Song of the Day #4,803: ‘Adelaide’ – Ben Folds

Today’s random track appeared on Ben Folds’ 2004 EP Super D, one of a trio of EPs Folds released between his first two solo albums.

The song is a tribute to Adelaide, South Australia, where Folds lived from 1999 to 2006 after marrying native Aussie Frally Hynes. Hynes was Folds’ third wife and is the mother of his twin son and daughter. Since their split, he has married twice more.

The lyrics “Here you know the world could turn or crash and burn and you would never know it” make me wonder what it was like to experience 9/11 as an American living halfway across the world.

Adelaide
On a plane
Far from the United States
Of LA
Dropping in from outer space
Takes a day
Now I see the Bogans
At the motor race
Here you know the world could turn
Or crash and burn
And you would never know it
Going where the air is clear
There’s better beer in Adelaide

Charlie Hill-Smith’s forty
Someone spiked my rice
The rest, history
Now I am a fixture down
Rundle Mall
Watching as the locals pass
Silver balls
I can see their eyes are round
They’re pointed down
They scan the spanning sidewalks
Learning that there is no hurry
Fuss or worry
Adelaide
Ah ah ah ah
Ah ah ah ah
Ah ah ah ah
Ah ah ah ah

It’s raining
In Adelaide
A face is waiting in a window
A voice says
Why Adelaide
You could live anywhere and I say
Because I want to
Because I want to
I really really want to

And you know the earth could turn
Or crash and burn
And you would never know it
Really got to make it to the finish line
Get the record done on time
Pack the bags
And catch a flight
And you can kiss my ass goodbye
I’m in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide

One thought on “Song of the Day #4,803: ‘Adelaide’ – Ben Folds

  1. Dana Gallup says:

    Folds’ expression on the video you embedded suggests he is thinking, “kinda think marrying five times wasn’t the greatest idea.”

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