Ben Harper

Benjamin Chase "Ben" Harper (born October 28, 1969) is an American singer-songwriter musician and two-time Grammy Award winner, known for his guitar-playing skills, vocals, live performances and activism.

Quotes

 * Make no mistake about it, making a good record is pure, unadulterated pain. If you fall and break your leg--that's pain. But I'm telling you, the phase between pain and death? That's making a good record. It's extreme.
 * Roots Radical, Guitar Player (December 1, 1999).


 * Every time feels like my first time. And I just find that the process of it feeds into one's own self-obsession.
 * About interviews
 * Ben Harper Interview, MusicFix (February 14, 2006).


 * My band is the best band in the world, period. So, I insist on every song being better then it is on the record. So by the end of the tour, we have to be playing the song better then how it’s recorded.
 * The Streets Interview with Ben Harper, cmj.com (June 20, 2006).

Song lyrics
All songs written by Ben Harper, except as noted.

Welcome to the Cruel World (1994)

 * You see mama don't watch your damn football And your beer drinkin' just won't do You're just stayin' out late And you're preachin' the hate And you never have been true You see mama she want her somebody Who will let her be herself So she's leavin' you And your stinky damn ways Cause she's found somebody else
 * Mama's Got a Girlfriend Now.


 * You may write me down in history With your bitter twisted lies You may trod me down in the very dirt And still like the dust I'll rise.
 * I'll Rise, written by Ben Harper and Maya Angelou.

Fight for Your Mind (1995)

 * I believe in a few things: God the devil and love. 'Cause I've looked up from the bottom And I've stared down from above. I have faith in a few things: Divinity and grace. But even when I'm on my knees I know the devil prays. And you're working your way From the ground on down.
 * Ground On Down.


 * My choice is what I choose to do. And if I'm causing no harm It shouldn't bother you. Your choice is who you choose to be. And if your causin' no harm Then you're alright with me.
 * Burn One Down.


 * Excuse me Mr. But isn't that your oil in the sea? And the pollution in the air Mr. Whose could that be? So excuse me Mr. But I'm a mister too And you're givin' Mr. a bad name, Mr. like you.
 * Excuse Me Mr.


 * It will make a weak man mighty; It will make a mighty man fall. It will fill your heart and hands; Or leave you with nothing at all. It's the eyes for the blind And legs for the lame. It is love for hate, And pride for shame. That's the power of the gospel. That's the power of the gospel. That's the power of the mighty power. That's the power of the gospel.
 * Power of the Gospel.


 * Listen stranger, passerby, And those I never knew. There's not one day that you are living Has been promised to you.
 * God Fearing Man.


 * In my life I have been blessed In my life I have been cursed I have lived the best of times I have suffered the worst Do you know which road you're traveling? Do you know where you want to be? With so many roads to travel, There's just one can set you free.
 * One Road to Freedom.

The Will to Live (1997)

 * Sometimes I feel I know strangers Better than I know my friends Why must a beginning Be the means to an end? The stones from my enemies These wounds will mend But I cannot survive The roses from my friends.
 * Roses From my Friends

Burn to Shine (1999)

 * Could've sworn I heard you say amen this morning, showing some kind of sign that you believe Did it fall from your tongue without warning or just another trick to fall from your sleeve? Did I hear you say that you believe in angels? I guess I bring the devil out in you. But we can both remove our halos 'cause even an angel needs love too. Even angels need love too.
 * The Woman in You.


 * Where did you learn to do that so well? Where did you learn to do that so well? I guess that would be like kiss and tell. If it's a secret, why did you show me?
 * Suzie Blue.


 * Real life has let you down. Real life has let you down. Someone stripped the jewel from your crown. Everybody owes somebody something.
 * Suzie Blue.


 * Now I love to feel that warm southern rain, Just to hear it fall is the sweetest sounding thing. And to see it fall on your simple country dress It's like heaven to me I must confess.
 * Steal My Kisses.


 * Now I've been hangin' 'round you for days, Bt when I lean in you just turn your head away. Oh no, you didn't mean that. She said I love the way you think, but I hate the way you act.
 * Steal My Kisses.

Diamonds on the Inside (2003)

 * I can change the world With my own two hands Make a better place With my own two hands Make a kinder place.
 * With My Own Two Hands.


 * A candle throws its light into the darkness In a nasty world, so shines the good deed Make sure the fortune, that you seek Is the fortune you need.
 * Diamonds On The Inside

There Will Be a Light (2004)
with The Blind Boys of Alabama


 * Take my hand when you are worried Take my hand when you're alone Take my hand and let me guide you Take my hand to lead you home.
 * Take My Hand.


 * Children come running to the truth But you've got to peel the skin to get the fruit And while one's living high another's grieving But what's sweet by morning is bitter by the evening Oh - What's sweet by morning is bitter by the evening.
 * Wicked Man.

Both Sides of the Gun (2006)

 * The world awakens on the run And will soon be earning With hopes of better days to come It's a morning yearning.
 * Morning Yearning.


 * Fools will be fools, And wise will be wise. But I will look this world Straight in the eyes. What good is a man Who won't take a stand? What good is a cynic With no better plan?
 * Better Way.

Lifeline (2007)

 * When your whole world is shaken from all the risks we have taken, Dance with me, dance with me into the colors of the dusk.
 * Into the Colors.


 * The lifetime we've left behind with strangers Promises and lies both have their dangers. I just can't be wrong enough and I can't hide for long enough So far away, but I still feel your pain.
 * Fool for a Lonesome Train

White Lies for Dark Times (2009)
with Relentless7


 * The very thing that drives you, can drive you insane Got a head full of thought crimes and a number with no name Got an eleventh hour Jesus and a mouth full of blame A casket lined with silver dollars and a number with no name.
 * Number With No Name.


 * You can run away from home But you can't run away from your pain I sit here alone There's always someone else to blame.
 * Up to You Now.


 * Now that you've grown up You can finally learn to be a child We made it to the end of the world But we'll never make it out alive.
 * Skin Thin.


 * Some things You have to let be lost Some battles, some battles You have to leave unfought. Then the truth just wastes away In all we dare not say. And in all we can't explain But I faithfully remain.
 * Faithfully Remain.