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!.
Green Hearts
Ben Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Till today, no way
I never thought you weren't pretty
Had to say, had to say
And if you need some kind of reassurance
I'll cry and send my tears
But if you don't know I'm sorry
I draw a picture of red hearts
On a plate, just to state
I don't need love, just a letter
In my way, on my tray
And if you hate me cause I'm selfish
I'll begin to understand
But if you don't know I'm sorry
Then my green hearts won't mean anything
Yeah my green hearts won't mean anything
Yeah my green hearts won't mean anything
Yeah my green hearts won't mean anything
Yeah my green hearts won't mean anything
Yeah my green hearts won't mean anything
Yeah my green hearts won't mean anything
Yeah my green hearts won't mean anything
Yeah my green hearts won't mean anything
"Green Hearts" is a song by Australian singer-songwriter Ben Lee, which appears on his fifth studio album, Awake Is the New Sleep. The song is about unrequited love and the struggle to express one's feelings to a person who may not reciprocate those same emotions. The song opens with the line "I swear I've never been speechless till today", indicating that the singer is struggling to find the words to express his feelings. He admits that he never thought that the person he is addressing wasn't pretty but now he has to say something.
The lyrics that follow reveal the singer's desperation for a connection with this person, even if it means just a simple letter. He draws pictures of red hearts on a plate, just to say that he does not need love, but a simple acknowledgement of his existence would suffice. He suggests that he would cry to send his tears as reassurance that he means what he says but knows that his "green hearts" (a reference to his illustration) would mean nothing if the person he is addressing does not know that he is sorry.
The chorus repeats the same phrase "my green hearts won't mean anything" over and over again, emphasizing the hopelessness and futility of trying to express his feelings when they may not be reciprocated. The song highlights the vulnerability and uncertainty in romantic relationships and the fear of rejection.
Line by Line Meaning
I swear I've never been speechless
I am stunned and cannot find words to express my shock and surprise
Till today, no way
This is the first time I have experienced speechlessness, prior to this I had always been able to express my feelings verbally
I never thought you weren't pretty
I had always found you to be beautiful, and never doubted your physical appearance until now
Had to say, had to say
I felt the need to express my thoughts and feelings regarding your beauty
And if you need some kind of reassurance
If you require my assurance or support
I'll cry and send my tears
I will display my emotions and let you know how deeply I feel
But if you don't know I'm sorry
If you are unaware of my regret and desire for forgiveness
Then my green hearts won't mean anything
My apologies and expressions of concern will be worthless if they go unnoticed or unacknowledged
I draw a picture of red hearts
I create a representation of love using the color red
On a plate, just to state
I communicate my feelings of love and affection through artwork that is presented to you
I don't need love, just a letter
I do not necessarily require love from a specific person or source, but instead simply desire communication in any form
In my way, on my tray
In a manner that suits me best, typically involving personal artistic expression
And if you hate me cause I'm selfish
If you have negative feelings or anger towards me because of my self-centered behavior
I'll begin to understand
I will attempt to comprehend your perspective and reasoning for feeling this way
Yeah my green hearts won't mean anything
My words and actions of love and regret will have no value or significance if they are not received and acknowledged
Yeah my green hearts won't mean anything
My apologies and expressions of concern will be worthless if they go unnoticed or unacknowledged
Yeah my green hearts won't mean anything
My love and affection will have no value or significance without a reciprocal response or understanding
Yeah my green hearts won't mean anything
My words and actions of love and regret will have no value or significance if they are not received and acknowledged
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BENJAMIN MICHAEL LEE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind