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!.
Side View
Ben Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Made me think of the time
I tried to rhyme
And failed miserably that time
On the radio
Passed the time
Shoulda seen me trying to talk to you
But I'm not
And I guess you found that out
On the radio
Passed the time
Said I'd tell you everything
Or every but that one thing
I tried to weasel my way out
You shouldn't have found out that way
I shoulda sat you down and explained
I thought that there would be no way
You'd find out on the radio
Shoulda seen me sink not swim
Made me think of a rat
That's trying to climb
Even though it know it's doomed
On the radio
Passed the time
Shoulda heard me - what a fool
Made me think of the time
I tried to rhyme
And failed miserably that time
On the radio
Passed the time
Said I'd tell you everything
Or every but that one thing
I tried to weasel my way out
You shouldn't have found out that way
I shoulda sat you down and explained
I thought that there would be no way
You'd find out on the radio
The lyrics to Ben Lee's song "Side View" explore the regret and remorse experienced by the singer after failing to communicate honestly with a loved one. The first stanza introduces the memory of a girl the singer heard on the radio, which reminds him of a time when he attempted to impress a romantic interest with his lyrical abilities but ultimately failed. The second stanza then shifts to the singer's attempt to talk to the same person, but his efforts to appear cool fall short, and she discovers something important about him on the radio. The third stanza shows the singer acknowledging his mistake of not communicating honestly and openly with the girl. He had intended to tell her everything except one thing, but his attempt to weasel his way out leads to her finding out about it on the radio.
Overall, the song deals with the guilt and remorse one feels when they don't fully communicate with someone important to them. The lyrics emphasize the importance of being honest and sincere with loved ones instead of trying to manipulate or deceive them. The reference to the radio is significant as it highlights the singer's inability to control the situation or the message, as it is broadcasted to a wide audience beyond his control.
Line by Line Meaning
Shoulda seen that girl on the radio
I saw a girl on the radio and it reminded me of the time I failed to rhyme on the radio
Made me think of the time I tried to rhyme
The girl being on the radio reminded me of the time I tried to rhyme and failed
And failed miserably that time on the radio
I failed miserably at rhyming when I was on the radio
Passed the time
I passed the time by listening to the girl on the radio and remembering my own failed attempt
Shoulda seen me trying to talk to you
You should have seen me trying to talk to you in an attempt to impress you
So you'd think I was cool
I wanted you to think I was cool
But I'm not
But in reality, I'm not cool
And I guess you found that out
You eventually found out that I wasn't as cool as I pretended to be
Said I'd tell you everything
I promised to tell you everything
Or every but that one thing
Except for one thing
I tried to weasel my way out
I tried to avoid telling you the thing I didn't want to by making excuses
You shouldn't have found out that way
You shouldn't have found out the secret by hearing it on the radio
I shoulda sat you down and explained
I should have sat down with you and told you the secret in person
I thought that there would be no way
I thought there was no way you would find out the secret
You'd find out on the radio
I didn't expect you to find out the secret by hearing it on the radio
Shoulda seen me sink not swim
You should have seen me fail instead of succeed
Made me think of a rat
My situation reminded me of a rat trying to climb even though it knows it's doomed to fail
That's trying to climb
Like a rat trying to climb up a slippery surface
Even though it know it's doomed
Even though the rat knows it's going to fail
Shoulda heard me - what a fool
You should have heard me making a fool of myself
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BENJAMIN MICHAEL LEE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind