His 2011 debut full album Outside There's A Curse, released by independent London-based label Xtra Mile which also plays home to his firm friends Frank Turner and Chris T-T, not to mention Dive Dive, Beans on Toast and Crazy Arm, Marwood's own brand of side-swiping, tongue-in-cheek folk has seen him build up a steady following since the debut single of 2007, Hold Your Breath, and mini-album "This Is Not What You Had Planned" back in 2008, the latter on Marwood's own Broken Tail Records.
Recorded on a digital eight-track on his bedroom floor, the ten tracks of Outside There's A Curse took over a year to piece together before being picked up by Xtra Mile in the summer of 2010 and eventually released in early 2011. The album was backed first by a headline tour of England in early 2011, and then with an opening support slot on Frank Turner's UK tour of small venues in May of the same year, along with songwriter Franz Nicolay.
Kerrang! awarded Outside There's A Curse four Ks out of a potential five, whilst Rocksound described the album as "bold, intelligent and wholesome".
Three tracks also appear on the split EP Exclamation At Asterisk Hash, which features three tracks from Bristol-based Oxygen Thief and Cheltenham's Jim Lockey, of Jim Lockey and the Solemn Sun.
His second full album "Back Down" was released in 2013.
Oh My Days
Ben Marwood Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
but if this hangover is killing me
I died at least three times during the night
and I dribbled on myself again
so anyone who told me I should shut my mouth
turned out to be alright in the end
And I have to leave this place by god it's killing me
and in the Barfly I'll think about my life
or that time I played in Newbury
and nobody came.
And I know that somethings wrong but I don't know what
and I may not be alone but that's still life wether you like it or not
and I may give it up for fortune and for fame
but I will still be the cynical when I get paid
And maybe then I'll have some credibility
and I don't mean being mentioned in the NME
I know that I've got stupid hair and wonky teeth
and they probably look for prettier than me.
Why do you call me grumpy anyway?
when you can so often find me with a smile on my face,
laughing at the chav boys and their spit for brains
and their nineties fucking tracksuits
and their pretend MC names.
And I know that something's wrong but I don't know what
and I may not be alone but it's still life wether you like it or not
and I may give it up for fortune and for fame
but I will still be the cynical when I get paid
Maybe then i'll write decent middle eight
that isn't just the same four chords that i've already played
and the crowd will cheer me on from fret to fret
and I'll have a record contract
and it might help me begin to forget
That something's wrong and I don't know what
and I may not be alone but it's still life wether you like it or not
and I may give it up for fortune and for fame
but I will still be the cynical when I get paid
and I'll be that way until I get laid
good god.
And all this is why I'm going so grey.
The song "Oh My Days" by Ben Marwood revolves around the idea of uncertainty and disillusionment, as well as struggling to find one's place in the world. The opening lines of the song express the agony of waking up with a bad hangover, and the feeling of dying multiple times during the night. The sarcasm in the next lines suggests that whoever told the singer to "shut up" was right in the end, further emphasizing a sense of detachment from everything around them. The song then progresses to talk about the singer's need to "leave this place" and go to London, where they will ponder about their life and musical career. The tone of self-doubt is evident as the singer wonders if they will gain any credibility or find success in the music industry. The lyrics talk about the singer's physical appearance, and how it might hinder their success instead of their music talent.
The song's chorus highlights the singer's feeling of being lost and not knowing what is wrong, but not being alone in feeling that way. The lyrics also emphasize the singer's cynical nature about money and fame, and the lack of impact these factors would have on their outlook on life. The second verse talks about the singer's desire to write better songs, while still acknowledging that their current material is limited but doesn't deter them from continuing. The song ends with the singer acknowledging their self-destructive behavior and the reason for their premature greying.
Line by Line Meaning
I forced myself to open my eyes
I had to physically make myself wake up
but if this hangover is killing me
I am feeling really terrible from being hungover
I died at least three times during the night
I woke up feeling terrible multiple times
and I dribbled on myself again
I drooled on myself while I was sleeping
so anyone who told me I should shut my mouth
If anyone critiqued me for complaining, etc.
turned out to be alright in the end
They ended up being correct, it is best for me to be quiet
And I have to leave this place by god it's killing me
I am dying to leave this place and need to get out
I guess I'll go to London on the train if the bus does not delay
I plan to take a train to London, but the bus is also an option
and in the Barfly I'll think about my life
I will spend time reflecting on my life at the Barfly
or that time I played in Newbury
I may also reminisce about a past performance in Newbury
and nobody came.
Unfortunately, there were no attendees at the Newbury show
And I know that somethings wrong but I don't know what
I have a feeling that something is off, but cannot pinpoint it
and I may not be alone but that's still life wether you like it or not
Even if I am not the only one experiencing these feelings, it's still a part of life
and I may give it up for fortune and for fame
I could aspire to be famous and successful
but I will still be the cynical when I get paid
Despite success, I will still doubt and criticize things
And maybe then I'll have some credibility
If I achieve success, I may be taken more seriously
and I don't mean being mentioned in the NME
I don't mean just being featured in a music magazine
I know that I've got stupid hair and wonky teeth
I am aware that I have flaws and imperfections
and they probably look for prettier than me.
People likely prefer more physically attractive artists
Why do you call me grumpy anyway?
I am questioning someone who calls me grumpy
when you can so often find me with a smile on my face,
I frequently try to put on a happy face
laughing at the chav boys and their spit for brains
I find humor in the foolishness of others
and their nineties fucking tracksuits
I find amusement in derogatory clothing choices
and their pretend MC names.
I am amused by those who create alter-ego stage names
Maybe then i'll write decent middle eight
If I become successful, I may be able to create better music
that isn't just the same four chords that i've already played
I need to change up the simplicity of my music
and the crowd will cheer me on from fret to fret
The audience will be excited and supportive of my music
and I'll have a record contract
I will be signed to a record deal
and it might help me begin to forget
Success may help me forget about my problems and struggles
That something's wrong and I don't know what
I still cannot identify what feels wrong
and I may not be alone but it's still life wether you like it or not
I may have company, but it's still a part of life
and I'll be that way until I get laid
I will continue to experience this feeling until I engage in sexual activity
good god.
Expression of surprise or exasperation
And all this is why I'm going so grey.
All of these struggles and feelings are contributing to my greying hair
Contributed by Kaylee R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Chicken Pasty
My heart tightens when he mentions the thing about newbury, I love it when a song can do that!
Idiopraxist
Oh my good god, this is fantastic!
fearcontrolsfate
you should upload the whole album :D
Rick Maroo
Bless him
rocman14
I second that