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!.
2 Sisters
Ben Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My two sisters that's just about the closest they've been
My folks will tell you they've been that way forever
I can't remember the last time they were in the same room together
You'll hear stories about how they used to fight
Screaming slamming doors keep the neighbors up at night
And me their evil baby child brother
Two sisters everything is awkward, tense
Don't know each other and it doesn't make sense at all
Two sisters both led lives extreme
Tried to erase any similarities
Married, single, secure, a floating balloon
Tried to forget the fact that they both came from the same womb
Two sisters a deadly combination
Avoid it at all costs it's not worth the frustration
Maybe a brother and a sister would be best for all
Two sisters had so much in common
Now they don't know each other at all
You thought that they'd grow closer with age
You were mistaken, they'll go to their graves apart
Not regretting what they didn't do
Never missing the sister that they never knew
Maybe the friendly sibling myth is a scam
I don't know any siblings that walk around holding hands
Maybe we all expect too much of them
Not only to be sisters but also to be friends
Maybe two sisters need to fight scream and weep
Maybe if two sisters don't fight
Then two sisters will never speak
Keep your theories and parent psychology
It doesn't hold with me
A frame with two separate photos in it
Is the closest that my two sisters have been
A frame with two separate photos in it
Is the closest that my two sisters have been
A frame with two separate photos in it
A frame with two separate photos in it
The song "2 Sisters" by Ben Lee is a heartfelt exploration of the strained relationship between two sisters. The opening lyrics describe a picture frame on TV that contains two separate photos of Ben Lee's two sisters. Lee's parents claim that this separation has been a long-standing issue, and Lee himself cannot recall a time when his sisters were last in the same room together. Lee then describes the sisters' history of fighting, which kept neighbors up at night. Even as adults, the sisters cannot seem to connect, leading Lee to wonder if a brother and sister would have been a better combination. Lee ultimately concludes that maybe the expectations we hold for siblings to be both sisters and friends are too high.
The lyrics of "2 Sisters" are poignant in their exploration of the complex relationships that can exist between siblings. The song is especially relatable for anyone who has ever experienced a strained or distant relationship with a sibling. Lee's vocals are plaintive and honest, providing an emotional depth to the lyrics. The repetition of the line "a frame with two separate photos in it" emphasizes the distance between the sisters, and the sorrowful tone of the song captures the regret and sadness that can accompany these sorts of relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
On the tv there's a picture frame with two separate photos in it
The two sisters are never together and the closest they have ever been is in a picture frame.
My two sisters that's just about the closest they've been
The two sisters aren't close and haven't ever really been close.
My folks will tell you they've been that way forever
The family has always known that the two sisters aren't close.
I can't remember the last time they were in the same room together
The artist cannot recall the last time both sisters were in the same room together.
You'll hear stories about how they used to fight
The sisters had a history of fighting.
Screaming slamming doors keep the neighbors up at night
Their fighting would be loud and disruptive.
And me their evil baby child brother
The singer is their younger brother, who is caught up in his sisters' disagreements.
Just about the last thing they have in common with each other
Their only shared trait is being siblings.
Two sisters everything is awkward, tense
Their current relationship is uncomfortable and strained.
Don't know each other and it doesn't make sense at all
The sisters don't have much of a relationship despite sharing a family and upbringing.
Two sisters both led lives extreme
The sisters have taken different paths in life.
Tried to erase any similarities
They actively try to differentiate themselves from one another.
Married, single, secure, a floating balloon
They have varied experiences with relationships and stability.
Tried to forget the fact that they both came from the same womb
They have actively distanced themselves from their shared familial connection.
Two sisters a deadly combination
The sisters' relationship can be toxic and dangerous.
Avoid it at all costs it's not worth the frustration
The artist advises to stay away from the sisters' relationship as it isn't worth getting involved in.
Maybe a brother and a sister would be best for all
The artist suggests that a different sibling relationship dynamic may be better than that of two sisters.
Two sisters had so much in common
The sisters once had similarities or shared experiences.
Now they don't know each other at all
The sisters' relationship has deteriorated to the point of being almost nonexistent.
You thought that they'd grow closer with age
One may assume that the sisters would become closer as they aged, but this has not been the case.
You were mistaken, they'll go to their graves apart
The sisters are unlikely to reconcile before their deaths.
Not regretting what they didn't do
The sisters likely won't regret not having a closer relationship.
Never missing the sister that they never knew
The sisters didn't really know each other, so they won't miss each other.
Maybe the friendly sibling myth is a scam
The idea of siblings being friends may be unrealistic or unreachable for some people.
I don't know any siblings that walk around holding hands
The singer hasn't witnessed any siblings displaying an extremely close relationship.
Maybe we all expect too much of them
Siblings may be expected to have closer relationships than they are capable of having.
Not only to be sisters but also to be friends
Siblings are expected to be close friends, but this is not always realistic.
Maybe two sisters need to fight scream and weep
Perhaps the sisters need to have arguments and emotional outbursts in order to connect on a deeper level.
Maybe if two sisters don't fight
If the sisters don't have confrontations, they may never truly connect or understand each other.
Then two sisters will never speak
Without fighting or emotional expression, the sisters may not have anything to talk about.
Keep your theories and parent psychology
The singer is dismissive of the idea that there are concrete theories or psychological explanations for sibling relationships.
It doesn't hold with me
The artist doesn't find these explanations to be personally applicable or useful.
A frame with two separate photos in it
The closest the sisters have been is in a picture frame.
Is the closest that my two sisters have been
The sisters have no other moments of closeness to speak of.
A frame with two separate photos in it
The picture frame is a symbol of the sisters' estranged relationship.
A frame with two separate photos in it
The image of the sisters in the picture frame represents their past connection, but also the distance between them.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BENJAMIN MICHAEL LEE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind