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.
Time Is Dancing
Ben Howard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm sorry that I just walked away
Lost in the insignificance of mine
I had no words to say
Now I am better, I implore you to say it isn't right
But somewhere deep in history
Your father pulled your teeth out of your face
I do believe we're only passing through
Wired again, now look who's laughing
You again, oh you, oh you, oh you
Hold it in, now let's go dancing
I do believe we're only passing through
Wired again, now look who's laughing
Me again, all fired up on you
And mow she's caught between
What to say and what she really means
Wrapped up in empathy
The chemicals are pushing past my blood
Hold all my cliches there you're tipping my tongue
To tell you that it's love
Oh hold it in, now let's go dancing
I do believe we're only passing through
Wired again, now look who's laughing
You again, oh you, oh you, oh you
Hold it in, now let's go dancing
I do believe we're only passing through
Wired again, now look who's laughing
Me again, all fired up on you
And now she's caught between
What to say and what she really means
And I am finally coloring
Inside the lines that I live between
Hold it in there, let's go dancing
I do believe we're only passing through
Wired again, now look who's laughing
You again, oh you, oh you, oh you
Hold it in, now let's go dancing
I do believe we're only passing through
Wired again, now look who's laughing
Me again, all fired up on you
The lyrics in Ben Howard's "Time Is Dancing" are poignant as they convey the emotions of regret and longing. The opening line "wrapped up in dissonance" sets an immediate tone of discomfort and unease. The singer seems to be addressing someone they walked away from, someone they hurt. They acknowledge their wrongs, admitting to having "no words to say" in the moment, suggesting that they let their pride get in the way of resolving the issue. They plead with this person to forgive them because "somewhere deep in history, your father pulled your teeth out of your face," possibly indicating that the person they are talking to has experienced a past trauma, and the singer wants them to know their actions were not intentional.
The chorus of "Hold it in, now let's go dancing" is a contrast to the somber tone of the verse. It represents a desire to move past the issue and simply enjoy life. The line "I do believe we're only passing through" reinforces the fleeting nature of life and encourages the listener to live in the moment. However, the singer seems to be trying to convince themselves that they can gloss over the issue, as if to say, "let's go dancing and forget about what happened, but please forgive me for what I did." The final verse speaks of the singer's personal growth, the realization that they need to acknowledge their faults and make amends. They claim to be "finally coloring inside the lines that I live between," suggesting that they're learning to act within societal norms rather than acting impulsively.
Line by Line Meaning
Wrapped up in dissonance
Feeling conflicted and confused
I'm sorry that I just walked away
Apologizing for not speaking up or being present
Lost in the insignificance of mine
Feeling small and unimportant
I had no words to say
Unable to express oneself
Now I am better, I implore you to say it isn't right
Asking for confirmation that things are okay now
But somewhere deep in history
Acknowledging the past and its impact on the present
Your father pulled your teeth out of your face
Referencing a traumatic event from the past
Hold it in here, let's go dancing
Suppressing emotions and distracting oneself with activities
I do believe we're only passing through
Viewing life as temporary and fleeting
Wired again, now look who's laughing
Feeling energized or excited and experiencing joy
You again, oh you, oh you, oh you
Celebrating a person or moment that brings happiness
And now she's caught between
Describing a person who is uncertain or conflicted
What to say and what she really means
Struggling with authenticity and honesty
Wrapped up in empathy
Feeling deeply connected to others and their emotions
The chemicals are pushing past my blood
Describing the physical sensations of emotion
Hold all my cliches there you're tipping my tongue
Describing the struggle to express oneself authentically
To tell you that it's love
Describing a powerful emotion or feeling
And I am finally coloring
Describing a feeling of personal growth or change
Inside the lines that I live between
Finding a sense of stability or purpose in life
Me again, all fired up on you
Experiencing strong emotions or passion for a person or thing
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Benjamin John Howard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind