Ben Watt’s career began as a singer-songwriter in the early eighties with a clutch of folk-jazz solo recordings on London independent label Cherry Red Records (‘North Marine Drive’ album, ‘Summer Into Winter’ EP with Robert Wyatt). In 1982 he formed alt-pop duo Everything But The Girl with singer-writer-partner Tracey Thorn. They recorded nine studio albums (1984-1999) over a fifteen year period, scooping one UK Platinum and six UK Gold disc awards, plus a handful of UK Top 40 hits. Highpoints include the debut album ‘Eden’ (1984), the multi-platinum global Number 1, ‘Missing’ (1994-95) and the best-selling interpretations of electronica in the late nineties (‘Walking Wounded’ album, ‘Protection’ and ‘Better Things’ with Massive Attack, ‘Temperamental’ album).
Encouraged by DJ-producer Howie B to start DJing, Watt was thirty-two when he first started mixing freestyle sets of jazz, drum n bass and deep house in London in 1995. A quick learner, guest sets followed at top London nights such as James Lavelle's Dusted, Fabio's Swerve and Howie B's own west-side Sunday parties.
In 1998, focussing on deep house, he established the seminal London Sunday day-night club and compilation series, Lazy Dog, with Jay Hannan. Moving away from EBTG's mainstream eclecticism and into club-oriented dance music production, he also turned out an accompanying string of acclaimed dance floor remixes for Sade, Sunshine Anderson, Zero 7, Maxwell and Meshell Ndegeocello. Lazy Dog folded at the top in 2003 after five years of sell-out parties around the world and compilation sales of 100,000.
Expanding his new-found role as DJ and promoter, in 2002 he became part-owner-founder of new west London nightclubs Neighbourhood and Cherry Jam orchestrating the music policy and image of both venues, and helping establish their three-year reputation at the forefront of London’s club scene. Under his creative direction Cherry Jam's intimate 200-capacity surroundings hosted international DJs as well as rock icons (The Libertines' played their first official debut show there) and the space introduced art exhibitions and the long-running spoken word literary night, Book Slam. At the larger Neighbourhood, Watt brought in big guns like Groove Armada, the Rough Trade Records 25th Anniversary, the inaugural House Music Awards and a string of top DJs to guest at his own in-house nights, before qutting both venues in 2005.
In April 2003 Watt launched his own independent label, Buzzin’ Fly focussing on underground house and techno. As well as being a home for his own club-oriented productions (incl ‘Lone Cat’ (2003), ‘Pop A Cap In Yo’ Ass’ with Estelle (2005), ‘Guinea Pig (2008’)), the label has fostered new talent, unearthing Justin Martin (Breakthrough DJ nominee at House Music Awards 2004 and 2005), Mlle Caro & Franck Garcia (The Times called their debut album ‘a modern classic’), Rodamaal, and new Eastern European talent (BarBQ and Kimouts). It has also drawn defining work from remixers such as Ame, Radio Slave, Charles Webster and John Tejada. The label won Best Breakthrough Label at the House Music Awards 2004 and was runner-up as Best Label at the DJ Magazine Best Of British Awards in both 2007 and 2008. In 2008 the label also secured Best Mix Album Of The Year (Justin Martin’s ‘Chaos Restored 2’) and No. 2 Best Track Of The Year (Stimming’s ‘Kleine Nachtmusik’) in iDJ’s Best Of 2008 Round-Up. Meanwhile DJ Magazine put both Watt’s own ‘5 Golden Years In The Wilderness’ collection and Justin Martin’s ‘Chaos Restored 2’ in their Top 10 Compilations Of 2008.
In February 2007 Watt launched a sister label called Strange Feeling, a home for alt-indie and electronic pop with acclaimed signings including Denmark’s Figurines, Brooklyn’s Tigercity and Budapest’s The Unbending Trees.
Now a central figure on London's club scene he DJs regularly in the capital as well as all over Europe, Australia and North America with regular sell-out shows. 2005 saw him tour extensively on the festival circuit (Good Vibrations, Homelands, Coachella, Ibiza, Lovebox Weekender, Electric Picnic). In 2008 he opened Sonar 2008, headlined at Exit 2008 and was made resident DJ at We Love Space Sundays in Ibiza. In London Buzzin’ Fly was one the major success stories at The End in central London before it announced its closure in January 2009.
2009 sees the launch of a new Buzzin’ Fly residency in London plus a series of new Buzzin’ Fly events in various European cities. He is resident again at We Love Space Sundays in Ibiza for 2009. Watt continues to edit and present his weekly radio show on KISS in the UK.
Unfinished projects include his long-running ‘Outspoken’ project, a series of spoken word narratives set to music that he has been writing since 2002 with narrators as diverse as UK R’n’B MC Estelle, art-rock Australian Robert Forster, New York Japanese dancer Miho (wife of film director Hal Hartley) and Grenadan-Brixton poet Malika Booker.
