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'.
Church House Steps
Ben Harper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I sat down upon the church house steps
I sat down upon the church house
Down upon the church house steps
With all my hopes and dreams
All of my regrets
I sat down upon the church house steps
I sat down
I sat down upon the church house steps
With all I have lost
And with all I have been blessed
Oh - I sat down
Oh - I sat down
Oh - I sat down upon
I sat down upon the church house steps
I reached to the sky
As I hung my head and wept
Oh - I wept
Oh - I sat down
Oh - I sat down
I sat down
Oh - I sat down
If these wings should fail me
(Won't you) meet me with another pair
"Church House Steps" is a song by Ben Harper and The Blind Boys of Alabama about a person who is in a reflective mood and is seeking redemption. The song begins with the singer sitting on the steps of a church, contemplating his life and all the hopes and dreams he had that didn't come to fruition, and all of his regrets. The singer seeks solace and redemption in the church, where he can confront the loss he has experienced, while being grateful for the blessings he has received.
As the chorus repeats, we find the singer reaching up to the sky, indicating an appeal to a higher power. At the same time, he is crying, suggesting that he is releasing pent-up emotions, laying them out at the church's doorsteps. It is also worth noting the line "If these wings should fail me, meet me with another pair," which is a plea to the divine to help the singer persevere through their struggles. This signifies the end of the song, suggesting that redemption is possible if one's faith is strong enough.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh - I sat down upon the church house steps
The singer describes sitting on the steps of a church
I sat down upon the church house steps
The singer emphasizes sitting on the actual steps of the church
I sat down upon the church house
The singer repeats the image of sitting on the church itself for emphasis
Down upon the church house steps
The singer again stresses sitting on the steps of the church
With all my hopes and dreams
The singer brings up the notion of dreams and hopes
All of my regrets
The singer also acknowledges feelings of regret
With all I have lost
The singer reflects on past losses
And with all I have been blessed
The singer also acknowledges blessings in life
I reached to the sky
The singer reaches upwards, symbolizing an attempt to connect with the divine
As I hung my head and wept
The singer also reveals feelings of sadness and grief
If these wings should fail me
The singer refers to wings as a metaphorical tool for rising above trouble
(Won't you) meet me with another pair
The singer beseeches that he needs help to overcome obstacles
Oh - I sat down
The singer again describes sitting down
Oh - I sat down
The singer repeats the previous line again for emphasis
I sat down
The singer once again describes sitting
Oh - I sat down upon the church house steps
The singer repeats the opening line for emphasis
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: BEN C HARPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind