Harper grew up listening to blues, folk, soul, RnB, and reggae. Harper's blend of groove-laden funky soul and folky handcrafted acoustics helped him to gain cult status during the course of the 1990s and widespread attention toward the end of the decade. Harper combines elements of classic folk singers, blues revivalists and jam bands and is embraced by critics and college kids alike. Harper's body of work sells consistently and he tours constantly, building a solid, dedicated fan base.
Harper began playing guitar as a child in his hometown of Claremont, California (in California's Inland Empire). He eventually specialized in the acoustic slide guitar (Weissenborn guitars). As a young man, he recorded an LP (Pleasure and Pain) with fellow folk guitarist Tom Freund. After this limited edition record, Harper got a record deal with Virgin Records, who released his debut album, Welcome to the Cruel World (1994).
This was followed by the incendiary Fight For Your Mind (1995) which became a college radio favorite and generated an abundance of songs which still fill his set list to this day.
In 1999 at the Santa Barbara Bowl, Harper met Jack Johnson, who was unknown at the time and had not recorded. Harper obtained a demo tape of 12 of Johnson's songs that he forwarded to his producer, J.P. Plunier, with whom Johnson recorded his first album.
From early on in his career, his music received more attention in Europe than it did in his home country. While he was a well-known and respected figure in the States, in countries like France, Germany, Switzerland, Portugal, and The Netherlands he was a star, receiving a great deal of airplay and critical acclaim. His popularity in Europe is such that he was French Rolling Stone Magazine's "Artist of the Year" (Artiste De L'Année) in 2003, and his tour that year for Diamonds on the Inside played to packed arenas across the continent.
In 2004, Harper recorded the album "There Will Be a Light " as the collaboration Ben Harper and The Blind Boys of Alabama.
In October 2004, Harper participated in the Vote for Change concert tour organised to benefit Moveon.org and encourage people in the swing states to vote during the 2004 U.S. presidential election.
Over the summer of 2005, when the Zooma tour scheduled with Trey Anastasio and various side stage performers was cancelled, Harper took on a tour of more private clubs/venues such as the Avalon Ballroom in Boston, the Tabernacle in Atlanta, and a full-band acoustic performance at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. This series of concerts saw the debut of a number of new Harper songs, such as "Get It Like You Like It" and "Dressed In Black."
In 2006, Harper released the double album Both Sides of the Gun which debuted at #7 on the Billboard charts.
Next Harper did a worldwide tour, with support from Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley on the North American leg.
In 2007, Harper released the album Lifeline, recorded in Paris just after his tour.
In 2009, Harper recorded the album "White Lies for Dark Times", as the collaboration Ben Harper and Relentless7.
In 2014, Harper recorded the album "Childhood Home" as the collaboration Ben & Ellen Harper.
In 2018, Harper recorded the album "No Mercy in This Land" as the collaboration Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite. At the 40th Blues Music Awards ceremony, Harper's joint composition with Charlie Musselwhite, "No Mercy In This Land", was named as 'Song of the Year'.
Ain't Too Proud To Beg
Ben Harper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I refuse to let you go,
If I have to beg, plead for your sympathy,
I don't mind 'cause you mean that much to me.
Ain't too proud to beg and you know it,
Please don't leave me girl,
Don't you go,
Please don't leave me, girl,
Don't you go.
Now I've heard a cryin' man
Is half a man with no sense of pride,
But if I have to cry to keep you,
I don't mind weepin' if it'll keep you by my side.
Ain't too proud to beg and you know it,
Please don't leave me girl,
Don't you go,
Ain't too proud to plead, baby, baby,
Please don't leave me, girl,
Don't you go.
If I have to sleep on your doorstep all night and day
Just to keep you from walking away,
Let your friends laugh, even this I can stand,
'cause I wanna keep you any way I can.
Ain't too proud to beg and you know it,
Please don't leave me girl,
Don't you go,
Ain't too proud to plead, baby, baby,
Please don't leave me, girl,
Don't you go.
Now I've got a love so deep in the pit of my heart,
And each day it grows more and more,
I'm not ashamed to call and plead to you, baby,
If pleading keeps you from walking out that door.
Ain't too proud to beg and you know it,
Please don't leave me girl,
Don't you go,
Ain't too proud to plead, baby, baby,
Please don't leave me, girl,
Don't you go.
In Ben Harper's song Ain't Too Proud To Beg, the singer is expressing his love and devotion to his partner, who wants to leave him. He refuses to let her go and is willing to do whatever it takes to keep her by his side. He is not too proud to beg or plead for her to stay with him, even if it means crying or sleeping on her doorstep. He has a deep love for her that grows stronger each day and he is not ashamed to express it.
The lyrics speak to the universal experience of love and heartbreak. It is a plea from one person to another to stay in a relationship that means the world to them. The line "Ain't too proud to beg" has become a popular phrase in our culture and is used to express the idea that someone is willing to humble themselves for the sake of love. The song is a powerful reminder of how important love is in our lives and how far we are willing to go to hold on to it.
Line by Line Meaning
I know you wanna leave me,
I am aware that you have considered leaving me,
But I refuse to let you go,
However, I am not ready to let go yet,
If I have to beg, plead for your sympathy,
Even if I have to beg and plead for your mercy,
I don't mind 'cause you mean that much to me.
I don't mind because you mean the world to me.
Ain't too proud to beg and you know it,
I am unashamed to beg for your love, and you know it,
Please don't leave me girl,
Please don't leave me, my love,
Don't you go,
Don't go away from me,
Now I've heard a cryin' man
I have heard people say that a man who cries,
Is half a man with no sense of pride,
Is weak and has no dignity,
But if I have to cry to keep you,
But if shedding tears would keep you with me,
I don't mind weepin' if it'll keep you by my side.
I don't mind crying if it means I get to keep you by my side.
If I have to sleep on your doorstep all night and day
If I have to stay outside your door night and day,
Just to keep you from walking away,
Just to save you from leaving my life,
Let your friends laugh, even this I can stand,
I don't mind if your friends mock me for my actions, I can handle it,
'Cause I wanna keep you any way I can.
Because I am willing to do whatever it takes to keep you in my life.
Now I've got a love so deep in the pit of my heart,
My heart is filled with a love that runs deep,
And each day it grows more and more,
And with each passing day, my love for you keeps growing stronger.
I'm not ashamed to call and plead to you, baby,
I am not ashamed to call you and beg for your love,
If pleading keeps you from walking out that door.
If that is what it takes to stop you from leaving me.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Norman Whitfield, Edward Jr. Holland
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
highwatercircutrider
Wow ! Gorgeous cover !
lyricalkismet
Wow! He did a great cover! And this is coming from a HUGE David Ruffin fan.
murp h
Great soul man __ love his phrasing _ makes the piece fresh and spontaneous
Howard
What a GREAT combo !!
Lucas Sutherland
LOVE THIS
vipelere
with motown orchestra !!! it was awesome ! thank you .
Flo W.
I love this song!!
theoneosegood
no worries young ppl like myself (22) really need to dig motown
Maura Kiger
man i love this motown shit!!!!!
Freeda Mitch
To my Mr coolness G real G L isn't it cool we get to know each other again on a whole new level that strengthen our bond even tighter, no more lessons that we already learned, we are mirror's to each other,time nor space can change destiny, we are a match made in heaven . I understand forgiveness, it releases your soul an blessings, we heal each other,team work makes all our dreams come true. Luv you FM 💓