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Ben Howard — Oats In the Water
Album: The Burgh Island EP
Avg rating:
7.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 3280









Released: 2012
Length: 4:54
Plays (last 30 days): 3
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Go your way
I'll take the long way 'round
I'll find my own way down
As I should

And hold your gaze
There's coke in the Midas touch
A joke in the way that we rust
And breathe again

And you'll find loss
And you'll fear what you found
When weather comes
Tearing down

There'll be oats in the water
There'll be birds on the ground
There'll be things you never asked her
Oh how they tear at you now

Go your way
I'll take the long way 'round
I'll find my own way down
As I should

And hold your gaze
There's coke in the Midas touch
A joke in the way that we rust
And breathe again

And you'll find loss
And you'll fear what you found
When weather comes
Tearing down

There'll be oats in the water
There'll be birds on the ground
There'll be things you never asked her
Oh how they tear at you now
Comments (66)add comment
Say what you will about The British Isles but the musicians are in a league of their own - but not since forever, interesting.
Posted 5 months ago by johnfiva    [ Reply ]
It’s amazing how mis-heard lyrics will stick in my head. Every time I hear that opening guitar riff, my brain says “Oh good, it’s the ‘coke in the microwave’ song!”
Posted 7 months ago by Talus1    [ Reply ]
Nice
Posted 7 months ago by chavdar.t.gochev    [ Reply ]
AKA breakfast
Posted 7 months ago by bam23    [ Reply ]
Ben! We're coming to your show in Seattle in August. I was watching for tickets all year since your '23 USA dates were canceled. Thank you for sharing your talents with us all. I am so so sooo excited to see you. The last concert I went to was TS's Eras Tour in Seattle (insanely awesome). Yours will be delightfully opposite of that experience. 
Posted 7 months ago by Spiderwoman    [ Reply ]
 tinypriest wrote:

The words are beyond his age. Maybe if he was 57 he'd know what he's singing about.



Or perhaps he's just an educated, insightful and thoughtful young man?
Posted 10 months ago by ick    [ Reply ]
such a brilliant song great writing and voice 
Posted 1 year ago by alisonhayward231    [ Reply ]

The very definition of gravitas

8
Posted 1 year ago by vandal    [ Reply ]
Still love. Still touches.
Posted 1 year ago by deniseperry    [ Reply ]
A stream of consciousness… perhaps? Still love it.
Posted 1 year ago by jeannegirl    [ Reply ]
Hauntingly beautiful and soulful...
Posted 2 years ago by xrdstv    [ Reply ]
This guy just tears up my soul with each song.  
Posted 2 years ago by rlr511    [ Reply ]
SO excellent. Enjoy every time. 🙏 RP. And just look at that photo!
Posted 2 years ago by deniseperry    [ Reply ]
Anyone recognise this from The Walking Dead? 
Posted 2 years ago by andrejz2438    [ Reply ]
Channeling Time Buckley in a modern way. Nice and strong. 
Posted 2 years ago by Pjesnik    [ Reply ]
Weird...for some reason I had it stuck in my head that this was a Kings of Leon track.  Ooops.  

Glad to be corrected.  This is pretty darn good, btw...
Posted 2 years ago by sfoster66    [ Reply ]
 Foot wrote:

Excellent - instant 8!




Sorry, have to disagree... It's a 9 for me 
Posted 3 years ago by meanderer    [ Reply ]
 tinypriest wrote:

The words are beyond his age. Maybe if he was 57 he'd know what he's singing about.



or 63
Posted 3 years ago by lindaurq    [ Reply ]
Love it!! What's not to like with this song?

Thanks (AGAIN) RP for introducing me to this guy!!
Posted 3 years ago by meanderer    [ Reply ]
 drewd wrote:

You would think that a song about breakfast would be more upbeat...


That's funny.
Posted 3 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
You would think that a song about breakfast would be more upbeat...
Posted 3 years ago by drewd    [ Reply ]
There was a musician in the late 70s called Garfield French. This song is so close to one of his called "Private Affair", from 1977 (album: 'Out There Tonight'). Freaks me out every time I hear this.
Posted 3 years ago by tinypriest    [ Reply ]
 jhorton wrote:
Love it.

Atmospheric. 
 

Stratospheric !
Posted 3 years ago by chantefleurie    [ Reply ]
 tinypriest wrote:
The words are beyond his age. Maybe if he was 57 he'd know what he's singing about.
 

" age is just a number "
- Mickey Rourke
Posted 3 years ago by Ihatethissong    [ Reply ]
The words are beyond his age. Maybe if he was 57 he'd know what he's singing about.
Posted 3 years ago by tinypriest    [ Reply ]
I like this.
Especially as I live near Burgh Island ( South Devon, UK)
Posted 4 years ago by SgtBeefheart    [ Reply ]
 baronsylte wrote:

That's not an accent, it's a dialect.
But yes, very cool.

 
Ben Howard may speak in an identifiable dialect (I don't know), though I believe that DChas was correct in that all that comes across in this song is his accent (pronunciation), i.e., there is nothing about the grammar or vocabulary of these lyrics that is characteristic to a particular group of English speakers.

Posted 4 years ago by sjccroquet    [ Reply ]
It's certainly not a Richmond, Surrey, accent/dialect. Maybe a merge with more than a heavy dose of West Country - but that would depend on his age when he upped sticks?

 kbs wrote:
 baronsylte wrote:

That's not an accent, it's a dialect.
But yes, very cool.

I hear no dialect (e.g. Geordie is a Newcastle dialect, c.f. Jimmy Nail, using regional words, phrases and pronunciation), nor do I hear any significant West Country accent - sounds standard English to me! Try https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyyT2jmVPAk as a guide, or maybe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8mzWkuOxz8 which I think is better.
 

Posted 4 years ago by LoudshirtsBand    [ Reply ]
I also got suprided with wis work. Deep and high quiality. And the must suprising thig is that aI 've discovered him en Walkind Dead!! Altamente Recomendable cien por ciento
Posted 4 years ago by sergioso    [ Reply ]
 baronsylte wrote:

That's not an accent, it's a dialect.
But yes, very cool.

I hear no dialect (e.g. Geordie is a Newcastle dialect, c.f. Jimmy Nail, using regional words, phrases and pronunciation), nor do I hear any significant West Country accent - sounds standard English to me! Try https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyyT2jmVPAk as a guide, or maybe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8mzWkuOxz8 which I think is better.
Posted 4 years ago by kbs    [ Reply ]
 AhhtheMusic wrote:
Can we stop playing this song already?  Its such a downer and it seems like it is played every other day.  
 
Totally agree. Sounds like a suicidal Garfield French (no, not the cartoon cat). And it's boring.
Posted 4 years ago by tinypriest    [ Reply ]
 AhhtheMusic wrote:
Can we stop playing this song already?  Its such a downer and it seems like it is played every other day.  

 Plays (last 30 days): 2

Posted 5 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
 DChas wrote:
love his accent
 
That's not an accent, it's a dialect.
But yes, very cool.

Posted 5 years ago by baronsylte    [ Reply ]
love his accent
Posted 5 years ago by DChas    [ Reply ]
 flyboy wrote:
Believe it should be "There's coke in the Midas touch." Not what the lyrics here say, "As croak in the Midas touch."  Possibly a reference to an imperfect smelting where coke (not the soda) gets in the gold, or something about smelting gold requiring air pollution from burning coke.
 

I see that over the years, a few people have made this comment. I sent a PM to BillG and he changed it immediately. 
Posted 5 years ago by ScottFromWyoming    [ Reply ]
Believe it should be "There's coke in the Midas touch." Not what the lyrics here say, "As croak in the Midas touch."  Possibly a reference to an imperfect smelting where coke (not the soda) gets in the gold, or something about smelting gold requiring air pollution from burning coke.
Posted 5 years ago by flyboy    [ Reply ]
Most excellent, love the atmosphere of this song
Posted 5 years ago by Caturman    [ Reply ]
(song starts with guitar riff)

Me: "YES, it's the 'Peaches Come In A Can' song! Yeah, let's rock!"

