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'.
Angel from Montgomery
Ben Harper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Old man is another child (that's) grown old
If dreams were thunder and lightning was desire
This old house would've burned down a long time ago
Make me an angel that flies from Montgomery
Make me a poster of an old rodeo
Just give me one thing that I can hold on to
I was a young girl I had me a cowboy
Wasn't much to look at, just a free ramblin' man
That was a long time, (and) no matter how I try
The years just flow by like a broken-down dam
Make me an angel that flies from Montgomery
Make me a poster of an old rodeo
Just give me one thing (that) I can hold on to
To believe in this living is just a hard way to go
There's flies in the kitchen, I can hear all their buzzin'
I ain't done nothin' since I woke up today
How the hell can a person go to work in the morning
And come home in the evenin' and have nothin' to say
Make me an angel that flies from Montgomery
Make me a poster of an old rodeo
Just give me one thing (that) I can hold on to
To believe in this living is just a hard way to go
To believe in this living is just a hard way to go
The lyrics to Ben Harper's song "Angel from Montgomery" are a contemplation on the hardships and mundanity of everyday life. The singer, an old woman named after her mother, laments the passing of time and the disappointment that comes with it. She dreams of fiery destruction; a sign that her life has become meaningless as her house burns down. In her despair, she asks for just one thing: to have something to believe in, a beacon of hope to hold onto in the face of the hard realities of existence.
The woman reflects on her past, remembering a time when she was young and in love with a cowboy who was "just a free ramblin' man." Though their relationship was not perfect, she realizes that she misses the time when she had something to hold onto, someone to believe in. Now, time has passed and she finds herself alone with nothing to say, and nothing to look forward to.
Overall, the lyrics are a poignant reflection on the transient nature of life and the need to find meaning and purpose in the face of adversity. The singer's cry for an angel from Montgomery is a plea for hope and redemption, a sign that there is still something worth believing in.
Line by Line Meaning
I am an old woman named after my mother
I am an elderly woman and my name is the same as my mother's.
Old man is another child (that's) grown old
My husband is like a child who has grown old.
If dreams were thunder and lightning was desire
If dreams were loud and bright like thunder and lightning strikes.
This old house would've burned down a long time ago
This old house would have been destroyed by my passions long ago.
Make me an angel that flies from Montgomery
Please grant me a guardian angel that carries me away from Montgomery.
Make me a poster of an old rodeo
Create a poster of an old rodeo for me to cherish.
Just give me one thing that I can hold on to
Grant me just one thing that I can hold onto for hope and comfort.
To believe in this living is just a hard way to go
It's very difficult to believe in the difficulty of life.
I was a young girl I had me a cowboy
When I was young, I had a cowboy as my lover.
Wasn't much to look at, just a free ramblin' man
He wasn't particularly attractive, but he was a carefree wanderer.
That was a long time, (and) no matter how I try
That was a long time ago, and no matter how much I try to forget, time continues to pass.
The years just flow by like a broken-down dam
The years seem to pass without resistance, like water through a dam that has been demolished.
There's flies in the kitchen, I can hear all their buzzin'
The kitchen is infested with flies, and I can hear their constant buzzing.
I ain't done nothin' since I woke up today
I haven't accomplished anything since I woke up this morning.
How the hell can a person go to work in the morning
How can someone possibly go to work in the morning?
And come home in the evenin' and have nothin' to say
And then return home in the evening with nothing to say.
Contributed by Jack L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Valerie V
I love this
Greg Kempton
this s good
victor galvan
SoPure, &ThatSlide...
da nuggman
That’s NOT Ben 😂😂😂😂🫂