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Ben Howard — The Fear
Album: Every Kingdom
Avg rating:
7.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2445









Released: 2013
Length: 4:18
Plays (last 30 days): 5
Mama, cold hearted child, tell me how you feel
Just a blade in the grass, spoke unto the wheel
Mama, cold hearted child, tell me where it's all gone
All the luster of your bones, those arms that held you strong

I've been worryin' that my time is a little unclear
I've been worryin' that I'm losing the ones I hold dear
I've been worryin' that we all, live our lives, in the confines of fear

Mama, cold hearted child, tell me how you feel
Just a grain in the morning air, dark shadow on the hill
Mama, cold hearted child, tell me where it all falls
All this apathy you feel will make a fool of us all

I've been worryin' that my time is a little unclear
I've been worryin' that I'm losing the ones I hold dear
I've been worryin' that we all, live our lives, in the confines of fear

Oh I will become what I deserve
Oh I will become what I deserve
Oh I will become what I deserve
Oh I will become what I deserve

I've been worryin', I've been worryin',
I will become what I deserve
I've been worryin',
My time is a little unclear
I will become what I deserve

I've been worryin', I've been worryin'
That my time is a little unclear
I've been worryin', I've been worryin'
That I'm losing the ones I hold dear
I've been worryin', I've been worryin'
That we all, live our lives, in the confines of fear
Comments (95)add comment
Love love love this track!  Inspired lyrics about overcoming fear
Was anyone else at his show last night (8-14-24) at the Moore Theater? It was my first time seeing him. I was so excited to see him but the sound quality was poor.
Every Kingdom and Old Pine were constant companions during my 3,000 mile biking summer a couple years back. I can't hear Ben without wanting to run outside an jump on a bike. Great stuff.
 fredGarvin wrote:

i sometimes confuse ben harper and ben howard.  usually after wine..



If those are the only things you confuse after wine - your life should be more simple than mine gets sometimes
i sometimes confuse ben harper and ben howard.  usually after wine..
This is one of those songs that grows on you. I first gave it a 6, but now it's a solid 8!
 Michaeljcovel wrote:
jfc, the RP message board is full of more sensitive assheads than anywhere else. If you make a critical comment or even a vaguely critical one, you'll get, at the very least, 2 people jumping in to cleanse the negativity 
Bound to be so.... As us humans seem to do with so many things. So many "chiefs"... Not enuff Injuns! 

 Michaeljcovel wrote:
jfc, the RP message board is full of more sensitive assheads than anywhere else. If you make a critical comment or even a vaguely critical one, you'll get, at the very least, 2 people jumping in to cleanse the negativity 

Oh dear, clean up aisle 3!
Found Ben Howard on RP.  Another artist to add to my faves that I'm grateful to RP for all the amazing music they've played for me.  This guy's lyrics are good. 
jfc, the RP message board is full of more sensitive assheads than anywhere else. If you make a critical comment or even a vaguely critical one, you'll get, at the very least, 2 people jumping in to cleanse the negativity 
 Webfoot wrote:

Keen ear!



Hahahahaha
too ambitious song about nothing. Sounds like pink noise


 thewiseking wrote:

Pavarotti this ain't


You're like RP's very own Robert Christgau - reliably wrong on everything.
Not a fan of the goat-boy thing. But I completely agree with the drumming comments -- really drives the song!
I really like this song!  Yeah, it ain't Pavarotti, but I doubt Pavarotti would come up with a song like this, either.

And, the lyrics certainly speak to the heart of what ails far too many Americans, "living lives in the confines of fear."
 thewiseking wrote:

Pavarotti this ain't


Another wise ass crack from the king.

Ben isn't my favorite opera singer either.

But I like him quite alot.
 thewiseking wrote:
Pavarotti this ain't
 
Oh thewiseking, why do they titter so?
EXCELLENT drumming.
 thewiseking wrote:
Pavarotti this ain't
 
Keen ear!
Kind of a Rusted Root vibe going on.
 cob427uk1 wrote:
This track is very good but my son is very into Ben Howard and plays it constantly ast high volume and after two tracks I am ready to dive headlong out of the window! He may be a local hero but man it's so depressing...
 
I'd not heard of him until this listening - I'm from New Malden - but love discovering local talents from years gone by to the present day.
The drumming! 
 cob427uk1 wrote:
This track is very good but my son is very into Ben Howard and plays it constantly ast high volume and after two tracks I am ready to dive headlong out of the window! He may be a local hero but man it's so depressing...
 
I hear you, but don't complain!! It could be much, much worse! Imagine all the nasty stuff your son could play at high volume! It could be up-beat and hollow.
Try to play Suzanne Vega's Solitude Standing album to him :-)

P.S. Are you sure your son doesn't actually want the place for himself? Do not jump out the window ;-)
I've been worrying too... that this tune wouldn't end.
I agree, I heard Chapman during the intro... 
Saw him live a few months ago. Unfortunately he doesn't play his old songs anymore but just his new album which is completely different. Great performance though! Never get tired of listening to his music.
This track is very good but my son is very into Ben Howard and plays it constantly ast high volume and after two tracks I am ready to dive headlong out of the window! He may be a local hero but man it's so depressing...
 alisathegreat wrote:
Just saw Ben Howard perform in Portland this past weekend. I wish he would've played something upbeat like this song. Nearly every song was slow and morose. It put my husband to sleep. We ended up leaving an hour into the concert because we were sleepy. 
 
I'm with you on this. His new work is good, but it just doesn't let up. So gloomy and dark...
Just saw Ben Howard perform in Portland this past weekend. I wish he would've played something upbeat like this song. Nearly every song was slow and morose. It put my husband to sleep. We ended up leaving an hour into the concert because we were sleepy. 
Lacks any soul.
 dwhayslett wrote:

Were you expecting Pavarotti?  For just this song, or for every song?  Maybe you should check out Radio Pavarotti (the *other* RP).
 
Love this comment! Made me laugh a lot. 
This artist is currently blowing my mind. I only recently began focusing in when his songs come up on RP, and my appreciation of his lyrical power grows with each listen.,
I'm concerned though, that his very unique voice and style, both of which seem extraordinary to me now, will end up sounding tiresome after a while. Would any long time fans of Ben Howard care to comment on that?
Thanks.

 {#Ask}
 LawDude wrote:
Always sounds like Tracy Chapman to me.

 
This.
 DocStrangelove wrote:
something about this song makes me lower the volume — overplayed here
 
Agreed.
And the cone finds a fear.


*edit* no he's definitely saying "and the corn finds a field"
 thewiseking wrote:
Pavarotti this ain't

 
Are you the guy who went to see "Yes, Giorgio"?
 thewiseking wrote:
Pavarotti this ain't

 
Were you expecting Pavarotti?  For just this song, or for every song?  Maybe you should check out Radio Pavarotti (the *other* RP).
 thewiseking wrote:
Pavarotti this ain't

 
Pretty sure it never claimed to be.
Pavarotti this ain't
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnxCxHLAqn8
 TerryS wrote:
He and Frazey Ford could duet like nobody's business.

 
OMG! what an idea {#Idea}  {#Clap}
I so enjoyed Ray at one time. The breathiness is really wearing on me.
Co-Aural
                                                         Waterworld has unexpected turns and twists
                                                                Goes to distance with 'what I deserve.'
                  '
 dwhayslett wrote:

Not as annoying as your constant complaining.  Why do you stay?  Do you enjoy listening to music you don't enjoy listening to?

 
Nice one!  Maybe they should try Pandora w/ those annoying commercials and crappy, crap.  
 ppopp wrote:
This song gets annoying fast.

 
Not as annoying as your constant complaining.  Why do you stay?  Do you enjoy listening to music you don't enjoy listening to?
This song gets annoying fast. I've been worried....I've been worried...I've been worried...I've been worried....
 Lazarus wrote:
Everybody in my mushrooming multitude of homeless camps loves this song...  we be dancing buck ass naked all across the forests and fields and mountains and beaches from sea to shining sea like bowlegged gypsy muleskinners...

Michelangelo's David photo MichelangelosDavid.jpg 

 

 The good part is that UPS would not be charging much to ship that package.


He and Frazey Ford could duet like nobody's business.
I agree, I can't stand his voice too. One of the most overrated artists of recent times.
Can't stand his voice 
 LawDude wrote:
Always sounds like Tracy Chapman to me.
 
Exactly what I thought. My ears cannot handle either of the two.
 LawDude wrote:
Always sounds like Tracy Chapman to me.

 
Or Ray LaMontagne
Well bugger me if I ain't just about ready to dance through Lazarus' bizarre church.  This mix is off the hook this arvo.  (P.S. I love out of date slang.)
Everybody in my mushrooming multitude of homeless camps loves this song...  we be dancing buck ass naked all across the forests and fields and mountains and beaches from sea to shining sea like bowlegged gypsy muleskinners...

Michelangelo's David photo MichelangelosDavid.jpg 
{#Bananajam}Really likin' this.
 Yup.
Always sounds like Tracy Chapman to me.

 


Always sounds like Tracy Chapman to me.
this song gets stuck in my head and I can't shut it off...others like it much more than I
Well, I logged on to see who was playing, so thats how good I rated it!
The guitar reminds me a little of Xavier Rudd
I didn't know Ben Howard was THAT good!
I find this grating...more so with every play
Does sound like Tracy Chapman

Boy band without the band. 


 handyrae wrote:

My thoughts exactly! I kept thinking it was a Tracey Chapman song I was unfamiliar with.

 
Exactly - yawn !!!
 
Very very boring song - and SO generic - I simply do not believe him -3
 gypsyman wrote:
Ray LaMontagne wanna be. Vocally, anyway. Reserving judgement on the rest.

 
Better than Ray, more like Damian rice maybe?
I will become what I deserve, oh yes..
I stop everything I'm doing when I hear this song. 
Ray LaMontagne wanna be. Vocally, anyway. Reserving judgement on the rest.
You mean ... this isn't 'Be Good Tanyas'.  Ooops.

I like it anyway.  {#Lol}
Nice add Bill. Wonderful new artist. 
 CawCat wrote:
I never get tired of this!

 
Ditto!!!
I never get tired of this!
 handyrae wrote:

We're all eternal, so that's not an incentive, but the free cheeseburgers and beer is quite the enticement. When do you hold services?
 

We hold services eternally!  You are welcome anytime!  I hope you are having a very nice time right this minute...

this song is cool...  love it...
 
Yep, Yup. Foot's goin' nuts under the desk, head's boppin'... I just typed myself into rating this an 8, and I gave it a 7 when I started, 2 minutes ago!

{#Bananajam}
 Leandra wrote:
Ok second time and I have to rate up. This makes me turn up the volume every time {#Jump}

 
Bought the album - L-O-V-E it!!! Recommendations if you liked the song - the album is slightly more calm, but still, really underrespresented so far. None of my music crazy friends knew it... Wonder why {#Think}
 Lazarus wrote:


What a charming thing to say!  Not even a song comment!  Join my churches for the gods and you will receive free cheeseburgers and beer and eternal salivation!

Love this song...
 




 

We're all eternal, so that's not an incentive, but the free cheeseburgers and beer is quite the enticement. When do you hold services?
 Minimally wrote:
Love child of Tracey Chapman and Ray LaMontagne?

 
My thoughts exactly! I kept thinking it was a Tracey Chapman song I was unfamiliar with.
Ok second time and I have to rate up. This makes me turn up the volume every time {#Jump}
 govna wrote:

your new persona is far less charming now that it's found god.
 

What a charming thing to say!  Not even a song comment!  Join my churches for the gods and you will receive free cheeseburgers and beer and eternal salivation!

Love this song...

 

Aphrodite

 Lazarus wrote:

Everybody in my churches loves this song...
 

 
your new persona is far less charming now that it's found god.
I'm hearing David Gray and Damien Rice as well as Ray LaMontagne - and I like that alot.

Everybody in my churches loves this song...
 
Love child of Tracey Chapman and Ray LaMontagne?
 kingart wrote:
Sorry, Ben, for a minute there you sounded like Tracey Chapman. 

 
This.


 claya wrote:
This is the second listening.... i want to rate up. This is great stuff. Does anyone know if the whole album is this good?

 
Yes, really like the album. "The Fear" was a number 1 hit in Belgium. Always reminds me a bit of Hothouse Flowers. Check also his "Burgh Island EP", sounds a little darker but great music. In same league as Tom Odell in terms of popularity with teengirls over here ;)
This is the second listening.... i want to rate up. This is great stuff. Does anyone know if the whole album is this good?
 kingart wrote:
Sorry, Ben, for a minute there you sounded like Tracey Chapman. And then Ray La Montagne. But I like the music and the message. 

 
I had to double  check my self, I thought it was Tracey Chapman.
Good Stuff. Immediate 7, leaving room to grow.

That is one cool guitar lick in this song...  I like that quirky melody...  the lyrics are interesting and emotive...  this song gets a big 10 rating on my first listen...
 
This is awful.  
Period 
Sorry, Ben, for a minute there you sounded like Tracey Chapman. And then Ray La Montagne. But I like the music and the message. 
Yes Bill, you finally started playing Ben Howard!!

This album is amazing in its entirety as is his more recent EP.