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!.
In the Morning
Ben Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You were there and you felt things get strange
Early in the morning
You learned your lesson, learned your lesson
Misery is too depressing hey
Now you learned your lesson
You'll forget, you'll forget
You'll forget, you'll forget
When you're lonely you'll forget
Hey desire, hey desire
please protect me from the things i'm wanting
This is a recording
Here's a secret, here's a secret
Loves a game where rules just complicated
Lose it if you break it
But you'll forget, you'll forget
When you're lonely, you'll forget
You'll forget, you'll forget
When you're lonely, you'll forget
You'll forget, you'll forget
When you're lonely, you'll forget
You'll forget, when your lonely, you'll forget
The lyrics to Ben Lee's song "In the Morning" showcase the cyclical pattern of love and heartbreak that many people experience throughout their lives. The song begins with the singer recounting a strange encounter that occurred early in the morning, with the suggestion that someone was hurt in some way. The line "Misery is too depressing" indicates that pain and sadness are not enjoyable emotions to experience, but they are often an inevitable part of the human experience. The second stanza of the song includes a plea to desire, asking it to shield the singer from the temptations of wanting things that may not be good for them. This could reference a specific person or desire the singer is struggling to resist or possibly even addiction. The recording being mentioned in the song indicates a mixtape or possibly an album with a specific love story attached to it, harkening to mixtapes past lovers would create for one another.
The chorus of "You'll forget, you'll forget, when you're lonely you'll forget" is a nod to the temporary nature of heartbreak. The singer is suggesting that while pain may seem inescapable in the moment, it is ultimately fleeting, and people often forget what they once considered a big deal when their mind and attention is focused elsewhere. Even though love and life may be complicated in their rules, and heartbreaking when they end, the singer reminds us that losing them is only permanent if we cannot move on which is comforting.
Line by Line Meaning
In the morning, in the morning
As the day begins and the sun rises, the singer recalls a past morning filled with significance and memory.
You were there and you felt things get strange
During that morning, the singer and another individual were present as strange and unexpected events occurred.
Early in the morning
The events of the morning were early in the day, before much time had passed.
You learned your lesson, learned your lesson
Following the morning's events, the artist gained understanding and knowledge.
Misery is too depressing hey
The negative emotions and experiences that led to the lesson learned were overwhelming and difficult to bear.
Now you learned your lesson
Despite the difficulty, the lesson learned has been internalized and serves as a guide for future actions and decisions.
Hey desire, hey desire
please protect me from the things i'm wanting
The singer invokes desire as a powerful force that can lead to wanting and potentially harmful actions, seeking its protection from the negative consequences of those desires.
This is a recording
The song itself serves as a recording of these thoughts and emotions, offering them as a statement or reflection.
Here's a secret, here's a secret
Loves a game where rules just complicated
Lose it if you break it
The artist reveals a secret about love, suggesting that it is a complex game with difficult and unclear rules, with the possibility of losing the game if those rules are broken.
But you'll forget, you'll forget
When you're lonely, you'll forget
You'll forget, you'll forget
When you're lonely, you'll forget
You'll forget, you'll forget
When you're lonely, you'll forget
You'll forget, when your lonely, you'll forget
Despite the lesson learned and desire for protection, the artist acknowledges that in moments of loneliness or vulnerability, it may be easy to forget these things and give in to impulses or misguided actions.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHAN BAEK, KYU TAI PARK, HYUN LEE, JU HEE LEE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind