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!.
Numb
Ben Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It?s an emergency
It just occurred to me
Ironically I caught a disease
They take a piece of me
Enjoy the scenery
Countin? back from ten
I refuse to go numb
I refuse to go numb
I refuse to go numb
So let the music come
Let the music come
Let the music come
I'm writin? pop songs
Done it for so long
Sometimes I dream about a chorus
That's so clever, it?s dumb
And now they're tellin? me
The music industry
You can stay if you behave
Be a good boy, go to sleep
But I refuse to go numb
I refuse to go numb
I refuse to go numb
So let the music come
Let the music come
Let the music come
?Cause I refuse to go numb
I refuse to go numb
I refuse to go numb
So let the music come
Let the music come
Let the music come
Let the music come
So if you're askin? me
What you mean to me
This is a dream to me
A theme for me, I gotta believe
In what you're tellin? me
In what you're sellin? me
In what's compellin? me to feel
The only reason I need
Here comes the drum beat
I'm movin? my feet
The only reason I need
The only reason I need
And a guitar chord
I feel so sure
The only reason I need
The only reason I need
I refuse to go numb
I refuse to go numb
I refuse to go numb
So let the music come
Let the music come
Let the music come
I refuse to go numb
I refuse to go numb
I refuse to go numb
So let the music come
Let the music come
Let the music come
Let the music come
Let the music come
Let the music come
Let the music come
Let the music come
Let the music come
The song "Numb" by Ben Lee is about his refusal to be numbed by the music industry and his commitment to staying true to himself and his art. The opening lines "I'm in surgery, It's an emergency, It just occurred to me, Ironically I caught a disease" can be interpreted as a metaphorical surgery that he is undergoing to cleanse and rid himself of the pressures of the music industry that might numb his passion for art. He refuses to fall asleep during the surgery, representing his refusal to be sedated or numbed by the industry's expectations.
The second verse talks about his experience of writing pop songs for a long time, sometimes dreaming about creating dumb yet clever choruses. The music industry tells him to behave and be a good boy, but he refuses to be numbed and controlled by their expectations. The repetitive chorus emphasizes his commitment to staying true to himself and refusing to go numb. Here, music serves as his motivation and uplifting force that keeps him from being numbed by the industry.
In essence, the song is an ode to the power and value of art, and the need for musicians to remain authentic while fighting against the seductive and numbing pressures of the music industry.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm in surgery
I am going through a crucial, delicate situation
It?s an emergency
It is an urgent situation
It just occurred to me
I suddenly realized something
Ironically I caught a disease
Surprisingly, I am struggling with an unexpected issue
They take a piece of me
The doctors are removing a part of my body
Enjoy the scenery
Appreciate the sights around you
Countin? back from ten
I am being sedated and counting backwards before losing consciousness
But I will never fall asleep
Despite the sedative, I will remain awake and aware
I refuse to go numb
I will not let myself become emotionally or physically unresponsive
So let the music come
Allow the art to inspire and energize me
I'm writin? pop songs
I am creating popular music
Done it for so long
I have been writing music for a long time
Sometimes I dream about a chorus
Occasionally, my mind conjures a catchy part of a song
That's so clever, it?s dumb
The chorus is simple yet remarkably effective
And now they're tellin? me
People from the music industry are giving me advice
The music industry
The business of producing and promoting music
You can stay if you behave
If I play by the rules, I can succeed in the industry
Be a good boy, go to sleep
Comply with what is expected and remain passive
Here comes the drum beat
The rhythm section of the song is kicking in
I'm movin? my feet
I am dancing and getting lost in the music
So if you're askin? me
If you are curious about my perspective
What you mean to me
What you represent in my life
This is a dream to me
Making music is a lifelong aspiration of mine
A theme for me, I gotta believe
Music provides me with a unifying purpose, and I must have faith in myself and my creations
In what you're tellin? me
In the advice being given to me
In what you're sellin? me
The music industry's agenda and marketing tactics
In what's compellin? me to feel
The emotional power of music to motivate me
The only reason I need
The passion and inspiration of music is all I require to keep going
And a guitar chord
The sound of a guitar being played
I feel so sure
I am confident in my devotion to making music
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BEN LEE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
RobertTheZombie
Imagine putting this much effort into less than 1k views.
Caroline Godden
5th December 2022 here again. CJ x 🎾 ACE