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!.
The Finger and the Moon
Ben Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just like every time
Sit here letting time line my face
Fill this empty space
I was tired
I was unsatisfied
I was wrong, I was wrong, I was wrong
I asked you if I could come inside
When I need to hide
Wait for your love to swallow me
Please don't try to follow me
I was tired
I was uninspired
I was wrong, I was wrong, I was wrong
I walk the streets with some friends of mine
Just like every time
Sit here letting time line my face
Fill this empty space
I was tired
I was unsatisfied
I was wrong, I was wrong, I was wrong
No time like the present this
Emptiness kiss and a physical sickness
I'm falling in fear again
I know I?ll never be here again
No time like the present this
Emptiness kiss and a physical sickness
I'm falling in fear again
I know I?ll never be here again
I know I?ll never be here again
I know I?ll never be here again
I know I?ll never be here again
...
The Finger and the Moon by Ben Lee is a reflective and introspective song that speaks about a sense of emptiness and dissatisfaction experienced by the singer. In the first verse, the singer is seen walking the streets with his friends, an activity that seems to be a regular occurrence. However, he finds himself sitting and allowing time to pass without doing anything constructive, leading to a sense of vacancy in his life. He realizes that he is tired, unsatisfied and wrong.
In the second verse, the singer seeks refuge and comfort from the person he loves. He asks to be let inside and to escape from the world that is causing him to feel the way he does. Despite being hurt, he warns his loved one not to follow him, possibly because he knows they wouldn't understand his emotional state or he might not want to burden them.
In the chorus, the singer repeats that he is tired, unsatisfied and wrong, emphasizing how much he is struggling. The final verse seems to be a realization by the songwriter that the moment he's experiencing is fleeting and he might never be in that situation again, which is scary and profound at the same time. He talks about the physical sickness he feels and the emptiness he is trying to fill. It leaves the listener with the impression that the songwriter is going through a difficult time that he's trying to work through.
Line by Line Meaning
I walk the streets with some friends of mine
I am spending time with my close companions as usual
Just like every time
Our routine doesn't change, we always hang out together
Sit here letting time line my face
I am sitting here doing nothing as time passes and age shows on my face
Fill this empty space
I am trying to fill the void inside me, but it's not working
I was tired
I was exhausted physically and emotionally
I was unsatisfied
I was not happy or content with my life
I was wrong, I was wrong, I was wrong
I made some mistakes and I am regretting them
I asked you if I could come inside
I requested to enter in a safe place when I needed to escape
When I need to hide
During times of distress, I need to conceal myself from the outside world
Wait for your love to swallow me
I seek a love that is so powerful that it can completely engulf me
Please don't try to follow me
I want to be alone in my own space for some time
No time like the present this
There is no better time than now to deal with my current situation
Emptiness kiss and a physical sickness
The emptiness inside is affecting my health and wellbeing
I'm falling in fear again
I am frightened and losing control of myself once more
I know I'll never be here again
I am aware that this moment will never happen again, and it will soon be just a memory
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BENJAMIN MICHAEL LEE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind