Ben Folds released a trio of EPs during 2003-04 featuring a mix of cover songs, throwaway tracks and a few very good original songs. ‘There’s Always Someone Cooler Than You,’ from the Sunny 16 EP, is one of the the good ones.
This track is a cross between a pep talk and a fuck you. Folds sings about how little the opinions of others matter and extols the virtues of self-confidence and security with your own shortcomings.
The chorus, though, suggests that this song is addressed to (or at least inspired by) somebody who has belittled him. It doesn’t sound like he’s addressing this song to a friend. Not with lines like “You’re the shit, but you won’t be it for long” and “make me feel tiny if it makes you feel tall.”
No matter what you might do
There’s always someone out there
Cooler than you
I know that’s hard to believe
But there are people you meet
They’re into
Something
That is too big to be expressed
Through their clothes
And they’ll put up
With all the poses you throw
And you won’t even know
That they’re not sizing you up
They know your ma fucked you up
Or maybe let you watch
Too much TV
But they’ll still look in your eyes
To find the human inside
You know there’s always something
In there to see
Beneath the
Veneer
Not everybody made the list this year
Have a beer
[Hook]
Make me feel tiny
If it makes you feel tall
But there’s always someone
Cooler than you
[Hook Cont’d]
Yeah, you’re the shit
But you won’t be it for long
Oh there’s always someone
Cooler than you
Yeah, there’s always someone
Cooler than you
Now that I’ve got the disease
In a way I’m relieved
Cause I don’t have to stress about it
Like you do
I might just get up and dance
Or buy some acid-washed pants
When you don’t care
Then you’ve got nothing to lose
And I won’t hesitate
Cause every moment
Life is slipping away
S’okay
[Hook]
Make me feel tiny
If it makes you feel tall
But there’s always someone
Cooler than you
[Hook Cont’d]
Yeah, you’re the shit
But you won’t be it for long
Oh there’s always someone
Cooler than you
Yeah, there’s always someone
Cooler than you
Oh, there’s always someone
Cooler than…
[Bridge]
Life is wonderful
Life is beautiful
We’re all children of
One big universe
So you don’t have to be
A chump
And you know
(You know)
That I won’t
(I won’t)
Hesitate
(Hesitate)
Cause every moment
Life is slipping away
(Away)
It’s okay
(It’s okay)
[Hook]
Make me feel tiny
If it makes you feel tall
Oh, cause there’s always someone
Cooler than you
[Hook Cont’d]
Yeah, you’re the shit
But you won’t be it for long
But there’s always someone
Cooler than you
Oh yeah, there’s always someone
Cooler than you
Because there’s always someone
Cooler than you
Cooler than you
Meet Me In Montauk 
He may have someone particular in mind, but I always felt the “you” was a composite or a characature.
I hadn’t heard this one before, but I really like it 🙂