Son it’s time to tell the truth, ” and
She broke down and I broke down
Cause I was tired of lying
Driving back to her apartment
For the moment we’re alone
Yeah she’s alone
And I’m alone
Now I know it
She’s a brick and I’m drownin’ slowly
Off the coast and I’m headed to nowhere
She’s a brick and I’m drownin’ slowly
written by Ben Folds