Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: piano
Song Meaning of “Michael Praytor, Five Years Later” by Ben Folds Five
The song ‘Michael Praytor, Five Years Later’ by Ben Folds Five is a tale of a character named Michael Praytor and the story of his life five years after a traumatic experience. This song is a reflection on the heartache someone can sustain through life’s trials and tribulations. It speaks of a man who, despite trying to make changes, can’t seem to break free from the life he’s set for himself and how his dreams of success and happiness have been pushed aside in order to make ends meet.
The song starts by highlighting how things have changed for Michael at the five year mark; time has suddenly become more important and somehow he is both drowning and grown-up at the same time. It paints Michael as a young man stuck in a rut who has lost all hope; his once strong faith and drive have unfortunately faded away, taken away by the monotony of life and the pressures of the world.
The second verse further explains Michael’s current situation. He is frustrated with not being able to do what he once did, and he wrestles with the notion of giving up–a sign of how far he has fallen. He feels like he has nothing to give, no options left for his dreams to come true except for a momentary escape from reality that he finds in his own thoughts.
The song then turns to finding hope in seemingly impossible situations.