Ben Folds Five’s “Brick,” the haunting and emotionally raw centerpiece of their 1997 album Whatever and Ever Amen, is more than just a melancholic piano ballad; it’s an unflinching and deeply personal exploration of a teenage abortion and the complex web of emotions – guilt, fear, regret, and a profound sense of loss – that surround such a life-altering decision. Stripped down to Ben Folds’ poignant piano work, his tender yet emotionally strained vocals, and the subtle interplay of Robert Sledge’s bass and Darren Jessee’s drums, the song stands in stark contrast to the band’s more typically upbeat and sardonic fare. “Brick” isn’t simply a narrative; it’s an intimate confession, a stark and honest portrayal of a difficult experience that resonated deeply with listeners for its vulnerability and its refusal to shy away from the painful realities of human choices.
The song begins with a delicate and repetitive piano figure, a simple yet haunting melody that immediately establishes a mood of quiet introspection and underlying sadness. These opening notes feel like the hesitant breaths before a difficult truth is spoken, creating a sense of intimacy and vulnerability. Ben Folds’ tender yet emotionally fragile vocals enter, carrying a weight of unspoken sorrow from the very first line: “Sixteen and pregnant and scared to death / Telling me everything will be alright.” These opening lines immediately plunge the listener into the heart of the narrative, revealing the protagonist’s youth, her predicament, and the well-intentioned but perhaps ultimately inadequate reassurance offered. The starkness of “scared to death” underscores the gravity of the situation.
The following lines introduce the male perspective, tinged with a mixture of concern and a sense of shared responsibility: “But I can see through you, baby / You don’t have to smile / And I can see it in your eyes / You’re just afraid.” Here, the speaker acknowledges the façade of reassurance and recognizes the underlying fear in the young woman’s eyes. This shared awareness creates a fragile bond between them in the face of their difficult decision.
The pre-chorus builds the tension and hints at the irreversible nature of the choice they are about to make: “It’s alright / ‘Cause nothing’s going to change / It’s alright / Now I can see through everything.” The repeated “It’s alright” carries a sense of forced acceptance, a mantra perhaps repeated to themselves to cope with the impending reality. The line “Now I can see through everything” suggests a newfound clarity, a stark understanding of the situation and its implications.
The chorus is the emotional core of the song, a raw and poignant reflection on the clinical and emotionally detached setting of the abortion clinic: “And she’s five foot nothing with eyes of green / And she’s killing me, boy / She’s killing me.” The physical description of the young woman, “five foot nothing with eyes of green,” adds a humanizing detail to the narrative, emphasizing her youth and vulnerability. The stark and repeated declaration “And she’s killing me, boy / She’s killing me” reveals the profound emotional toll of the experience on the male protagonist, a sense of shared loss and perhaps a dawning awareness of the gravity of their decision. The use of “boy” underscores his own youth and inexperience in navigating such a complex situation.
The second verse shifts to the immediate aftermath of the procedure, focusing on the sterile environment and the emotional distance that begins to form: “Walked out of the clinic / Cold and snow was everywhere / Stepped into the back seat / With you and your mother there.” The clinical setting and the cold, snowy environment mirror the emotional chill and the sense of isolation that follows the procedure. The presence of the young woman’s mother adds another layer of complexity to the dynamic, highlighting the support system while perhaps also underscoring the private and isolating nature of the decision for the two teenagers.
The following lines reveal the growing emotional chasm between the protagonists: “I lost my direction / And I couldn’t see at all / I’ve never been so wrong / I’ve never felt so wrong.” The male protagonist’s feelings of disorientation and profound wrongness highlight the internal conflict and the dawning realization of the emotional consequences of their actions. The repetition emphasizes the depth of his regret and confusion.
The bridge offers a stark and almost clinical description of the procedure itself, further amplifying the sense of loss and the irreversible nature of their choice: “She’s a brick and I’m drowning slowly / She’s a brick and I’m drowning slowly.” The metaphor of “she’s a brick” is open to interpretation, perhaps representing the emotional wall that has formed between them, the finality of the decision, or even a sense of her emotional fortitude in a difficult situation. The image of “drowning slowly” vividly conveys the male protagonist’s overwhelming sense of sorrow and the lingering weight of their actions.
The final verses continue to explore the lasting impact of the experience and the unresolved emotions: “Sixteen and pregnant and scared to death / Telling me everything will be alright / But I can see through you, baby / You don’t have to smile.” The return to the opening lines emphasizes the cyclical nature of the memory and the enduring impact of that moment. The protagonist’s continued ability to see through the façade of reassurance underscores the lasting emotional truth of their shared experience.
The song concludes with a haunting repetition of the chorus, fading out with the lingering image of the young woman and the protagonist’s profound sense of loss: “And she’s five foot nothing with eyes of green / And she’s killing me, boy / She’s killing me.” The final repetition leaves the listener with the stark reality of the emotional devastation and the unresolved pain.
“Brick” stands as a significant and often debated song in Ben Folds Five’s discography, a departure from their more whimsical and ironic songs that resonated deeply with listeners for its raw honesty and emotional vulnerability. The song’s willingness to tackle a difficult and often stigmatized topic with such unflinching intimacy earned it both critical acclaim and a strong emotional connection with its audience.
The song’s power lies in its understated delivery and its focus on the emotional aftermath rather than the sensationalism of the event itself. Folds’ tender piano work and his emotionally strained vocals create an atmosphere of quiet devastation, drawing the listener into the intimate and painful experience.
The ambiguity of some of the lyrics, particularly the metaphor of the “brick,” allows for multiple interpretations and encourages listeners to engage with the song on a personal level, reflecting on their own experiences with loss, regret, and difficult choices.
“Brick” remains a poignant and powerful reminder of the complexities of human relationships and the lasting impact of difficult decisions made in moments of vulnerability and fear. Its unflinching honesty and its raw emotional core continue to resonate with listeners, making it a haunting and unforgettable song that transcends the typical boundaries of pop music. The weight of that winter day, the quiet devastation of their choice, and the lingering sense of loss continue to echo in the song’s haunting melody and its starkly honest lyrics.
