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!.
End of the World
Ben Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On the last day of history
I'm gonna live like I always wanted
I'm gonna live like I really was free
And when it finally happens
When they say it on tv
You can bet your life that I'll be the first one
Dancing in the street
You'll have your scientist expert nuclear physicist
Saying that he can't explain
Maybe it's a meteor nuclear bomb missile launch
A final plague acid rain
Then he'll tell you it's the last day of your life
And you must not leave your home
There'll be millions of people all around the world
Praying to the cnn God alone
But I'm gonna dance and I'm gonna sing
When I hear those words said
I'm gonna smash my favorite guitar
Burn every book I've ever read
Then I'm gonna gather all my friends together
We'll get drunk and we'll get high
And then we'll chain smoke cigarettes
It doesn't matter Cause we're all gonna die
I'm gonna tear down the main city street
In a stolen police car
Record the world's trashiest song
And make myself a star
Then I'm gonna come back home and sit and think
About every word I've said
Take a photo of myself as a souvenir
Cause by the end of the day I'll be dead
And then I'll come round to your place
With a flower and a song
I'm gonna rest my tired head in your lap
And cry about all the things I've done wrong
Then I'm gonna look at you just one last time
And smile at the life I chose
Then let one final tear past my eye
Before the world explodes
In Ben Lee's song "End Of The World," the singer discusses how he plans to approach the end of the world with unapologetic freedom. Lee vows to live out his dreams with no regrets, revealing that he aims to be the first person to dance in the streets when the event happens, tearing down city streets in stolen police cars, recording trashy songs, and getting high with his friends. He urges others to take charge of their lives and make the most of the time they have left before the world's inevitable end. In the final verse, he plans to come to his lover with a song and a flower to rest his head in her lap while lamenting the things he did wrong before smiling and shedding one last tear as the world explodes.
The lyrics of the song may seem to promote recklessness and apathy in the face of life's end. However, it shows Lee's reaction to how he perceives people spend their last days in the world. He feels that people focus too much on protecting themselves and following orders without properly enjoying their last moments. He suggests that it is better to celebrate life rather than to mourn it, even if it is the last celebration one can muster.
Line by Line Meaning
On the last day of the world
The singer talks about his plans for the last day of the world.
On the last day of history
The singer is referring to the end of everything that has ever happened.
I'm gonna live like I always wanted
The singer is going to live his life free of any societal constraints or expectations.
I'm gonna live like I really was free
The singer is going to live his life without any self-imposed limitations.
And when it finally happens
The singer is talking about the end of the world.
When they say it on tv
The announcement of the end of the world is expected to come from television.
You can bet your life that I'll be the first one
The singer will be the first to dance in the streets when the end of the world is announced.
Dancing in the street
The singer expresses his joy by dancing in the street.
You'll have your scientist expert nuclear physicist
The singer is mocking the experts who will try to explain the end of the world.
Saying that he can't explain
The expert's explanation of the end of the world will be inadequate.
Maybe it's a meteor nuclear bomb missile launch
The singer lists some of the possible reasons for the end of the world.
A final plague acid rain
The singer adds some more possible reasons for the end of the world.
Then he'll tell you it's the last day of your life
When the expert announces the end of the world, people will be told it is their last day to live.
And you must not leave your home
People will be advised to stay indoors and wait for the end of the world.
There'll be millions of people all around the world
People all over the world will be aware that the end of the world is coming.
Praying to the cnn God alone
People will be praying for a miracle or to a divine being, while seeking information from the news.
But I'm gonna dance and I'm gonna sing
The singer is going to disregard the advice of the expert and enjoy his last day.
When I hear those words said
The singer is referring to the announcement of the end of the world.
I'm gonna smash my favorite guitar
The singer will destroy his belongings as a way of expressing his emotions.
Burn every book I've ever read
The singer will destroy knowledge, which no longer matters, in the face of inevitable destruction.
Then I'm gonna gather all my friends together
The singer will spend the last moments of his life with his friends.
We'll get drunk and we'll get high
The singer and his friends will indulge in activities that were previously prohibited or taboo.
And then we'll chain smoke cigarettes
The singer and his friends will do things that are akin to self-harm or are dangerous.
It doesn't matter Cause we're all gonna die
The destruction of the world renders all things in life meaningless.
I'm gonna tear down the main city street
The singer will engage in anarchic and destructive behavior.
In a stolen police car
The singer will break laws and engage in activities that are dangerous to others.
Record the world's trashiest song
The singer will produce low-quality and meaningless content, which at this point will hardly matter.
And make myself a star
The destruction of the world is an opportunity for the singer to gain the attention and admiration of others.
Then I'm gonna come back home and sit and think
The singer will take time to reflect on the day's activities.
About every word I've said
The singer is reflecting on the things he has done on the last day of the world.
Take a photo of myself as a souvenir
The singer will take a photo of himself as a memory of his actions on the last day of the world.
Cause by the end of the day I'll be dead
The singer is certain that he and everyone else will die by the end of the day.
And then I'll come round to your place
The singer is going to visit someone close to him before the end of the world.
With a flower and a song
The singer will bring gifts to the person he is visiting.
I'm gonna rest my tired head in your lap
The singer will seek comfort and support from the person he is visiting.
And cry about all the things I've done wrong
The singer will express his regrets and seek forgiveness.
Then I'm gonna look at you just one last time
The singer wants to experience a last moment with the person he is visiting.
And smile at the life I chose
The singer will take a moment to appreciate the life he has led.
Then let one final tear past my eye
The singer will say goodbye to life by shedding a tear.
Before the world explodes
The world meets its destruction soon after the singer's encounters with the people he knows.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: JONATHAN SHAVE, DAN SMITH, JASON PEBWORTH, GEORGE ASTASIO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind