After building up a reputation with his gigs across the UK, Howard was eventually asked to sign to Island Records. His first album, Every Kingdom, was released on October 3, 2011 and debuted at #7 on the UK album chart. It sold in excess of 1 million copies globally, received a Mercury Music Prize nomination, and was the catalyst for Ben picking up two Brit Awards in 2012 for British Breakthrough and British Solo Male Artist.
The follow up, 'I Forget Where We Were' was released on 20th October 2014 through Island Records. It was produced by Ben and his drummer Chris Bond at Start Point Farm Studios in Devon.
www.benhowardmusic.co.uk.
Burgh Island
Ben Howard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the sun tries you, reeling home against your glow
And we lost sight of it, breath tied up in summer's hold
And your eyes screamed it, Burgh Island, in sepia tones
And if I was ever to leave, I'd say before I go
That you're the best woman I have ever known
And the sun chides you, so long
And we've lost sight of it, breath tied up in summer's hold
And the world break for it, Burgh Island, in sepia tones
And if I was ever to leave, I'll say before I go
That you're the best woman I ever known
Oh, I bite my tongue
That you may be the first to ruin
'Cause I heard it sung
That man is a fickle child
The wind blew in
Oh, I bite my tongue
That you may be the first to ruin
'Cause I heard it sung
That man is a fickle child
The wind blew in
The song "Burgh Island" by Ben Howard is a dreamy and atmospheric track that is full of rich, vivid imagery. The lyrics explore the ideas of love, beauty, and the fleeting nature of time. The song opens with a reference to the beauty of the woman that Howard is singing to, with her brown eyes shining like a "sure light" that guides him forward. The sun is also referenced, with the singer noting that it "tries you, reeling home against your glow." The use of the verb "tries" implies that the sun is working hard to be as striking as the woman's eyes, but ultimately falls short.
The chorus of the song employs repetition to emphasize the importance of the woman to the singer: "And if I was ever to leave, I'd say before I go / That you're the best woman I have ever known." The use of the past tense "was" also suggests that the singer has no intention of leaving, but is instead emphasizing the importance of the woman in his life.
The second verse revisits the imagery of the first, with the singer again noting the beauty of the woman's eyes, and referring to Burgh Island - a real place in the UK - as a symbol of sepia-toned nostalgia. The bridge of the song introduces the idea that the singer is afraid of expressing his love too freely, for fear that it will be ruined or taken away. The line "That man is a fickle child / The wind blew in" suggests that Howard is aware of the impermanence of love, and that it is subject to the whims of fate and circumstance.
Overall, the song is a beautiful meditation on love, beauty, and the transience of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, your brown eyes shine a sure light on the way to go
Your shining brown eyes lead the way with certainty
And the sun tries you, reeling home against your glow
The sun challenges you, struggling as you shine on the way home
And we lost sight of it, breath tied up in summer's hold
We lost direction, caught in summer's grasp
And your eyes screamed it, Burgh Island, in sepia tones
Your eyes spoke of Burgh Island in a nostalgic way
And if I was ever to leave, I'd say before I go
That you're the best woman I have ever known
If I were to leave, I would tell you that you are the best woman I've ever met
And the sun chides you, so long
And we've lost sight of it, breath tied up in summer's hold
And the world break for it, Burgh Island, in sepia tones
The sun scolds you goodbye, as we remain stuck in summer's grasp, while the world craves Burgh Island's nostalgia
Oh, I bite my tongue
That you may be the first to ruin
'Cause I heard it sung
That man is a fickle child
The wind blew in
I remain silent so that you may have the chance to destroy me, because they say men are unreliable and the winds of change are unpredictable
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Benjamin John Howard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ManofUlster
Nobody creates atmosphere like Ben Howard. The Burgh Island EP has such a distinct tone and mood, especially this track. There’s something transcendent about it.
@djae6083
What an amazing choice of wording. "There's something transcendent..." Exactly. 100%. He is of a being that we don't even know, let alone understand of
@yancrazy
Ben is amazing no doubt but Bon iver is on a par. Would love for them to tour together
@carolineramier3741
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🤞🙏
@ngocduc4483
@@yancrazy Justin is no way near Ben’s level to me
@ceciliakanaan7634
No words can express the way I feel when I'm listening to ben's songs.
@MrElsaphan
It’s a transcendence
@kendjana
I know right!
@conda35
True, never get tired of him. Hope he gets to Australia again one day ! 😊
@tomwolfe7782
As an agnostic atheist, musicians like Howard are the closest thing I have to spiritual leaders whose music is like church to my mind.