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).
Pretty Baby
Brendan Benson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got a hole in my heart can't you see?
Should have known pretty baby
That you were gonna be the end of me
I hear the sirens coming for you baby
Hear the sirens blaring in the street
So why now baby
Pretty Baby
I hear the hounds in the woods pretty baby
Hear the hounds in the woods closing in
So tell me know baby
Tell me pretty baby where you've been
I hear the shots ringing out pretty baby
I hear the gun shots ringing in the night
What a sound oh baby
Hit the ground pretty baby out of sight
Pretty Baby
Got a hole in my head pretty baby
Got a hole in my head 'cause of you
Got a hole in my head
And the blood is running red 'cause of you
The lyrics to Brendan Benson's Pretty Baby tell the story of a doomed romance, fraught with danger and violence. The singer has fallen hard for the titular "Pretty Baby," and can't help but give in to her seductive charms, even though he knows deep down that she will be the death of him. The repeated refrain of "got a hole in my heart pretty baby" is a metaphor for the pain and longing the singer feels for someone who is ultimately bad for him.
Throughout the song, we see the singer grappling with his intense emotions for this woman, even as he begins to realize that she is the source of all the trouble and danger that keeps closing in around them. References to "sirens blaring in the street," "the hounds in the woods," and "gunshots ringing in the night" all indicate that this relationship is headed for a dark and tragic end. The final lines, "got a hole in my head / and the blood is running red 'cause of you" suggest that the singer's worst fears have been realized, and that his love for Pretty Baby has truly been fatal.
Line by Line Meaning
Got a hole in my heart pretty baby
I am emotionally wounded because of you
Got a hole in my heart can't you see?
My pain is evident to everyone but you
Should have known pretty baby
I should have recognized that you were bad for me
That you were gonna be the end of me
Your actions will ultimately be the cause of my downfall
I hear the sirens coming for you baby
The authorities are chasing after you
Hear the sirens blaring in the street
The police are closing in on you
So why now baby
Why did you get me involved in your illegal activities?
Tell me why would a lady bring the heat?
Why would you bring trouble upon yourself and me?
I hear the hounds in the woods pretty baby
The dogs are tracking you down
Hear the hounds in the woods closing in
The search for you is intensifying
Tell me know baby
Explain yourself to me
Tell me pretty baby where you've been
Details on your whereabouts are necessary
I hear the shots ringing out pretty baby
I hear gunshots and I fear for your safety
I hear the gun shots ringing in the night
Sounds of violence are ringing in my ears
What a sound oh baby
The sounds of violence are deeply upsetting
Hit the ground pretty baby out of sight
You were either hurt or killed and no longer visible
Got a hole in my head pretty baby
I am physically injured because of you
Got a hole in my head 'cause of you
You are the cause of my physical harm
And the blood is running red 'cause of you
Your actions caused me to bleed and suffer
Pretty Baby
You are the source of all my troubles and pain
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., ME GUSTA MUSIC
Written by: ASHLEY MONROE, BRENDAN BENSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Science_Freak
the female vocalist in the back round...like something out of a beautiful dream.
Eloise Santos
This is probably the only song I remember from Catfish, it's amazing, love it!
Angie Young
OMG I've also discovered this song because of CAtfish!! I am In love with it. I shouldn't admit this but I've probably listened to it 47 times in about a 13 hour time frame! HA~~~
acapella man
I've always liked Brendan since I first saw him with Jack White.This is a cool song.I got a little song called "Pretty baby".Its nothin like this but I like it.Hey thanks for posting this.
Angelika Papadakou
Also found it from Catfish,watching from Greece ;) Great song :)
Vy Nguyen
Me too 😊
Angela L
me too lol
Anastasia Kostellou
κι εγω! χδ
K ML
Yup. Catfish rerun lol. Catchy song.
Risha
Catfish is probably the only show worth watching on Mtv in my own opinion. It really shows you the basic nature of humans and how flawed we are.