Duterde first gained prominence in his home country with the Soul Wash EP (2009), which featured six covers of songs by Gnarls Barkley, Spice Girls, Katy Perry and, most notably, The White Stripes (Seven Nation Army).
Ben's first full-length album, entitled simply Ben L'Oncle Soul was released in the summer of 2010 and was put out internationally on the Motown label.
A Very Good Year
Ben l'Oncle Soul Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It was a very good year
It was a very good year for small town girls
And soft summer nights
We'd hide from the lights
Under the village green
When I was seventeen
Seventeen
When I was twenty-one
It was a very good year
It was a very good year for city girls
Who lived up the stairs
With all that perfumed hair
And it came undone
When I was twenty-one
Their chauffeurs would drive
Then I was thirty-five
Thirty-five
Thirty-five
But now the days grow short
I'm in the autumn of the year
And now I think of my life as vintage wine
From fine old kegs
From the brim to the dregs
And it poured sweet and clear
It was a very good year
A very good year
The song "A Very Good Year" by Ben l'Oncle Soul reflects on the different stages of a person's life - the innocence of youth, the excitement of young adulthood, and the wisdom of maturity. The singer reflects on his own life and how he experienced each of these stages, beginning with when he was seventeen. At this age, he remembers small town girls and soft summer nights, where they would hide from the lights under the village green. The song then moves on to when the singer was twenty-one and living in the city. He recalls the city girls with their perfumed hair and how it all came undone.
The third and final stage of the song is when the singer is in the autumn of his life, at thirty-five. He reflects on his life as if it were vintage wine, from fine old kegs. The life he has lived has been poured sweet and clear, and he acknowledges that it was a very good year. This final stanza seems to reflect on the joys and lessons learned throughout life, and how they have come together to make something beautiful - like a vintage wine.
Overall, the song suggests that life is made up of different stages and experiences, and that each one is important and enjoyable in its own way. It encourages listeners to reflect on their own lives and appreciate the different stages they have gone through.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was seventeen
At the age of seventeen
It was a very good year
Life was great
It was a very good year for small town girls
Girls from small towns had it good
And soft summer nights
Easy, relaxing summer evenings
We'd hide from the lights
We would shelter from the lights
Under the village green
Beneath the village green
When I was seventeen
At the age of seventeen
Seventeen
Seventeen years old
When I was twenty-one
At the age of twenty-one
It was a very good year
Life was great
It was a very good year for city girls
Girls from the city had it good
Who lived up the stairs
Living upstairs
With all that perfumed hair
With their hair smelling of perfume
And it came undone
And it ended
When I was twenty-one
At the age of twenty-one
Their chauffeurs would drive
Their drivers would take them
Then I was thirty-five
Then, at thirty-five years old
Thirty-five
Thirty-five years old
But now the days grow short
But now, time is running out
I'm in the autumn of the year
I am in the later years of my life
And now I think of my life as vintage wine
I view my life as a special, aged wine
From fine old kegs
Stored in quality containers
From the brim to the dregs
From the top to the bottom
And it poured sweet and clear
It flowed out perfectly
It was a very good year
Life was great
A very good year
A great year
Contributed by Elliot H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
KharaokeTube
Thanks for keeping R&B, Soul music alive Ben! Your voice is golden.
Tatiana Inspo
This song makes me so happy! Voice, music video!! Everything is so beautiful! Thank you for artists like you who decorate the world with their talent ❤❤❤❤
Busque Johanne
I love your talent, music and your voice!!! 💝🔥🎤🎵🎵🎶👏
Mounia Naimi
Bonjour Ben,
Ton dernier album est juste magnifique je n'ai pas de chanson favorite tellement elles sont toutes magnifique! Je te souhaites pleins de bonnes choses dans ta vie et merci d'exister
Edward Rocca
Congrats on yet another great song release! It was an absolute pleasure to see you in the Netherlands last February! Keep up the great work Ben :)
Yadah Island of Worship
Ben L'Oncle Soul - You are truly the greatest. To think you can also sing in French, it's just mind-blowing
Catherine BEDUER
Wonderful song, Ben !! 😘 This song makes me so happy 😍🤩❤️🔥💘 I love your voice and your way of singing touches me a lot. I've been following you since your debut.... 🤩 Congratulations and thank you so much, Ben L'Oncle Soul. 😍🌹❤️🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🎶🎶🌹🙋♀️🇨🇵🤗🫶
Valenti Casanovas
Molt maca!! Gràcies i felicitats Artista.!!!
OldSchoolBoZZ
This Song is so powerful.
Pamela Agostini
Bravo! 🫶🏽👏👏BonJour!!!!
Love your voice & music. Always a fan. Thanks for keeping us with great soul.
Blessings🙏🏽☮️💕