Ben Kenney … Read Full Bio ↴Ben Kenney is the bass player for the rock band Incubus.
Ben Kenney was formerly part of the hip-hop group The Roots before he joined Incubus in 2003 after the departure of bassist and founding member Alex Katunich aka Dirk Lance. He had previously played with Incubus members Mike Einziger and Jose Pasillas in Time Lapse Consortium.
He also plays in his own band The Division Group (formerly known as Supergrub) with Neal Evans of Soulive and Ashley Mendel. They are planning to release a follow album, 'Saturnize.'
Ben is known to play 6 different instruments and sometimes plays drum solo's with Incubus's drummer Jose Pasillas live onstage. He has also cut his teeth doing studio work for artists like Justin Timberlake, Faith Evans, Eryka Badu, Blackalicious, and producers like Timbaland and DJ Jazzy Jeff.
Ben has 4 solo albums, '26' which he released in 2004, 'Maduro' which he released on March 1, 2006, Distance & Comfort which he released January 15, 2008 and "Burn The Tapes" which was released along with a DVD in 2010. All were released by the independent record company, Ghetto Crush Industries. Ben shows his skills by playing guitar, bass, and drums while singing and writing every part on his solo records.
His onstage equipment includes Lakland Joe Osborn and Bob Glaub signature basses, and Mesa Boogie amplifiers.
Walking
Ben Kenney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll pretend it didn't kill me that my heart is laying on the floor
It doesn't take a lot to cut me down to size
It doesn't take that much to leave tears in these eyes
Back to the start and when did it all end
Back to the start and when will it all end
(Cause these feelings I can do without)
If your daddy didn't leave you would you still be so afraid of me
And when other people see you do they see the you you try to be
It doesn't take a lot to cut you down to size
It doesn't take that much to leave tears in your eyes
Back to the start and when did it all end
(Will you ever get it figured out)
Back to the start and when will it all end
(Cause these feelings I can do without)
Back to the start and when will this all end
(Maybe I can get this figured out)
Back to the start and when will this all end
(Cause these feelings I can do without)
If I didn't have this anger I'd be everything you're looking for
The song Walking by Ben Kenney is a heartfelt ballad in which the singer reveals the internal struggle that they face because of their anger issues. The opening lines express a self-awareness of a flaw that hinders their chances of being everything their partner is looking for. The anger problem is the cause of this internal turmoil and despite being aware of it, the singer seems helpless in finding a solution. The imagery of the heart laying on the floor suggests that the anger problem has hurt them deeply but at the same time, they can't do anything about it.
The singer then moves to speak about the person they're addressing and questions whether their past experiences with their father leaving them have anything to do with how they perceive the singer. The idea here is not to blame the person but to understand them better. However, the fear that exists in their relationship has resulted in a situation where it doesn't take a lot to hurt either of them. The repeated use of 'Back to the start' implies that the singer wants to start over, to go back and make things right. But at the same time, they're unsure of when it all went wrong, further emphasizing the feeling of helplessness.
The chorus of the song, 'Cause these feelings I can do without' is a pivotal moment where the singer declares that they want to overcome their anger and improve the relationship. However, the tone of the song suggests that it might not be that simple as the singer's emotions are in their way. Overall, the song is a moving reflection on the complexity of emotions in a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
If I didn't have this anger I'd be everything your looking for
The singer acknowledges that their anger keeps them from being their best self, which they believe would be desirable to the person they are addressing
I'll pretend it didn't kill me that my heart is laying on the floor
The singer is in pain, but chooses to suppress it for the sake of appearances
It doesn't take a lot to cut me down to size
The singer is easily hurt or discouraged, and can be made to feel small by others' words or actions
It doesn't take that much to leave tears in these eyes
The artist is sensitive and emotional, and becomes upset or cries easily
Back to the start and when did it all end
The artist is reflecting on a past event or relationship that went wrong, and is seeking to pinpoint when things went awry
Back to the start and when will it all end
The singer feels trapped in a cycle of negative emotions or events, and longs for an end or resolution to the situation
(Cause these feelings I can do without)
The repetition of this phrase throughout the song underscores the singer's desire to move on and leave behind their painful feelings
If your daddy didn't leave you would you still be so afraid of me
The artist wonders if the person they are addressing has trust issues or emotional wounds due to past experiences, and whether these affect their relationship
And when other people see you do they see the you you try to be
The artist is questioning whether the person they are addressing presents a false or idealized version of themselves in public, hiding their true feelings or struggles
It doesn't take a lot to cut you down to size
The artist believes that the person they are addressing is also vulnerable to feeling hurt or small
It doesn't take that much to leave tears in your eyes
The singer believes that the person they are addressing is also emotional and sensitive
Back to the start and when did it all end
The repetition of this line throughout the song underlines the idea that the situation being described has a cyclical, frustrating quality
(Will you ever get it figured out)
The singer questions whether their situation with the person they are addressing will ever improve or be resolved
Back to the start and when will this all end
The singer is again reflecting on the cycle of negativity that characterizes their life or relationship
(Maybe I can get this figured out)
The singer expresses some hope that they can find a way to improve their situation, although the repetition of this line suggests that they are not entirely convinced
(Cause these feelings I can do without)
The repetition of this phrase throughout the song underscores the artist's desire to move on and leave behind their painful feelings
Contributed by Oliver W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
bassicvision
My absolute FAVORITE song on "Distance & Comfort". GREATNESS.