Tom And Mary

Ben Folds Five

Chicka uh chicka uh
For the benefit of Tom and Mary
Before our guests arrive
If they haven't found out already
It's gonna blow their minds
Will they find the strength
To find the will to testify
That for the benefit of Tom and Mary
There's something we can't hide anymore?

Everybody here knows the story
Some with fabricated extra parts
See the sisters shout in whispers
Feeding hot air to the sparks
Put a damper on the party
It will lighten up this room
But for the benefit of Tom and Mary
We've got to see the truth today

Ms. Suthernson says "here they come"
And all the chatter and the smiles
They come undone
You could hear a pin drop on the carpet floor
Everyone's pretending not to hear them
Knocking at the door

For the benefit of Tom and Mary
Before our guests arrive
If they haven't found out already
It's gonna blow their minds
Haven't found out already
And yet the seams all seem to show
That for the benefit of Tom and Mary
For the benefit of Tom and Mary
For the benefit of Tom and Mary
We gotta let the truth me known, yeah


Lyrics submitted by kevin

Tom & Mary Lyrics as written by Folds

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Tom And Mary song meanings
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7 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment
    Tom and Mary in the song are actually the names of 2 people that run a recording studio. On a certain day, Ben folds was in this studio and heard the phrase " For the benefit of Tom and Mary". he instanly came up witha little story in his head. Hostalius was right. All the guests know something or heard something that Tom and Mary did. And they don't know that they know. I just wanted give you the background story:).
    nauneon August 11, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I wonder what it was that Tom and Mary did? Is bf5 alluding to something I'm just not getting? (as usual) or is the listener not supposed to know?
    anna118kon April 10, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I think Tom cheated on Mary or vice versa and all of the people are at their wedding waiting to watch them get married. It is brutally obvious to some in attendance that one of them is a philanderer. This could be totally off base though.
    nireon April 26, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I think everyone "the guests" know something about Tom and Mary. But Tom and Mary don't know that everyone else knows. For example, Mary is pregnant with Tom's baby, and everyone knows but Tom and Mary don't think they do.
    Hostaliuson July 29, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    this is just the greatest song. try not dancing. try it. i dare ya.
    gyroscopeon April 06, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    What's funny about this song is that my parents names are Tom and Mary. It's genuinely a pretty weird but cool thing to hear my parents names in a song- especially by one of my favorite artists! I do enjoy this song and the fun tune that comes with it.
    MaxTheFrogon July 01, 2022   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    My original thought when I listened to this song was that Tom and mary had some crazy news they were keeping to themselves, to "benifit" eachother, maybe even to keep their lives more private from others in a way. Their friends and family have no clue whether Tom and mary are aware that they know somethings up, they don't know what that may be, so that's why I feel it's never explained: they know something up but have no idea what that may be.
    MaxTheFrogon July 01, 2022   Link

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