Ben Folds - I’m Not The Man Lyrics






What will they write about me?
What will the version be when all is said and done?
Will they remember all of the places seen, the poems lost,
Or am I just wondering on? Yeah, I'm just wondering on.

There could be fewer days ahead than gone,
And all I've spent are long since on my way
To learn that nothing comes for free,
But I'm not the man...
I'm not the man... I used to be.

So it all comes out in the wash,
What would you see?
Tattered pages in the ink stained pockets of your jeans?
So I've come to pay my respects at the wake,
I've buried it all and I'm dancing on my own grave.

There could be fewer days ahead than gone,
And all I've spent are long since on my way
To learn that nothing comes for free,
But I'm not the man...
I'm not the man... I used to be.

Don't leave me behind
Don't leave me behind
Like I left you behind

There could be fewer days ahead than gone,
And all I've spent are long since on my way
To learn that nothing comes for free.
I had a lot of time to waste,
I wrote the lines upon my face,
Chasin' down the shots they bought for me,
And I'm not the man; I'm not the man,
I'm not the man, but I used to be.

I used to be my father's son
(I used to be) number one
(I used to be) paper and pencil
(I used to be) endless potential
(I used to be) Heaven and Earth
(I used to be) my net worth
(I used to be) one public, drunken moment
(I used to be) high paid and low rent
(I used to be) a man on a mission
My best chart position
The man in the mirror
You're proud of your cure
A new day, a new town
Your racehorse, your cash cow
'Til I let you all down
No, I want to be. I want to be.

I just want to be.





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Ben Folds I’m Not The Man Comments
  1. R.... B....

    it ALWAYS gives me goose bumps.. ALWAYS! The arrangement for this song is just to die for, every single instrument just touches me as I've never felt before.. every time. It's ridiculous :)

  2. L.... D....

    PLEASE, not that it is necessary, but it will help get people who are more visual learners to get to the place where this song can help them go in their minds. DO A MUSIC VIDEO FOR THIS SONG. Light up their minds!

  3. D.... ....

    This has so much soul.

    D.... ....

    Yeah...

  4. D.... A....

    At a concert I went to last week, Ben said he wrote this for the Al Pacino movie Danny Collins (aging rock star reflecting), but they didn't choose to use it in the movie. Guess that's why the movie was not as good as it could have beeeen.

  5. T.... W....

    I met Ben very recently, in Birmingham England. I wanted to tell him that this was the best song he'd written. I was too shy to speak. Hopefully my 'awe-struck fanboy gaze' said everything.

    T.... W....

    I cried when I met him, literally sobbed

  6. P.... B....

    Where I can find lyrics please?

    P.... B....

    www.google.com

  7. L.... M....

    In love with this song and this man's whole career. Brilliance.

    L.... M....

    Fantastic body of work! Constantly challenged himself as an artist

  8. J.... P....

    It's so nice to see that there's no hate in this comment section. :)

    J.... P....

    believe it or not, it's in your comment

  9. M.... ....

    this is more than just a song. I cannot find words to express how amazing this is.

  10. S.... R....

    I swear the people who DON'T find his lyrics to be beautiful and inspirational should have a brick labeled 'good music' knock them in the head.

    S.... R....

    +Sam “Insane in wonderland” Ravenoak "Brick" ;)

    S.... R....

    @James Yates  Hahaha I know right? X'DD I just got my own reference. I love that song..

    S.... R....

    Sam Ravenoak brick is also a good song

    S.... R....

    His music is under rated

  11. A.... A....

    I am a sucker for Ben's autobiographical lyrics, he has a beautiful way of dissecting his life and feelings and then just sort of splaying everything out on top of heart-wrenching melodies. I really love this song, for good or bad, it really says a lot about my life, and most people's I guess...

    A.... A....

    You must be excited for the book then!

  12. K.... M....

    <3 Ben is killing it

  13. K.... K....

    One best Lps in long time!

  14. S.... M....

    Honest and heartfelt.
    A remarkable song and record from a truly gifted artist.

  15. i.... ....

    This album is just brilliant.

  16. E.... ....

    A new classic Ben Folds song, I instantly fell in love with this when he played it at NYC a few months back

    E.... ....

    Have you heard it with the ymusic playing with him? Is maddening good!

  17. J.... O....

    Saw him live in Portland tonight. Moved me to me core.

  18. B.... T....

    A masterpiece. Not just a song; but art.

    B.... T....

    I find this to be a very agreeable comment.

  19. N.... J....

    Christ, this is gorgeous.