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!.
Nothing Much Happens
Ben Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Feel the motion again
Stop and pause
Then move some more
Still surprise you when it shatters
But nothing matters
Still surprise you when it shatters
But a lot goes on
A lot goes on
But nothing happens
A lot goes on
A lot goes on
But nothing happens
Choose a town
Find a girl to follow around
Stay on track
And just sit back
Still surprise you when it shatters
But nothing matters
Still surprise you when it shattered
Don't you know that nothing happens
But a lot goes on
A lot goes on
But nothing happens
A lot goes on
A lot goes on
But nothing happens
A lot goes on
A lot goes on
But nothing happens
A lot goes on
A lot goes on
But nothing happens
But a lot goes on
A lot goes on
But nothing happens
A lot goes on
A lot goes on
But nothing happens
A lot goes on
A lot goes on
But nothing happens
A lot goes on
A lot goes on
But nothing happens
The lyrics to Ben Lee's song Nothing Much Happens suggest a feeling of emptiness and aimlessness. The opening line "It's sad and spent" sets a melancholic tone, and the repetition of the phrase "Still surprise you when it shatters, but nothing matters" emphasizes a sense that even when things do happen, they are ultimately insignificant.
The second verse suggests a search for meaning in routine, with the line "Choose a town, find a girl to follow around, stay on track and just sit back." However, this attempt at finding significance is ultimately fruitless, as the chorus reminds us that "nothing happens" despite all that seems to be going on.
The overall effect of the lyrics is a feeling of disillusionment and a sense that life lacks meaning. However, the use of repetition and the poetic quality of the lyrics also give the song a meditative quality, inviting listeners to reflect on the emptiness and chaos of modern life.
Line by Line Meaning
It's sad and spent
Starting from a low point
Feel the motion again
Feeling a spark, a glimmer of hope
Stop and pause
Taking a breath to look around
Then move some more
Continuing to push forward
Still surprise you when it shatters
Disappointment comes despite low expectations
But nothing matters
Events don't have lasting importance
Don't you know that nothing happens
Life is often mundane
But a lot goes on
Even though life can seem uneventful, it's filled with activity
Choose a town
Selecting a place to settle
Find a girl to follow around
Finding something or someone to focus on
Stay on track
Maintaining a sense of purpose
And just sit back
Allowing yourself to relax and enjoy the journey
A lot goes on
Reiterating that life is active despite its seeming dullness
But nothing happens
Reminding the listener of life's mundanity
A lot goes on
Even with nothing monumental happening, life is still lively
But nothing happens
Life's lack of excitement is emphasized once more
A lot goes on
Despite its uneventfulness, life is still full of continuous activity
But nothing happens
The unremarkable nature of life is reiterated
A lot goes on
Stating once again that life is still active even if it's not particularly memorable
But nothing happens
The song ends on the same note as it began, emphasizing the monotony of life
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BENJAMIN MICHAEL LEE, HARMONY KORINE, PETRA HAYDEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
DLarryable
I use to wait up until 1-2 am just to watch this video play on my local independent tv channel. Something about this song brings happy memories to me. I was only 13, I'm 32 now, I still feel the same feelings. I'll always love this song.
sycamoreleaves74
A genius album if there ever was one. Big shout out to everyone listening in 2018 all these years later.
Kamado Woah
Can't believe one of my all time fav songs has this few views.
barticus04
The whole album is brilliant!
Alex Harris
One of the most influential albums on my songwriting. Ever.
SovereignGam3R & Troubl3mak3R
the greatest album ever ... allday
Martin Roche
Solid track
MrPharmacist1982
I have the cd single of this, great song :)
Dan Wilson
Great album..
krackheadkola
childhood memories