The Ascent Of Stan

I would like to acknoledge the amazing piano in this song.

/piano is AMAZING!

And aside from Ben's skills as a pianist/vocalist, can we even START talking about his spectacular composition skills? He is also a very poignant lyricist. I love (as in adore, as in want to have sex with) this CD.

I am VERY surprised that no one mentioned the irony in the title of this song. "Ascent" has a very positive connotation, rising up is something that most people associate with success and happiness. This song could have just as easily been "The Descent of Stan" and none of us would have thought it didn't fit.

:( It's unfortunate that many people sacrifice their ideals for money and status. That is not the kind of ascent I want to make in my life.

I don't think that this song is necessarily about Stan selling out or becoming evil. I think it's about growing up, realizing you were wrong and the inevitable cycle of authority. This guy, Stan, in my mind, was the leader of a political revolution, One that hated "the man" and authority in general. The revolution succeeded, so what did they do then? They made Stan "the man". Even if they got rid of authority and government, they would have eventually realized that they needed order; they needed authority.

Now Stan is in charge, with all of this responsibility. He's making decisions other people don't like because they can't understand them. Now they're protesting and rallying against /him/. “How’s it feel to be the man? It’s no fun to be the man.” Now Stan realizes that things aren’t as simple as they seem from the outside. Actually being in charge isn’t as easy as protesting. Sticking to your original beliefs isn’t at the possible. Stan has ascended to the top, but not in a positive way. He can see things no one else can; he can see consequences for his actions. He can see opposing views. He makes decisions based on this and people don’t like it because they can’t see what he sees.

I like this song. Everytime I see people wearing anarchy t-shirts or talking about how all government sucks, I think of it.

I believe what this song is trying to get across at the most base level is a critique on capitalism and the pressures of it. I believe his ascent in the song is actually Stan lifting himself out of poverty either by entering the military or some other way he climbs that ladder. This song is reflecting on the ascent, what it's done to Stan, and portraying it in a more negative light.

Its interesting Ben uses the word ascent in this song, to describe this class change. ascent is the word we use to describe something positive, like ascending to heaven, or through the ranks. but in English dictionaries, there is a very clear reason for why this particular word was used here. Ascent (noun) - an advance in social status or reputation. No inherent positive or negative connotation. This is exactly what Stan is described doing. He ascended out of poverty and into the middle class. But despite this being an accurate description of what happened, Stan sees it differently. He never wanted to ascend by this definition, this was his principle he betrayed. His ascent in security and social status is defined by his decent into modernity and this sense of regret. So when the instrumentals come in after "The ascent of Stan" it doesn't feel celebratory, it feels crushing, and the weight gets heavier and heavier with the following lines, "Textbook hippie man / Get rest while you can," detailing what he truly is at heart. On a very basic level this song isn't about authoritarianism, the Vietnam war, or the hippie movement of the 50s, 60s, and 70s. its about modernity. Its about having a principle and through societal pressures, betraying that principle. Its about the great distaste of capitalism and overproduction, and having no choice but to abet it

I, personally like, this song. It seems to me that not many people do, but I like it because I know the feeling, being rebellious one moment, then being rebelled against. This is a really good piece of work with a decent sound to it.

This is a reall good song great piano.

God bless Ben Folds :D

this is a great song, reminds me of a bank manager who had to where a hat at work because he had a tattoo from his youth on his forehead saying something along the lines of 'f*ck the system' or some sucxh thing.

I think this song is about not conforming and doing what you want, but then you eventually end up like everyone else. "In fact, you have become all of the things you’ve always run away from"-You used to hate the followers, but now you are one. "Once you wanted revolution, Now you’re the institution" This is the line that defines the song.

The opening music to this reminds me of the "Mess" on the Reinhold Messner album. (Ben Folds Five.) Sounds smiliar. However, I do like this song, even though I dont care for "Mess" all too much.

anna118k, i saw him in concert and he acknowledged the smilarities between this and "mess." He said he could sue himself for it, but that he'd see himself in court about that one. Anyway, on the surface this song is what everyone has said, its like growing up and accepting the status quo. however, my sister made a good point. she said it is about his fear of selling out. "in fact you have become/all of the things you've always run from" seems to be the best example. Ben Folds is (was) pro-napster, and makes music because he loves it. If I were him, I would be afraid that I'd end up lame, performing on the Teen Choice Awards just for the money in it. Oh yeah, I really like "Mess" i think it is a beautiful, tragic song.

this song is about vietnam...how some guy was protesting against the war, and then when it was over, he went back to being normal...like the rest of the world which he was running from. he was a hippy man