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'.
CRAZY LOVE
Ben Harper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the heavens open every time she smiles
And when I come to her thats just where I belong
Yet I'm running to her like a rivers song
She gives me love, love, love, love, crazy love
She gives me love, love, love, love, crazy love
And when I come to her when the sun goes down
She takes away my trouble, takes away my grief
Takes away all of my heartache, in the night like a thief
She gives me love, love, love, love, crazy love
She gives me love, love, love, love, crazy love
Crazy love
She gives me love, love, love, love, crazy love
Yes I need her in the daytime
Oh, but I need her in the night
Yes I want to throw my arms around her
Kiss and hug, kiss and hug her tight
And when I'm returning from so far away
She gives me some sweet lovin' brighten up my day
Yes it makes me righteous, it makes me feel whole
And it makes me mellow down to my soul
She gives me love, love, love, love, crazy love
She gives me love, love, love, love, crazy love
She gives me love
I need a love, love, love, love, crazy love
Crazy love, crazy love, crazy love
The lyrics of Ben Harper's "Crazy Love" speak of a love that is all-encompassing, passionate, and uplifting. He can feel his lover's heart beating from miles away, and whenever she smiles, it feels like heaven is opening up. The singer feels like he belongs with her, and although he's constantly drawn to her like a river's song, he feels like he's running towards her rather than being pulled in by her. She has a fine sense of humor that can lift him out of any emotional rut, and she takes away all of his troubles, grief, and heartache, in the night, like a thief.
The singer needs his lover both in the daytime and at night, and he longs to hold her tightly in his arms. Whenever he returns from a long journey, she brightens up his day with her sweet loving, which makes him feel righteous and whole, and it mellows him down to his very soul. The song is an ode to the kind of love that can change someone's life for the better, and the singer is enraptured by the depth and intensity of this "crazy love."
Line by Line Meaning
I can hear her heart beat for a thousand miles
I'm so in tune with her that I can feel her heart from a thousand miles away
And the heavens open every time she smiles
Her smile has the power to open up the heavens, it's so beautiful and radiant
And when I come to her thats just where I belong
I feel like I belong with her, like coming to her is my rightful place
Yet I'm running to her like a rivers song
Even though I belong with her, I'm still constantly drawn to her like a river flowing towards the sea
She gives me love, love, love, love, crazy love
She loves me so intensely, it's almost overwhelming
She's got a fine sense of humor when I'm feeling low down
Even when I'm feeling my lowest, she knows how to make me laugh and lift my spirits
And when I come to her when the sun goes down
I go to her when the day is over and I need someone to be there for me
She takes away my trouble, takes away my grief
She has the power to make everything better, to take away my troubles and sorrows
Takes away all of my heartache, in the night like a thief
She makes all the pain go away, almost like a thief in the night
Yes I need her in the daytime
I need her around all the time, especially in the daytime when I need someone to help me get through the day
Oh, but I need her in the night
But I also need her at night, when I'm feeling lonely and scared
Yes I want to throw my arms around her
I want to embrace her tightly and never let go
Kiss and hug, kiss and hug her tight
I want to shower her with affection and love, holding her tightly in my arms
And when I'm returning from so far away
Even when I'm far away, I always think of her and look forward to returning to her
She gives me some sweet lovin' brighten up my day
When I'm feeling down, she gives me the sweetest love that brightens up my day
Yes it makes me righteous, it makes me feel whole
It makes me feel like a better person, like I have everything I need to be complete
And it makes me mellow down to my soul
It has the power to calm me down and make me feel at peace in my soul
I need a love, love, love, love, crazy love
I need her love so much, it's almost indescribable how much I rely on it
Crazy love, crazy love, crazy love
It's a love that's almost too intense to handle, a love that makes me feel crazy and overwhelmed
Writer(s): van Morrison
Contributed by Jackson C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.