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!.
No Right Angles
Ben Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Slip sliding round the back of my hand
Keep turning and its almost tomorrow
I'll find a way to make you understand
There are no right angles in my life
No right angles in my life
Right now I'm hearing nothing but silence
Every piece contains a little bit of violence
And you've changed so much but its still you
No right angles in my life
No right angles in my life
So breathe
Feel the open space
Leave it all behind
Coming into grace
No right angles in my life
There are no right angles in my life
Suspicious minds and you're back on the warpath
All the things you think are up my sleeve
Though you tell me that I'm just like a circle
Somehow you still don't believe
There are no right angles in my life
There are no right angles in my life
So dream
Let your body play
Anyone in need
Give it all away
No right angles in my life
There are no right angles in my life
I've been thinking 'bout the straight and narrow
Slip sliding round the back of my hand
Keep turning and its almost tomorrow
Find a way to make you understand
Please
Taste the sea you sail
Baby I believe
There's no way you can fail
No right angles in my life
There are no right angles in my life
There are no right angles in my life
In Ben Lee's song "No Right Angles," he expresses his rejection of traditional ways of thinking and living. The lyrics "I've been thinking 'bout the straight and narrow" refers to the idea of following a rigid and predetermined path in life. However, Lee rejects this idea and sings "there are no right angles in my life". This can be interpreted as a rejection of society's expectations and the need for everything to fit into neat categories.
Lee goes on to describe his feelings of confusion and uncertainty about the future. The line "keep turning and its almost tomorrow" echoes the feeling of looking towards the future but feeling like it's always just out of reach. He sings about the violence that can exist within relationships, but also acknowledges that he still sees the same person despite their changes. The message seems to be that life is chaotic and unpredictable, but we can find peace within ourselves by embracing this fact.
The chorus encourages listeners to embrace this lack of structure in life and to find grace within it. The lines "So breathe, feel the open space, leave it all behind, coming into grace" suggest that by letting go of preconceived notions of how life should be, we can find peace and freedom. The song ends with a plea to taste the sea and believe in oneself, reinforcing the idea that there are no right angles or set paths in life.
Overall, "No Right Angles" is a song about rejecting societal expectations and finding peace within the chaos of life. It encourages listeners to embrace uncertainty and to find their own path.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been thinking 'bout the straight and narrow
I have been contemplating the conventional way of living.
Slip sliding round the back of my hand
The traditional ways are evasive and hard to grasp.
Keep turning and its almost tomorrow
I am constantly striving, yet time moves forward regardless.
I'll find a way to make you understand
I will communicate my thoughts and feelings with you with the hope that you will comprehend my perspective.
There are no right angles in my life
My life does not follow the standard path, there is no 'correct' way to exist.
Right now I'm hearing nothing but silence
Currently, there is no noise, only emptiness.
High beams are on - I can feel you
Something is approaching with intensity, and I am aware of its presence.
Every piece contains a little bit of violence
Every aspect of life can have a degree of hostility or aggression.
And you've changed so much but its still you
You have gone through change, yet you remain fundamentally the same person I know.
So breathe
Take a moment to inhale and exhale.
Feel the open space
Sensitize yourself to the unoccupied areas within you and the world.
Leave it all behind
Let go of previous experiences and worries.
Coming into grace
I am moving into good favor or expressing kindness.
Suspicious minds and you're back on the warpath
You are alert and distrustful, ready for conflict.
All the things you think are up my sleeve
You believe that I am deceiving or hiding things from you.
Though you tell me that I'm just like a circle
Even though you acknowledge that I am cyclical or lacking corners, you still doubt my authenticity.
Somehow you still don't believe
Despite what you say, your trust in me is not absolute.
So dream
Visualize and fantasize.
Let your body play
Allow your physical self to be spontaneous and lighthearted.
Anyone in need
Those who require help or aid.
Give it all away
Be benevolent and offer everything you can.
Please
A plea to listen or pay attention.
Taste the sea you sail
Experience the vastness and profundity of the ocean you navigate.
Baby I believe
A term of endearment while conveying confidence.
There's no way you can fail
There is no possibility of you coming up short.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BEN LEE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind