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).
Tiny Spark
Brendan Benson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Never known any other way to feel
Got the right of way
And all of the others must yield
But I'm naked
And I'm in school
And I can't make it
To the door
That an oyster can only make a pearl
From a grain of sand
But from what I don't know comes a girl
And I'm trying
Not to laugh
Feels like I'm dying
When we break apart
And you take back your heart
And it aches in the dark
But it makes a tiny spark
I've always been this way
Never known any other way to feel
Got the right of way
And all of the others must yield
But I'm naked
And I'm in school
And I can't make it
To the door
We were lying in the grass
I was trying oh not to laugh
I was drowning in the past
The lyrics of Brendan Benson's song "Tiny Spark" portray a sense of vulnerability and insecurity that the singer has always felt. He has always had the right of way, and others have always yielded to him, but he still feels naked and stuck. He is unable to make it to the door and feels like he is dying. The singer tries to explain to himself and others that sometimes something beautiful can come out of something painful. An oyster can only make a pearl from a grain of sand, and from what he doesn't know, comes a girl. He is trying not to laugh but feels like he is dying when they break apart and she takes back her heart. Although it aches in the dark, it makes a tiny spark.
The repetition of the opening lines "I've always been this way, never known any other way to feel," creates a sense of hopelessness and despair. The singer has always felt this way, and there seems to be no escape. The lyric "But from what I don't know comes a girl" suggests that something positive can come out of pain. The girl represents hope and the tiny spark of light in the darkness. The line "And you take back your heart, and it aches in the dark, but it makes a tiny spark" is both heartbreaking and uplifting. The pain of a broken heart is a tiny spark that can lead to something beautiful.
Line by Line Meaning
I've always been this way
I have constantly been true to myself and my emotions.
Never known any other way to feel
I have always experienced emotions in this manner and do not know of any other way to do so.
Got the right of way
I am in control of my own path.
And all of the others must yield
I am determined to make my own choices and not be swayed by the opinions of others.
But I'm naked
I feel exposed and vulnerable.
And I'm in school
I am still learning about myself and the world around me.
And I can't make it
I struggle to move forward and progress.
To the door
I am unable to escape my current situation and circumstances.
Try to understand
I am asking for empathy and compassion.
That an oyster can only make a pearl
From a difficult situation or obstacle, something beautiful can come about.
From a grain of sand
Even the smallest challenge can lead to something extraordinary.
But from what I don't know comes a girl
Something unexpected and surprising can lead to a positive outcome.
And I'm trying
Despite struggles, I am putting in effort to overcome obstacles.
Not to laugh
I am trying to avoid making light of serious situations or issues.
Feels like I'm dying
The intense emotions I am experiencing are overwhelming and exhausting.
When we break apart
The end of a relationship is particularly difficult for me.
And you take back your heart
The other person in the relationship may take back the love that was given.
And it aches in the dark
I feel pain and sadness alone and at night, when everything is quiet.
But it makes a tiny spark
Despite tragedy or hardship, there is still a glimmer of hope for the future.
We were lying in the grass
I am reflecting on a past moment or memory.
I was trying oh not to laugh
Despite a difficult situation, I was attempting to keep a positive attitude.
I was drowning in the past
Memories from the past were overwhelming and consuming me.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BRENDAN BENSON, JASON FALKNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind