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.
Soldiers
Ben Howard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Watch me with such a quiet sincerity
And you hold me heavy, you
Hold me like I was born to be held
And the light comes in here, yeah
Morning my dear, and the restlessness of arms
And we lie here longing now
Words were ours that we'll never be harmed
Yeah you are dear
But if this goes wrong again, oh heaven forbid
If this was how it was meant to fall, no
If this goes wrong again
Will you pretend that you know, steady as the morning and just go
And just go
And just go
I made you breakfast, oh
Soldiers to guard and keep you company
When I'm goin' away again
All faces and falsities of new friends
Yeah there's fires here to burn, and
Timbers left to learn in this young heart
And honey please don't think I don't miss you, no
Don't think I don't think of you when we're apart
Because I do dear, I do
Yeah I do dear
But if this goes wrong again, oh heaven forbid
If this was how it was meant to fall, no
If this goes wrong again
Will you pretend that you know, steady as the morning and just go
And just go
And just go
In Ben Howard's song "Soldiers," the singer expresses his love and affection for the person he is addressing in the song. The person "watches him steady" with such "quiet sincerity" that it makes him feel held, as though he was "born to be held." The morning light brings a sense of calm, and they lie there "longing now." The singer admits that this person is "dear" to him and he thinks of them even when they are apart. However, he seems to anticipate that their relationship might be in trouble. He asks if they will "pretend that you know, steady as the morning and just go" if things go wrong again.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh you watch me steady, you
You observe me intently and with a sense of unwavering focus
Watch me with such a quiet sincerity
Your watchful gaze is marked by a gentle authenticity
And you hold me heavy, you
Your embrace is firm and filled with a sense of gravity and importance
Hold me like I was born to be held
Your hold on me feels so natural and innate, as if it is the purpose of my very existence
And the light comes in here, yeah
A sense of illumination pervades this moment
Morning my dear, and the restlessness of arms
It is morning and our arms are restless with desire and longing
And we lie here longing now
We lie here, consumed by a deep yearning for one another
Words were ours that we'll never be harmed
The words we share between us will never cause any harm or pain
'Cause you are dear to me
You hold a special place of cherished importance in my heart
But if this goes wrong again, oh heaven forbid
In the event that things should take a turn for the worse, God forbid
If this was how it was meant to fall, no
If this is how fate chose for it to unravel
Will you pretend that you know, steady as the morning and just go
If things do fall apart, will you act as if you knew it all along, maintaining composure like the steadfast morning and leave?
And just go
Leave with a great sense of finality
I made you breakfast, oh
I prepared a meal for you
Soldiers to guard and keep you company
I gave you the company of small figurines as guardians and protectors
When I'm goin' away again
When I have to leave again
All faces and falsities of new friends
I will encounter many new faces and have to navigate the inauthenticity that sometimes accompanies new friendships
Yeah there's fires here to burn, and
There are challenges to face and obstacles to overcome
Timbers left to learn in this young heart
I still have much to learn and discover, yet my heart remains young and willing
And honey please don't think I don't miss you, no
Please don't doubt for a moment that I miss you greatly
Don't think I don't think of you when we're apart
When we are separated, you are constantly on my mind
Because I do dear, I do
My love for you is unwavering and ever-present
And just go
Should things go awry, I may simply have to leave, with a sense of finality
And just go
Depart with a sense of inevitability and acceptance of fate
And just go
Leave behind all that once was, with a sense of bittersweet regret
Contributed by Addison N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Lucigaïah
" Oh you watch me steady, you
Watch me with such a quiet sincerity
And you hold me heavy, you
Hold me like I was born to be held
And the light comes in here, yeah
Morning my dear, and the restlessness of arms
And we lie here longing now
Words were ours that we'll never be harmed
‘Cause you are dear to me
Yeah you are dear
But if this goes wrong again, oh heaven forbid
If this was how it was meant to fall, no
If this goes wrong again
Will you pretend that you know, steady as the morning and just go
And just go
And just go
I made you breakfast, oh
Soldiers to guard and keep you company
When I’m goin’ away again
All faces and falsities of new friends
Yeah there’s fires here to burn, and
Timbers left to learn in this young heart
And honey please don’t think I don’t miss you, no
Don’t think I don’t think of you when we’re apart
Because I do dear, I do
Yeah I do dear
But if this goes wrong again, oh heaven forbid
If this was how it was meant to fall, no
If this goes wrong again
Will you pretend that you know, steady as the morning and just go
And just go
And just go "
rasp berry
Oh you watch me steady, you
Watch me with such a quiet sincerity
And you hold me heavy, you
Hold me like I was born to be held
