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 Room to Bleed
Ben Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wait for a sign
I couldn't keep the flowers under my pillow
Alive
Falling asleep, with half-open eyes
I want to see the lights of San Francisco
At night
Wait but I won't say that I'm sorry
Watch as I burn my bridges down
And all the time I kept it inside
You leave me no room to bleed
Close to the chest and near to the ground
It's for the best if all the flood gates around me
Are down
If all that you see has left you unchanged
What did you mean when you said that I was bleeding
In vain
Wait, and I'm living underwater
Watch while I burn my bridges down
The words that I say and the hurt goes away
you leave me no room to bleed
But somewhere inside I'm still on the line
You leave me no room to bleed
Wait on the landscape that I'm breaking
Watch as I burn my bridges down
And I've tried to run but now I'm all done
You leave me no room to bleed
You leave me no room to bleed
The opening lines of "Caught in the deep, wait for a sign" suggest that the singer is struggling in some way. It's clear that they are holding something back or keeping a secret, as the lines "And all the time I kept it inside, you leave me no room to bleed" indicate. They are caught trying to hide something, and the only way to address it is to "burn bridges down", potentially causing damage to the relationships around them.
The chorus "Wait but I won't say that I'm sorry, watch as I burn my bridges down" suggests an almost defiant attitude. The singer knows that they're risking everything, but they're willing to do so anyway. The lines "Close to the chest and near to the ground, it's for the best if all the flood gates around me are down" imply a sense of vulnerability, however. The singer knows that suppressing their feelings isn't necessarily the healthiest option, but they feel like they have no other choice.
The verses continue to paint a picture of inner turmoil. The line "If all that you see has left you unchanged, what did you mean when you said that I was bleeding in vain" suggests that the singer feels misunderstood by those around them. There is a disconnect between how they feel and how others perceive them. The final lines "And I've tried to run but now I'm all done, you leave me no room to bleed" indicate that the singer has reached their breaking point. They can't continue to hold everything back, but they also feel like they have no one they can turn to for support.
Overall, "No Room to Bleed" is a song about suppression, vulnerability, and inner turmoil. It's a poignant reminder that sometimes, holding everything in can be just as damaging as letting it all out.
Line by Line Meaning
Caught in the deep
I am in a difficult situation and don't know how to get out of it.
Wait for a sign
I'm hoping that something or someone will come along to show me the way forward.
I couldn't keep the flowers under my pillow
I can't hide my true feelings any longer.
Alive
My emotions are intense and I feel like I'm barely holding on.
Falling asleep, with half-open eyes
I'm exhausted from trying to keep everything inside.
I want to see the lights of San Francisco
I long for a change of scenery or a new beginning.
At night
Maybe under the cover of darkness when I can't be seen.
Wait but I won't say that I'm sorry
I'm stubborn and won't apologize for how I feel.
Watch as I burn my bridges down
I'm ready to make a drastic change and cut ties with the past.
And all the time I kept it inside
I've been hiding my true feelings for a long time.
You leave me no room to bleed
I'm so guarded that I can't even express my emotions or be vulnerable.
Close to the chest and near to the ground
I keep everything inside and don't show my hand or my emotions.
It's for the best if all the flood gates around me
It's better for me to keep everything inside and not let anyone in.
Are down
If I let my guard down or show any vulnerability, I could get hurt.
If all that you see has left you unchanged
If nothing has affected you or made you feel more alive or connected to others.
What did you mean when you said that I was bleeding
When you said I was bleeding, did you really see how much pain I'm in?
In vain
Have all my struggles and pain been for nothing? Will anything change?
Wait, and I'm living underwater
I feel suffocated and like I'm drowning in my own emotions.
The words that I say and the hurt goes away
By speaking my mind, even if it's painful, I hope to find some relief.
But somewhere inside I'm still on the line
I'm torn between being vulnerable and guarded, and it's causing me inner turmoil.
Wait on the landscape that I'm breaking
I'm reshaping my life and the world around me, but it's a slow and painful process.
And I've tried to run but now I'm all done
In the past, I tried to escape my problems, but now I'm ready to confront them head-on.
You leave me no room to bleed
I feel so trapped and guarded that I can't even show my true feelings or be vulnerable.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BENJAMIN MICHAEL LEE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
weasel cheeks
I remember playing this album constantly! This song is so good.
Sophiah J
I still love Ben Lee since 1997 <3
Edgar Baez
I remember listening to this music video on MTV subterranean so long ago. Ah the good 'ol days.
Charlottes Web
His voice always slightly reminds me of Daniel John's.
Amy Saville
I love this song. So very much. <3 Ben Lee. Marry me?
Jamie D
So I remember being in love with this and cigarettes will kill you in like 2001. What happened to Grand Royal?
Will Luster
How does this have so few views?
w here
This song is a fuckin gem
BunnymanVids
All of the flood gates around me are down.
Terry Egan
He sang all the wrong words. It should start off "Hey Lady You Lady,Cursing at your Life". I wonder what Charlene thinks to this song.I will ask her.