1999's Breathing Tornados marked a new direction for Lee as he introduced synths and increased instrumentation into his sound. The album was a huge success, with the first single, "Cigarettes Will Kill You", finishing second in that year's Triple J Hottest 100. Lee also enjoyed success with the single "Something Borrowed, Something Blue" - from the album hey you. yes you. - reaching no 22 in 2002's Triple J Hottest 100.
In 2001 he joined forces with Evan Dando, Tom Petersson of Cheap Trick and Jason Schwartzman of Phantom Planet and acting fame. Calling themselves Dando Lee Petersson Schwartzman, they recorded a single, "Dead or Anything", at Globe Studios, New York.
During 2003 he teamed up with Ben Kweller and Ben Folds for a side project entitled The Bens. They recorded four songs together in Nashville, resulting in a self-titled EP.
In late 2004, he left Steve Pavlovic's Modular Recordings and started up his own record label, Ten Fingers. The first release on the label was the single, "Gamble Everything For Love", followed by the album, Awake Is The New Sleep in February 2005. A defining release in his career, the album showcased a much brighter, positive side of Lee's personality, in contrast to his previous darker musings. Awake Is The New Sleep received several nominations for the 2005 Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) awards, and Lee won Best Male Artist, Best Independent Release, and Single Of The Year for "Catch My Disease". Catch My Disease was also number 2 on the 2005 Triple J Hottest 100.
In September 2007, Lee released his sixth solo album, named "Ripe" after the final song on the record. The album is somewhat controversial, with most songs relating in some way to sex, lust and love. Mandy Moore features on the album in the song "Birds and Bees", and Benji Madden plays electric guitar in "Sex Without Love". It also features Sara Watkins, Rachael Yamagata, Charlotte Martin, Ned Bower, Taylor Locke and Robert Schwatzman (who is also credited for co-writing 'Sex Without Love'). It was a big step away from the spiritual "Awake is the New Sleep", but shows Lee's need for change in songs. The album was produced by John Alagia and released under the Inertia/Ten Fingers label 'Awake is the New Sleep' was released under.
February 2009 brought the release of his latest LP entitled "The Rebirth of Venus." This release also includes a bonus disk that includes six cover songs that Ben has done including "Kids" by MGMT and "New Wave" by Against Me!.
16
Ben Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where's the reckless spirit I'm supposed to have
That was crap
Your world's joke making me choke
I'm so mad
I thought my life would be like a John Hughes film
I feel had
Cause I'm a man and I'm a joke
You told me 16 had a girl
16 had a car
16 made me wise
But now I'm 16 and I see that's all wrong
But now I'm 16 and I see that's all wrong
At 16 I'm just lucky to be alive
What's the cost
I can't move why do I feel lost
Piss me off
Time is my schedule, school's my boss
There's no love lost
Because there is no love got
Piss me off
Don't tell me being 16 was a joy
Cause I'm a man and I'm a boy
You told me 16 had a girl
16 had a car
16 made me wise
But now I'm 16 and I see that's all wrong
But now I'm 16 and I see that's all wrong
At 16 I'm just lucky to be alive
Where's my girl
Where's my car
Where's my record deal
Make me a star
Where's my spirit
Where's my team
I can't be jaded yet cause I'm only 16
I can't be jaded yet cause I'm only 16
I can't have seen it all I'm only 16
I can't have seen it all I'm only 16
The lyrics to Ben Lee's song, "16," convey feelings of disappointment and anger towards the world and society's perception of what it means to be 16. The singer feels cheated out of the supposed "reckless spirit" and excitement that should come with being a teenager, instead feeling trapped in the monotony of school and the pressures of society. The line "Your world's joke making me choke" represents the frustration and suffocation felt by the singer in a world that doesn't seem to understand or care about them. They also question the supposed joys of being 16, feeling like they are missing out on the experiences that were promised to them.
The chorus of the song repeats the lines, "You told me 16 had a girl, 16 had a car, 16 made me wise, but now I'm 16 and I see that's all wrong," emphasizing the singer's disillusionment with the expectations placed upon them at this age. The final line, "At 16 I'm just lucky to be alive," suggests a feeling of helplessness, as the singer realizes that they are at the mercy of the world around them and must simply be grateful to still be alive.
Overall, the song speaks to the universal experience of feeling let down by society's expectations and grappling with the pressures of growing up.
Line by Line Meaning
I feel had
I feel deceived or cheated
Where's the reckless spirit I'm supposed to have
I don't feel as bold or daring as I'm expected to be
That was crap
That was terrible or worthless
Your world's joke making me choke
The pressures and expectations of the world are suffocating me
I'm so mad
I am extremely angry
I thought my life would be like a John Hughes film
I expected my life to be like a classic teenage movie filled with excitement and adventure
Don't tell me at sixteen you were stoked
Don't tell me that being sixteen was exciting and exhilarating for you
Cause I'm a man and I'm a joke
I'm expected to act like an adult, but I still feel like a fool or a failure
What's the cost
What is the price I have to pay?
I can't move why do I feel lost
I feel paralyzed or stuck and I'm not sure what to do next
Piss me off
I'm extremely angry
Time is my schedule, school's my boss
My life is dominated by the demands of school and other outside forces
There's no love lost
There was no love to begin with
Don't tell me being 16 was a joy
Don't tell me that being sixteen was fun or enjoyable
Where's my girl
Where is the love interest I was supposed to have?
Where's my car
Where is the freedom and independence I was supposed to have?
Where's my record deal
Where is the fame and success that I was hoping for?
Make me a star
Help me become a famous and respected figure
Where's my spirit
Where is the passion and drive that I was supposed to have?
Where's my team
Where are the supportive and loyal friends I was hoping for?
I can't be jaded yet cause I'm only 16
I can't be cynical and world-weary yet because I'm still young and inexperienced
I can't have seen it all I'm only 16
I haven't experienced everything yet because I'm still young
At 16 I'm just lucky to be alive
At sixteen, I am fortunate just to be alive and have the opportunities that I do
You told me 16 had a girl
People said that at sixteen, I would have a romantic partner
16 had a car
People said that at sixteen, I would have a car and the freedom it brings
16 made me wise
People said that being sixteen would bring newfound wisdom and knowledge
But now I'm 16 and I see that's all wrong
But now that I am actually sixteen, I see that these expectations were misguided
Contributed by Wyatt B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@christinjsmith7536
I thought my life was gonna be like a john Hughes movie
@notsusan
oh my GOD this takes me back! I was about 14 when I saw it on 120 Minutes and it was just perfect. John Hughes tricked a lot of us, I think...
@Thrash_ranch
Saw them featured in mtv 120
Minutes way back when Dave kendall was hosting it 1993 I think it was
@mmccormick1065
I'm big into the Beastie Boys.....Grand Royal Records cd I bought...had these Guy's on......Top Tune...Worth a look...various artists Ben Lee Lucious Jackson etc etc class %))
@hobocakes
Such a great band and a great album. Saw them live at the Fireside Bowl in Chicago. It was amazing!
@ZackVitus
I love this album so much!
@markfurru3368
Fucking love this, always have!
@uncooldispatch5438
😻😻😻😻😻
@becketclark9942
Thank Anthony Fantano
@Samk1106
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