And the light comes in here, yeah
Morning my dear, and the restlessness of arms
And we lie here longing now
Words were ours that we'll never be harmed
‘Cause you are dear to me
Yeah you are dear
But if this goes wrong again, oh heaven forbid
If this was how it was meant to fall, no
If this goes wrong again
Will you pretend that you know, steady as the morning and just go
And just go
And just go
I made you breakfast, oh
Soldiers to guard and keep you company
When I’m goin’ away again
All faces and falsities of new friends
Yeah there’s fires here to burn, and
Timbers left to learn in this young heart
And honey please don’t think I don’t miss you, no
Don’t think I don’t think of you when we’re apart
Because I do dear, I do
Yeah I do dear
But if this goes wrong again, oh heaven forbid
If this was how it was meant to fall, no
If this goes wrong again
Will you pretend that you know, steady as the morning and just go
And just go
And just go
Dev B
Oh you watch me steady, you
Watch me with such a quiet sincerity
And you hold me heavy, you
Hold me like I was born to be held
And the light comes in here, yeah
Morning my dear, and the restlessness of arms
And we lie here longing now
Words were ours that we'll never be harmed
‘Cause you are dear to me
Yeah you are dear
But if this goes wrong again, oh heaven forbid
If this was how it was meant to fall, no
If this goes wrong again
Will you pretend that you know, steady as the morning and just go
And just go
And just go
I made you breakfast, oh
Soldiers to guard and keep you company
When I’m goin’ away again
All faces and falsities of new friends
Yeah there’s fires here to burn, and
Timbers left to learn in this young heart
And honey please don’t think I don’t miss you, no
Don’t think I don’t think of you when we’re apart
Because I do dear, I do
Yeah I do dear
But if this goes wrong again, oh heaven forbid
If this was how it was meant to fall, no
If this goes wrong again
Will you pretend that you know, steady as the morning and just go
And just go
And just go
عزام فرح Azzam Farah
Oh you watch me steady, you
Watch me with such a quiet sincerity
And you hold me heavy, you
Hold me like I was born to be held
And the light comes in here, yeah
Morning my dear, and the restlessness of arms
And we lie here longing now
Words were ours that we'll never be harmed
'Cause you are dear to me
Yeah you are dear
But if this goes wrong again, oh heaven forbid
If this was how it was meant to fall, no
If this goes wrong again
Will you pretend that you know, steady as the morning
and just go
And just go
And just go
I made you breakfast, oh
Soldiers to guard and keep you company
When I'm goin' away again
All faces and falsities of new friends
Yeah there's fires here to burn, and
Timbers left to learn in this young heart
And honey please don't think I don't miss you, no
Don't think I don't think of you when we're apart
Because I do dear, I do
Yeah I do dear
But if this goes wrong again, oh heaven forbid
If this was how it was meant to fall, no
If this goes wrong again
Will you pretend that you know, steady as the morning
and just go
And just go
And just go
sin
Currently on a Ben Howard unreleased/unheard-song-spree and I'm so happy to have stumbled across this one. This man is physically unable to make a bad song.
ididntdoit
This will never get old. None of his songs ever will 🤍
Barn Yard
Sincerely think Ben is the most important song writer of this century. I'm not even exaggerating a tiny bit. Its so powerful, emotional on a complete and pure level. So happy and very sad at the exact same time.
lara frenay
Yes.. i so agree. He opens a door on the wildly beautiful and profund experience of life, for us :) what a gift !
lloydgush
You are so wrong...
About the century.
He's, of the next one.
People ain't ready.
David Rodriguez
@Haiden Don't we all have the ability to feel love? That doesn't make it any less special. What humanity shares in common is what holds the most worth! We are all a big family, and if everybody was okay, things would be much better.
Bivas Bisht
@Noah Elsayed you are me totally musically , and by this i can know you must have great personality too and you must be a nice person :)
Bivas Bisht
best comment on ben howard till this date
Lucigaïah
" Oh you watch me steady, you
Watch me with such a quiet sincerity
And you hold me heavy, you
Hold me like I was born to be held
And the light comes in here, yeah
Morning my dear, and the restlessness of arms
And we lie here longing now
Words were ours that we'll never be harmed
‘Cause you are dear to me
Yeah you are dear
But if this goes wrong again, oh heaven forbid
If this was how it was meant to fall, no
If this goes wrong again
Will you pretend that you know, steady as the morning and just go
And just go
And just go
I made you breakfast, oh
Soldiers to guard and keep you company
When I’m goin’ away again
All faces and falsities of new friends
Yeah there’s fires here to burn, and
Timbers left to learn in this young heart
And honey please don’t think I don’t miss you, no
Don’t think I don’t think of you when we’re apart
Because I do dear, I do
Yeah I do dear
But if this goes wrong again, oh heaven forbid
If this was how it was meant to fall, no
If this goes wrong again
Will you pretend that you know, steady as the morning and just go
And just go
And just go "
Victoria Dockstader
I love the way his lyrics and his voice play at my heart strings. Its like falling in love for the first time and getting your heart broken at the same time, Ironic but beautiful.