Apart from a life in music, his graphic autobiographical memoir, ‘Patient – The True Story Of A Rare Illness’ (1996), detailing his extraordinary life and death battle with a rare auto-immune disease in 1992 was published to wide acclaim by Penguin (a Sunday Times Book Of The Year, Esquire Non-Fiction Award Finalist) and Grove Atlantic Press US (a New York Times Notable Book of The Year.) It has subsequently been translated into Spanish and Swedish.
He lives in London with partner Tracey Thorn and their three children.
Lose Control
Ben Watt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I really didn't
I'm so sorry
I just want you to sit down for just a minute
Let me talk to you
Last night we had an argument
You told me you love me
No baby
I didn't mean to make you cry
I didn't mean to make you say bye bye bye
Baby won't you let me look inside your soul
Let me make you lose control
Let me be the one you need
Baby just come to me
Now tell me girl what you want from me
Whatever it is you desire
I want to give my baby
I want to feel your body yearn
All your softest spots I plan to learn
Baby won't you let me just kiss you down
Make you spin around and 'round
Flip you girl from left to right
If you don't mind
Baby can I just spend the night
You know what I'm talking about baby
I never meant to hurt you
I never wanted to see you cry
So I'm right here now baby
I'm asking you, I'm begging you
Just give me one more chance baby
Baby won't you let me just kiss you down
Make you spin around and 'round
Flip you girl from left to right
If you don't mind
Baby can I just spend the night
Let me turn you on
Can I turn you on
Can I turn you on
Till the break of dawn baby
Can I turn you on
Can I turn you on
Till the break of dawn baby
The lyrics of Ben Watt's song Lose Control seem to be an apology to a lover. The singer admits to having hurt the lover during an argument, but he wants to make amends by talking things through. The lyrics suggest that whatever the lover desires, the singer is willing to give. He wants to explore her body, to learn her softest spots, and to make her lose control. The chorus repeats these ideas, implying that the singer is asking for permission to become intimate with the lover.
The lyrics are ambiguous, however. The singer claims that he never meant to hurt the lover, but it is not clear what he said that made her cry. He also mentions that the lover said "bye bye bye," which suggests that she may have ended the relationship. Whether the singer is apologizing for a specific incident or trying to salvage the entire relationship is left open to interpretation. Nonetheless, the lyrics are emotional and heartfelt, showing the singer's willingness to make things right with the lover.
In conclusion, the lyrics of Lose Control explore themes of intimacy, vulnerability, and regret. The singer is asking for permission to be intimate with the lover, but he is also acknowledging his mistakes and trying to make amends. The lyrics are emotional and sincere, showing the singer's willingness to work through whatever issues have arisen.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm sorry I never meant to hurt you
I apologize for causing you pain, it was not my intention
I really didn't
I earnestly did not mean to cause you harm
I'm so sorry
I'm deeply regretful for the suffering I caused
I just want you to sit down for just a minute
Please take a moment to listen to what I have to say
Let me talk to you
Allow me to express myself and clear the air
Last night we had an argument
We had a disagreement recently
You told me you love me
You expressed your love for me
All the things I said I never meant
The hurtful words I spoke were not what I truly meant
No baby
I did not mean to wrong you
I didn't mean to make you cry
It was not my aim to make you shed tears
I didn't mean to make you say bye bye bye
I did not intend to cause you to leave me forever
Baby won't you let me look inside your soul
Please let me connect with your deepest feelings and emotions
Let me make you lose control
Allow me to take charge and exhilarate you
Let me be the one you need
Please choose me to fulfill your desires and wants
Baby just come to me
Please approach me with openness and affection
Now tell me girl what you want from me
Please inform me of your needs and expectations
Whatever it is you desire
I am willing to accommodate your every wish
I want to give my baby
My intention is to provide for you, my partner
I want to feel your body yearn
I long to sense your physical longing for me
All your softest spots I plan to learn
I desire to explore and discover your most intimate and tender areas
Baby won't you let me just kiss you down
Please let me engage in deep, loving kisses with you
Make you spin around and 'round
Entice and excite you with passion and desire
Flip you girl from left to right
Engage in physically playful behavior with you
If you don't mind
If you are comfortable with it
Baby can I just spend the night
May I stay the night with you
You know what I'm talking about baby
You understand the desires and feelings I am expressing
So I'm right here now baby
I am present and available, here with you
I'm asking you, I'm begging you
I am pleading with you to give me another chance
Just give me one more chance baby
Please grant me another opportunity to make things right
Let me turn you on
Allow me to arouse and stimulate you
Can I turn you on
May I excite and charm you
Till the break of dawn baby
Until the morning light, my darling
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KEITH D. SWEAT, GARY EUGENE JENKINS, ROY MURRAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind