His music is typically labeled as power pop, though he doesn't completely agree. His major musical influences include The Cars, David Bowie, Electric Light Orchestra, Elvis Costello, The Kinks, Robyn Hitchcock, Paul McCartney, and Todd Rundgren.
His debut album, One Mississippi, was released in 1996 on Virgin Records. The album featured several contributions with Jason Falkner and gained many favourable reviews in the music press but failed to sell in sufficient numbers and Benson was dropped by Virgin.
It would be another six years until Benson issued the follow-up, Lapalco. Again the critical plaudits poured in but this time the record enjoyed a certain degree of commercial success.
While touring this record Benson played the Reading and Leeds Festivals and finished his Leeds set with a performance of the track "Jet Lag" featuring guest appearances from Meg White of The White Stripes along with members of The Datsuns and Soledad Brothers.
In 2003 Benson re-released his debut album along with bonus tracks including the unreleased six track extended player, Welfed Boy EP, featuring songs from a demo session with Falkner.
Also in 2003, Benson released an EP, Metarie, with his then band, The Wellfed Boys. The EP featured a cover of Paul McCartney's "Let Me Roll It". This was the first song written completely by another artist to be featured on a Benson release. Another cover, this time "Strong Boy", from Gram Parsons International Submarine Band's 1968 album, Safe at Home, was released as a b-side in 2005.
In 2005, Benson released his third album, The Alternative to Love, and toured extensively in the US, UK and Europe with his new touring band, The Stiff Tissues.
Benson is also a member of The Raconteurs, a collaboration with Jack White of The White Stripes and two members of The Greenhornes, Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler. The group's debut album, Broken Boy Soldiers, was released in the US on May 16th, 2006, with "Steady, As She Goes" the first single.
Brendan currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee.
He has also worked as a producer for The Greenhornes, The Nice Device, The Mood Elevator (a permutation of The Welfed Boys), and Stiff Tissues member Dean Fertita's former band, The Waxwings.
In 2008, his song "What I'm Looking For" was used in an Apple iPod Touch television ad, propelling sales of that particular song on iTunes and other online music retailers.
Benson's fourth full-length record, My Old, Familiar Friend, was released on August 18, 2009. This was followed by What Kind of World (2012), and You Were Right (2013).
Get It Together
Brendan Benson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So what's the problem?
Can't you see that I'm sinking fast
And I'm near the bottom?
Whenever you feel me slipping away
Then that's when you should hold me tight
If you sense that there's something wrong
Make it right
Maybe we'll get it together
Maybe it will last forever
Well you can't hide what's inside
I can see right through you
And I know every reason behind
Everything that you do
Whenever you feel me slipping away
Then that's when you should hold me tight
If you sense that there's something wrong
Then why not make it right?
Make it right
Maybe we'll get back together
Maybe we'll make it last forever
And maybe this way things are better
Things are better
Girl, you could say that I'm hard to please
And maybe it's so
But look at you, your life's a breeze
And what do you know?
Brendan Benson's Get It Together is a love song highlighting the importance of staying together and working towards making their love last forever. The song speaks about two lovers who love each other, but something is off, and they're not sure how to get it back to how it was before. The lyrics suggest the singer is sinking fast and is close to hitting rock bottom, but his significant other seems to be oblivious to his struggles. The singer pleads with his partner to hold him tight whenever he's slipping away and make things right if there's something wrong because he wants this love to last forever.
The chorus raises the hope that maybe they'll get back together and make things better. The song's lyrics reflect the confusion that creeps in when neither of the partners understands what went wrong or what to do next. They may have been the best of lovers before, but it feels like they are drifting apart and may eventually call it quits if something isn't done. Brendan Benson's emotional delivery of the lyrics emphasizes the importance of communication, holding on tight to love, and making things right whenever there are issues in a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Well you love me and I love you
The singer and his partner have feelings for each other.
So what's the problem?
The singer wonders why there's an issue between them.
Can't you see that I'm sinking fast
The singer is struggling with something.
And I'm near the bottom?
The singer is almost giving up.
Whenever you feel me slipping away
The singer's partner should sense when he's struggling.
Then that's when you should hold me tight
The singer wants his partner to support him in tough times.
If you sense that there's something wrong
The singer's partner should be aware of when things aren't right.
Then why not make it right?
The singer asks his partner to fix things when they're not going well.
Make it right
Reiterate the request to fix things.
Maybe we'll get it together
The singer is hopeful that they can work things out as a couple.
Maybe it will last forever
The singer wants the relationship to be long-lasting.
Well you can't hide what's inside
The singer believes that his partner can't conceal their true emotions or intentions.
I can see right through you
The singer is perceptive enough to see through his partner's facade.
And I know every reason behind
The singer has insight into his partner's motives for doing things.
Everything that you do
The singer has a good idea about why his partner does what she does.
Maybe we'll get back together
The singer hopes that he can reconcile with his partner after a tough period.
Maybe we'll make it last forever
The singer wants his relationship to be long-term.
And maybe this way things are better
The singer believes that things can be better between the couple.
Things are better
The singer remains optimistic about the future of their relationship.
Girl, you could say that I'm hard to please
The singer acknowledges that he may have high standards in a relationship.
And maybe it's so
The singer understands that this may be the case for him.
But look at you, your life's a breeze
The singer contrasts his partner's seemingly easy life with his own difficulties.
And what do you know?
The singer is questioning his partner's understanding of his challenges.
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BRENDAN BENSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind