In 2011, Leftwich released his debut album, "Last Smoke Before the Snowstorm," produced by Ian Grimble. The album achieved commercial success, peaking at number 35 on the UK charts. Critically acclaimed, it was praised by The Fly as a "majestic debut" and received positive reviews from publications like The Skinny and the Sunday Express, with the latter describing it as "lovely." Songs such as "Shine" gained popularity, becoming Spotify's "Most addictive track of 2014" and accumulating over 150 million global Spotify plays. Additionally, "Atlas Hands" was featured in the Zillow TV commercial titled "Lake House" in 2015. During the same year, Leftwich co-wrote the song "Grow" with British artist Frances, which was featured in an Amazon UK TV advert.
Leftwich's second album, "After the Rain," was released in August 2016. Following the album's release, he embarked on an extensive tour from April 2016 to August 2017, performing songs from both his second album and his debut. The tour covered various countries, including the UK, Canada, USA, China, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and several Asian countries such as Hong Kong, Singapore, and Indonesia.
In recent years, Leftwich has released a series of single cover-tracks, including "Pure Morning" by Placebo, "Rebellion (Lies)" by Arcade Fire, "When You Were Young" by The Killers, and "Because of Toledo" by The Blue Nile. These releases showcase his versatility as an artist and his ability to reinterpret songs from diverse genres.
Throughout his career, Benjamin Francis Leftwich has made a significant impact, selling over 100,000 copies of his debut album and garnering millions of streams on digital platforms like Spotify. With his soulful folk-pop sound and introspective lyrics, he continues to captivate audiences around the world.
Atlas Hands
Benjamin Francis Leftwich Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And it is sailing to the middle of the sea
The water there is deeper than anything you've ever seen
Jump right in and swim until you're free
I will remember your face
'Cause I am still in love with that place
But when the stars are the only things we share
Money came like rain to your hands while you were waiting
For that cold long promise to appear
People in the churches started singing above their hands
They say, "My God is a good God and He cares"
I will remember your face
'Cause I am still in love with that place
When the stars are the only things we share
Will you be there?
I've got a plan, I've got an atlas in my hands
I'm gonna turn when I listen to the lessons I've learned
I've got a plan, I've got an atlas in my hands
I'm gonna turn when I listen to the lessons I've learned
The first two lines of Benjamin Francis Leftwich's Atlas Hands describe a ship without a name that is sailing to the middle of the sea, representing a journey towards the unknown. The water there is deeper than anything we've ever seen, symbolizing a deep emotional journey. The singer urges the listener to jump right in and swim until they are free, which could mean throwing themselves into a new experience in order to reach a state of emotional liberation.
In the next verse, it seems the singer is addressing a lover who has grown wealthy while waiting for a promised fortune. This might mean that the person was waiting on their financial success to validate their worth, and the singer is cautioning them to not forget that their God is good and cares. The line "My God is a good God and He cares" suggests that the singer is trying to offer comfort and support.
The chorus repeats the idea that the singer will remember the person's face and that they are still in love with a certain place. However, it seems the relationship is strained and the stars are the only thing they share. The singer asks if the person will be there under these circumstances.
Overall, Atlas Hands is a song about the journey towards emotional and spiritual liberation, whether it be through love, faith or any other form of self-discovery. The lyrics are open to interpretation, which allows listeners to find their own meaning in the words.
Line by Line Meaning
Take me to the docks, there's a ship without a name there
Lead me to the harbor where an unnamed vessel awaits
And it is sailing to the middle of the sea
It journeys towards the heart of the ocean
The water there is deeper than anything you've ever seen
The waters are unfathomable in depth, unlike anything you've witnessed before
Jump right in and swim until you're free
Dive in and swim until liberation is yours
I will remember your face
Your appearance will forever be etched in my memory
'Cause I am still in love with that place
For I still pine for that location
But when the stars are the only things we share
If we're left with nothing but the celestial bodies to hold in common
Will you be there?
Will you still stand by me?
Money came like rain to your hands while you were waiting
Funds showered upon you while you were anticipating
For that cold long promise to appear
In hopes of that icy and drawn-out commitment surfacing
People in the churches started singing above their hands
Worshippers in the churches began to vocally express themselves with their hands lifted up
They say, "My God is a good God and He cares"
Their praises glorify the mercy and empathy of their deity
I've got a plan, I've got an atlas in my hands
I've devised a scheme, and an atlas provides my map
I'm gonna turn when I listen to the lessons I've learned
I'll pivot around if I heed the wisdom I've acquired
I've got a plan, I've got an atlas in my hands
I've hatched a scheme, and an atlas is my literary guide
I'm gonna turn when I listen to the lessons I've learned
I'll rotate when I'm responsive to the insights I've gained
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Benjamin Leftwich
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TroyKeener
`eh that's just a lovely tune ...
Lyrics: "Atlas Hands"
Take me to the docks, there's a ship without a name there
And it is sailing to the middle of the sea
The water there is deeper than anything you've ever seen
Jump right in and swim until you're free
I will remember your face
'Cause I am still in love with that place
But when the stars are the only things we share
Will you be there?
Money came like rain to your hands while you were waiting
For that cold long promise to appear
People in the churches started singing above their hands
They say, "My God is a good God and He cares"
I will remember your face
'Cause I am still in love with that place
When the stars are the only things we share
Will you be there?
I've got a plan, I've got an atlas in my hands
I'm gonna turn when I listen to the lessons I've learned
I've got a plan, I've got an atlas in my hands
I'm gonna turn when I listen to the lessons I've learned
@stephdenis9744
Take me to the docks, there's a ship without a name there
And it is sailing to the middle of the sea
The water there is deeper than anything you've ever seen
Jump right in and swim until you're free
I will remember your face
'Cause I am still in love with that place
But when the stars are the only things we share
Will you be there?
Money came like rain to your hands while you were waiting
For that cold long promise to appear
People in the churches started singing above their hands
They say, "My God is a good God and He cares"
I will remember your face
'Cause I am still in love with that place
When the stars are the only things we share
Will you be there?
I've got a plan, I've got an atlas in my hands
I'm gonna turn when I listen to the lessons I've learned
I've got a plan, I've got an atlas in my hands
I'm gonna turn when I listen to the lessons I've learned
@megwhite6295
I remember one of the first times I heard this was during a school trip and we were driving through the wooded countryside and blabbering away like school kids do, then this came on the radio and everyone just fell silent for those few minutes. Afterwards there was a sort of collective sigh and someone said "ahh that was nice" then we all went back to chatting away like normal. It was just such a lovely little peaceful bubble in time within what was otherwise such a ruckus that for some reason is etched into my memory.
@funnypicturess
+Meg White Nice comment :]
@TheDeco1988
+Meg White beautie memorie, thanks for sharing.
@am-roeherzchen9887
Reading your comment made me feel sad and happy the same time
@revindarenata
best moment.
@yoslamet
+Meg White thanks for sharing:-)
@DelfinaHanna
Listening to this while it's raining lightly outside with a cup of hot peppermint tea, a warm blanket, fuzzy socks, and a good book makes me feel quite heavenly.
@yoslamet
+Delfina Hanna Chrisyandra :-)
@user-ww9ch
+James Collins Im a fans of Peacock Effect cuz comment like this and I do not recommend Wallflower. maybe every song, its makes me feel lost and gonna suicide or something.
@AnonymousQwerty
Delfina Hanna the ability to read while listening to music is among one of the rarest multi-tasking related skills known to man. I'm impressed! You're an outlier in a sea of sheep my friend.