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!.
Music 4 the Young & Foolish
Ben Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ive never been so close
There's nothing that we
Need to save here
So just let it go
[Chorus]
And take me over
Cause this is music
For the young and foolish
Spilling every thing
In the dark, now
You can have it all
But we can build it up to the stars
Just to watch it fall
[Chorus]
Don't wanna live underwater
Don't wanna drown in the sun
Just wanna cry on your shoulder
Until the tidal wave comes [Repeat: x2]
Seeking for a secret craving
Headlights on a sign
I might have to walk
Away from you babe
To make you mine
So take me over
And leave me broken
Cause this is music
For the young and foolish [Repeat: x2]
The first verse of the song by Ben Lee, "Music 4 the Young & Foolish," speaks about being close and not wanting to keep someone waiting. The lack of anything that needs saving suggests that nothing is perfect and there is a sense of acceptance of imperfection. The chorus of the song talks about allowing oneself to be taken over and broken while recognizing that this is music for the young and foolish. It speaks of a depth of emotion that comes with youth and perhaps naivety.
The second verse talks about being willing to spill everything in the dark and building something up just to watch it fall. There is no desire to live underwater or drown in the sun; instead, the focus is on the emotional connection and crying on someone's shoulder until the tidal wave comes. The last section of the song speaks to a secret craving and the possibility of having to walk away to obtain what one wants. It echoes the chorus again, with the singer accepting that the young and foolish are often driven by their emotions and passions.
Overall, the song seems to be a celebration of the spontaneity and intensity that comes with youth. It acknowledges that this can be a time of emotional volatility and broken hearts, but that these experiences can be beautiful in their own way.
Line by Line Meaning
I can never leave you waiting
I will always be there for you, never keeping you waiting
Ive never been so close
I have never felt this connected to someone before
There's nothing that we
Need to save here
So just let it go
We have nothing to fix, so we can just enjoy the moment and let go of any worries
And take me over
Then leave me broken
Cause this is music
For the young and foolish
Let yourself get lost in the moment, even if it may end in heartache. This is the music for those who are young and foolish enough to take risks in love.
Spilling every thing
In the dark, now
You can have it all
But we can build it up to the stars
Just to watch it fall
We are opening ourselves up to each other in the privacy of the night, and though we can have everything we want, we may end up building something only to see it fall apart.
Don't wanna live underwater
Don't wanna drown in the sun
Just wanna cry on your shoulder
Until the tidal wave comes [Repeat: x2]
I want to feel everything with you, even the pain. I want to lean on you until we're hit with something as powerful as a tidal wave.
Seeking for a secret craving
Headlights on a sign
I might have to walk
Away from you babe
To make you mine
I am searching for something I can't name, and though it may require me to walk away from you, I know it's necessary to make you mine.
So take me over
And leave me broken
Cause this is music
For the young and foolish [Repeat: x2]
Once again, let yourself get lost in the moment, even if it may end in heartache. This is the music for those who are young and foolish enough to take risks in love.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: BEN LEE, DANIEL M. NAKAMURA, L MEYERRATKEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind