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'.
Breakin' Down
Ben Harper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And even if that was true
Why just to keep our unhappy home
I'm gonna try to pretend that I do
But I'm breakin' down
I'm breakin' down
I'm breakin' down
I'm breakin' down
Said she ain't comin' back around
And I'm breakin' down
I'm breakin' down
And if I thought that it was okay
For a grown man to cry
I would have filled up the whole mighty ocean
When she said goodbye
And I'm breakin' down
I'm breakin' down
I'm breakin' down
I'm breakin' down
You know my baby she left me
Said she ain't comin' back around
And I'm breakin' down
I'm breakin' down
One day you said everything was just right
I don't see how it changed overnight
One day you said everything was so strong
The next day you turn to me and say
It' s been wrong all along
Oh and now you won't even look at me
You pass me by in the street and you won't even speak
I never meant to cause you any harm
How could two people start so close
And end up so far
I'm breakin' down
I'm breakin' down
I'm breakin' down
I'm breakin' down
The Ben Harper song "Breaking Down" is a heart-wrenching ballad that describes the emotional turmoil of a man whose partner has left him, and he is trying to cope with the pain. The first stanza conveys how he is aware that his partner doesn't believe he loves her and even if it is true, he will pretend to love her just to keep their unhappy home from breaking up. The repetition of the phrase "I'm breaking down" conveys the emotional stress and turmoil that the singer is experiencing. In the second stanza, the singer says that if he thought it was okay for a grown man to cry, he would have filled up the whole ocean after his partner said goodbye to him. This line showcases how much the singer is hurting and how he is fighting to hold himself together. The final stanza describes how the singer remembers how everything was good before but doesn't understand how it changed overnight. The singer shows regret and sorrow over the cause of the partner leaving and how they were so close, but it ended up far away.
Overall, the song is a heartfelt representation of the emotional pain that a break-up can cause. The lyrics conveys how the singer is trying to deal with his emotional pain while putting on a brave face.
Line by Line Meaning
You don't believe that I love you
The other person is doubtful of the singer's love
And even if that was true
Even if they aren't loved by the singer, it won't make a difference
Why just to keep our unhappy home
The singer is trying to fake love to maintain peace in the home
I'm gonna try to pretend that I do
The singer is trying to put up a facade of love
But I'm breakin' down
Despite pretending, the singer is emotionally breaking down
My baby she left me
The singer's partner left them
Said she ain't comin' back around
The partner doesn't want to come back
And I'm breakin' down
The singer is emotionally broken down due to the partner's departure
And if I thought that it was okay
The singer wishes it was socially acceptable for a grown man to cry
For a grown man to cry
It is not considered socially acceptable for a grown man to cry
I would have filled up the whole mighty ocean
If it was okay to cry, the singer would cry a lot
When she said goodbye
The partner's departure caused immense emotional pain
You know my baby she left me
Reiteration of the partner's departure
One day you said everything was just right
The partner previously indicated that everything was perfect
I don't see how it changed overnight
The singer is confused about how everything went wrong so suddenly
One day you said everything was so strong
The partner assured the singer that everything was strong and stable
The next day you turn to me and say
The partner suddenly and unexpectedly declared that everything is wrong
It's been wrong all along
The partner believes that everything has been wrong from the beginning
Oh and now you won't even look at me
The partner is avoiding the singer
You pass me by in the street and you won't even speak
The partner is not even acknowledging the singer
I never meant to cause you any harm
The singer did not intend to hurt the partner
How could two people start so close
The singer is wondering how their relationship went so wrong
And end up so far
The relationship has ended up in a distant, broken place
I'm breakin' down
The singer is emotionally overwhelmed by the end of the relationship
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, A SIDE MUSIC LLC D/B/A MODERN WORKS MUSIC PUBLISHING, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: BEN HARPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind