Content with leaving the dream of music behind, Ben turned instead to his screenwriting studies and fell in love with the art of film and the power of story.
It was four years before Ben picked up an instrument again, and it took meeting a young girl in hospital with anorexia. Confronted by her heartbreaking story, Ben did the best thing he knew how and wrote a song with the 13-year-old titled 'Let Your Light'. The moving ballad saw Ben flown to stages around the country where he would perform the song and tell the story at fundraisers for the Starlight Children's Foundation.
The life-altering experience opened Ben’s eyes to the idea of music as a language of the heart, reconciling the musician and storyteller – and he’s been singing for people ever since.
Since then Ben has played regularly in Melbourne venues such as Manchester Lane, The Wesley Anne, and The Toff In Town, as well as toured to Sydney and Jakarta, drawing audiences into the palm of his hand with his truly unique, personable performance style.
His soulful voice that is two parts the husky Indonesian of his father and one part the pure soprano of his Australian Mother, paired with his cheerfully uplifting tunes and catchy – oftentimes humorous – lyrics, make Ben Abraham a unique and exciting new talent in the Australian music scene.
Speak
Ben Abraham Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I know you have been circling my room
I listen for your footsteps
Close my eyes and wait for you to move
You're hiding like a memory
Teasing like a girl I used to know
Tumbling and gamboling
Telling me to speak
In one reckless moment
You move a little too close to my ears
I grab a hold with both hands
And scramble to make sense of what I hear
I try to tie you down
With synonyms and sad piano sounds
For a moment you surrender
One moment we both stand on the same ground
And I begin to speak
I begin to say something
And all at once you pull away
I'm lost within your atmosphere
As quickly as you found me
I panic as you try to disappear
I reach out with my fingers
And try to pull the letters back in line
But your words spin out of order
And the pounding in my chest is out of time
But I just want to speak
I just want to say something
I just want to speak
I just want to say something
Can anybody hear me?
The song "Speak" by Ben Abraham speaks to the elusive nature of memory, desire and the power of words to bring them to life. The opening verse sets the scene of a person waiting for someone who they can sense is in the room with them, but who is hiding, playing with their emotions like a teasing memory from the past. As the person tries to understand what they are feeling, the other person moves closer, causing a moment of confusion and panic as they try to make sense of what is going on. The song is about the desire to speak, to be heard, and to connect, even when the words seem to escape us.
The lyrics of "Speak" are beautiful and poetic, capturing the confusion and longing that come with trying to express feelings that are hard to put into words. The use of metaphor and word play creates a sense of mystery and intrigue, drawing the listener in and inviting them to interpret the song in their own way. This song can be interpreted as a song about a relationship, a lost love, or even a personal struggle with self-expression. The song's haunting melody and gentle rhythm add to the overall sense of longing and desire that runs throughout the song.
Line by Line Meaning
I didn't hear you enter
I didn't notice your arrival
But I know you have been circling my room
I sense your lingering presence
I listen for your footsteps
I anticipate your movements
Close my eyes and wait for you to move
I rely on my other senses to detect you
You're hiding like a memory
You're evading my attention like a distant past
Teasing like a girl I used to know
Provoking me with familiarity like a past crush
Tumbling and gamboling
Flirting with me playfully
Calling to the weakness in my soul
Appealing to my vulnerable side
Telling me to speak
Encouraging me to express myself
In one reckless moment
During a temporary lapse of judgment
You move a little too close to my ears
You invade my personal space
I grab a hold with both hands
I try to capture your words
And scramble to make sense of what I hear
And struggle to comprehend your message
I try to tie you down
I attempt to constrain your elusive meaning
With synonyms and sad piano sounds
Using similar words and melancholic music
For a moment you surrender
You momentarily comply
One moment we both stand on the same ground
We briefly share the same perspective
And I begin to speak
I finally find my voice
And all at once you pull away
And suddenly you distance yourself
I'm lost within your atmosphere
I'm bewildered by your mysterious aura
As quickly as you found me
As promptly as you approached me
I panic as you try to disappear
I fret as you attempt to vanish
I reach out with my fingers
I stretch my hand to seize your words
And try to pull the letters back in line
And endeavor to arrange the letters coherently
But your words spin out of order
But your words swirl confusingly
And the pounding in my chest is out of time
And the thumping in my heart is chaotic
But I just want to speak
But I simply want to articulate my thoughts
I just want to say something
I just want to express myself
I just want to speak
I just want to vocalize my emotions
I just want to say something
I just want to convey my message
Can anybody hear me?
Is anyone listening to me?
Contributed by Gavin W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Haiti Yassin
lyrics
I didn't hear you enter
But I know you have been circling my room
I listen for your footsteps
Close my eyes and wait for you to move
You're hiding like a memory
Teasing like a girl I used to know
Tumbling and gamboling
Calling to the weakness in my soul
Telling me to speak
In one reckless moment
You move a little too close to my ears
I grab a hold with both hands
And scramble to make sense of what I hear
I try to tie you down
With synonyms and sad piano sounds
For a moment you surrender
One moment we both stand on the same ground
And I begin to speak
I begin to say something
And all at once you pull away
I'm lost within your atmosphere
As quickly as you found me
I panic as you try to disappear
I reach out with my fingers
And try to pull the letters back in line
But your words spin out of order
And the pounding in my chest is out of time
But I just want to speak
I just want to say something
I just want to speak
I just want to say something
Can anybody hear me?
187_mvbg
Been listening to this acoustic version since 2015. Still gives me chills
Haiti Yassin
lyrics
I didn't hear you enter
But I know you have been circling my room
I listen for your footsteps
Close my eyes and wait for you to move
You're hiding like a memory
Teasing like a girl I used to know
Tumbling and gamboling
Calling to the weakness in my soul
Telling me to speak
In one reckless moment
You move a little too close to my ears
I grab a hold with both hands
And scramble to make sense of what I hear
I try to tie you down
With synonyms and sad piano sounds
For a moment you surrender
One moment we both stand on the same ground
And I begin to speak
I begin to say something
And all at once you pull away
I'm lost within your atmosphere
As quickly as you found me
I panic as you try to disappear
I reach out with my fingers
And try to pull the letters back in line
But your words spin out of order
And the pounding in my chest is out of time
But I just want to speak
I just want to say something
I just want to speak
I just want to say something
Can anybody hear me?
Jenni Bee
Thank you for this. It helped me to like this song even more. Good bless you!
Stivens Sysavath
"I try to tie you down
With synonyms and sad piano sounds"
Oh man... Powerful words.
LukeDunleavyMusic
Thank you so much Mahogany for introducing me to yet another incredible artist.
LukeDunleavyMusic
+Dave Goodwill Ah thanks so much man! :)
Marg Catl1
LukeDunleavyMusic tu es absolument magnifique
Risodair
One of my favourite songs at the moment. I like the tone of the song and, of course, the story it tells. Ben can deliver emotions through his voice at a master's level. The song is just charming and I actually relate to it quite a lot, but I listen to it and imagine what is going on between the characters.
'and all at once you pull away' ♡
Wesley River Donoghue
The world needs more real artists like this man. Very talented song writer.
Driftwood Studios
What a voice, what a clean guitar player!