(guitar gets more noodly and depressing)

Me: "Damn."
Posted 5 years ago by timmus    [ Reply ]
Nothing new here.
Posted 6 years ago by cely    [ Reply ]
Can we stop playing this song already?  Its such a downer and it seems like it is played every other day.  
Posted 6 years ago by AhhtheMusic    [ Reply ]
Nice fade from Jesse Cook - Byzantium Underground to this song {#Clap}
Posted 6 years ago by loopbitz    [ Reply ]
J'aime pas j'adore !!!! Quel talent !!!!!!!!! New Jeff B. ???
Posted 7 years ago by Noé    [ Reply ]
               
Posted 7 years ago by sfyi2001    [ Reply ]
Ben Howard has some incredibly powerful songs. Depth Over Distance, I Forget Where We Were, and Black Flies are some of my favorites. Even if his voice wasn't as beautiful and haunting, his lyrics are still amazing...
Posted 7 years ago by StillAwake    [ Reply ]
Nice gloomy song
Posted 7 years ago by Kassbomb    [ Reply ]
 {#Yes}jhorton wrote:
Love it.

Atmospheric. 

 


Posted 7 years ago by 1wolfy    [ Reply ]
Go your way
I'll take the long way 'round
I'll find my own way down
As I should
And hold your gaze
There's coke in the Midas touch
A joke in the way that we rust
And breathe again
And you'll find loss
And you'll fear what you found
When weather comes
Tearing down
There'll be oats in the water
There'll be birds on the ground
There'll be things you never asked her
Oh how they tear at you now
Go your way
I'll take the long way 'round
I'll find my own way down
As I should
And hold your gaze
There's coke in the Midas touch
A joke…

Posted 7 years ago by jhorton    [ Reply ]
I thought this was something from a long time ago, especially with the descending bass chords at the end
Posted 7 years ago by fatcatjb    [ Reply ]
me like

 
Posted 8 years ago by jbuhl    [ Reply ]
Ere, this is good.  My ears like this a lot.
Posted 8 years ago by DaidyBoy    [ Reply ]
Porridge. Good porridge is a rare commodity.
Posted 8 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
Proggy, I dare say.

Not bad....  
Posted 8 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
Love it.

Atmospheric. 
Posted 8 years ago by jhorton    [ Reply ]
Very nice!
Posted 8 years ago by AbileneTexas    [ Reply ]
Excellent - instant 8!
Posted 8 years ago by Foot    [ Reply ]
 1wolfy wrote:
The guitar player sounds like Sivert Hoyem band

 
And that's a compliment.
Posted 8 years ago by LizK    [ Reply ]
The guitar player(solo) sounds like Sivert Hoyem band
Posted 8 years ago by 1wolfy    [ Reply ]
I like this song... when it finally gets started.
Posted 8 years ago by q4Fry    [ Reply ]
 ShamanManu wrote:
me too
I like this guy, period 
{#Daisy}

I'm with you. Something intriguing about his art.
Posted 8 years ago by michaelgmitchell    [ Reply ]
If you give a go, and you know,  may come what may, even rust.

             It's a peculiar song, reads backward.
Posted 8 years ago by twoplain2sea    [ Reply ]
This whole EP is pretty solid.  This song was also used in a great trailer for one of the best video games, I'd argue, of all time, the Witcher III. 
Posted 8 years ago by fahartle    [ Reply ]
Nice sound...
Posted 8 years ago by kayumann    [ Reply ]
me too
I like this guy, period 
{#Daisy} 
Posted 8 years ago by ShamanManu    [ Reply ]
I like it...
Posted 8 years ago by MilesW    [ Reply ]
I'm getting a touch of Barclay James Harvest from this... Allmusic lists his other influences. I like!
Posted 8 years ago by kbs    [ Reply ]