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'.
Burn on down
Ben Harper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From end to end
And pass it over
To me my friend
Burn it long, we'll burn it slow
To light me up before I go
If you don't like my fire
'Cause I'm gonna burn one down
Yes I'm gonna burn one 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
If you don't like my fire
Then don't come around
'Cause I'm gonna burn one down
Yes I'm gonna burn one down
Herb the gift from the earth
And what's from the earth
Is of the greatest worth
So before you knock it try it first
You'll see it's a blessing
And it's not a curse
If you don't like my fire
Then don't come around
'Cause I'm gonna burn one down
Yes I'm gonna burn one, uh
The song Burn One Down by Ben Harper is an ode to the use of marijuana and the freedom of choice. The lyrics start by inviting someone to smoke with the singer, encouraging them to pass the joint around and burn it slowly. The goal is to get high before the singer has to leave, and the act of smoking together is seen as a bonding experience between friends. However, the lyrics also make it clear that this is not for everyone, and if someone does not like the "fire," they should stay away.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the importance of personal choice and the harmlessness of smoking marijuana. The singer states that if he is not causing any harm, others should not be bothered by his choice to smoke. He also acknowledges that everyone has the right to choose who they want to be, and as long as they are not harming anyone, they should be respected.
The last verse of the song is a defense of the use of marijuana as a natural gift from the earth. The singer states that what is natural is of the greatest worth, and that before judging or rejecting something, one should try it first to see its benefits. The lyrics suggest that marijuana should be seen as a blessing and not as a curse, and it is a gift that should be appreciated and respected.
Line by Line Meaning
Let us burn one
Let's light up a joint
From end to end
Light it up completely
And pass it over
Hand it over to me
To me my friend
Addressing the person he's handing the joint to as friend
Burn it long, we'll burn it slow
Take our time smoking the joint
To light me up before I go
Smoke the joint before leaving
If you don't like my fire
If you don't like me smoking weed
Then don't come around
Stay away from me
'Cause I'm gonna burn one down
I'm going to smoke weed regardless of other's opinions
Yes I'm gonna burn one down
Reiteration of his intention to smoke weed
My choice is what I choose to do
I have the right to make my own choices
And if I'm causing no harm
As long as I'm not hurting anyone
It shouldn't bother you
You have no reason to be bothered by my actions
Your choice is who you choose to be
You have your own choices to make in life
And if your causin' no harm
As long as you're not hurting anyone
Then you're alright with me
I accept you for who you are
Herb the gift from the earth
Marijuana is a natural gift from the earth
And what's from the earth
Things that come from nature
Is of the greatest worth
Are some of the most valuable things
So before you knock it try it first
Don't judge it before experiencing it yourself
You'll see it's a blessing
You'll realize how great it is
And it's not a curse
It's not something evil or bad
Yes I'm gonna burn one
Reiteration that he's going to smoke weed
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Benjamin Harper
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@adriangustafson700
Let us burn one
From end to end
And pass it over
To me my friend
Burn it long, we'll burn it slow
To light me up before I go
If you don't like my fire
Then don't come around
'Cause I'm gonna burn one down
Yes I'm gonna burn one 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
If you don't like my fire
Then don't come around
'Cause I'm gonna burn one down
Yes I'm gonna burn one down
Herb the gift from the earth
And what's from the earth
Is of the greatest worth
So before you knock it try it first
You'll see it's a blessing
And it's not a curse
If you don't like my fire
Then don't come around
'Cause I'm gonna burn one down
Yes I'm gonna burn one, uh
@jenleep
My brother took his life a week ago ....he had said he wanted this song played at his funeral ....so it was loud n clear 🙏☮️❤️
@bweird85
I'm sorry for your loss. -Sending your family my love.
@annierosen8274
I’m listening for someone who left that way too...all my love to you brother and family♥️
@carlstringe386
I am listening for my brother and step brother along with many friends. I'm so sorry for your loss. Sending my love out to all those who share the heavy hearts. 💜💜💜💚
@askadamwmay
God bless you and your family. Post on here your favorite memory of him, I'd love to read it.
@jenleep
@Adam May well Adam ( I have a son named Adam as well) .My brother( he had a huge great warm smile) was my only sibling so we were pretty close.When we were young we had this thing for rehabilitating birds this was from a really young age ...we used to try anything glue ,cotton fixing wings.etc...All through my life I still fostered lots of birds from hatchlings and I have lovely birds that stay permanently too ,in an aviary.Anyway my bro always loved building things that could fly so is it any wonder that his favourite thing to do was kite surfing. It was his two great loves “ocean and sky”.The morning he took his life ...before I knew I had a bright blue indigo vision in what felt like a lucid dream ...it bought me great peace and calm but I felt a need to research a bit because it was so real.... it was almost as though I could touch it ,it looked like a balloon inflating ,deflating ,very deep blue around the edges fading to a lighter colour on the centre .. . So I started finding meanings n found this blue represents Archangel Michael who is the protector and also that this colour is the throat chakra ,among other positive things .... ☹️....well almost an hour later I got a call from his partner saying she had found him in the bush ——————- by the throat near the house. It was at the exact time I had had the vision lying in bed. I immediately knew why I felt my brother was saying goodbye ....
n....through my tears and desperation I put a beautiful blue bottle I had on a shelf near a window so the light would shine through.....that night my house was all closed it was 8 pm and dark I sat reflecting on the fun we used to have ...then a little bird flew through the only opening the door and it landed on the blue bottle n just sat there ......well I felt he was bringing a message and felt sad when the bird flew back out through the same door .....this was night ,I only had one lamp on very dim light .....about two minutes later the bird came back this time it sat on the very same bottle for about 5 minutes ...it sat looking at me I thought how lovely 💙I picked it up opened a window to set it free but it just perched itself outside my window sil.... I felt a sense of peace...I went to bed and noticed the clock in my bedroom had stopped that morning .... yes at the time Nev had departed this world ... so for all our wonderful living memories .... I feel like this was one of the nicest things ... I felt like he could finally fly 💙💙💙I looked up the species of bird after to see what it was ......it was a ‘Graceful Honeyeater’🙏🌈 I’ve had things happen almost every day so I feel the void in my heart is gently filling with his eternal spirit ❤️
@adriangustafson700
Let us burn one
From end to end
And pass it over
To me my friend
Burn it long, we'll burn it slow
To light me up before I go
If you don't like my fire
Then don't come around
'Cause I'm gonna burn one down
Yes I'm gonna burn one 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
If you don't like my fire
Then don't come around
'Cause I'm gonna burn one down
Yes I'm gonna burn one down
Herb the gift from the earth
And what's from the earth
Is of the greatest worth
So before you knock it try it first
You'll see it's a blessing
And it's not a curse
If you don't like my fire
Then don't come around
'Cause I'm gonna burn one down
Yes I'm gonna burn one, uh
@annadouhib5217
merci💛
@stephenfiore9960
Thanks for posting. Accurate even to the word “uh”
@barbarabest-hahnke
Ben harper ist schon seit Jahren mein top 1 stænger und Musiker. Ich liebe seine Texte und seine breiten Stilrichtungen von, Rock, Reggae, soul und vielem mehr. Einfach begnadet. Ich habe ihn 2004 life in Köln gesehen in der ersten Reihe - vorgedraengelt Ich war begeistert und werde den Abend nie vergessen!!! 😊❤