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'.
City Of Dreams
Ben Harper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Daybreak over the city I called home
Where the sage met the sea and the groves were sweet and green
It's a city that lives only in my dreams
The groves where we played when we were children
The groves where we fooled around as teens
Those green groves are paved from la to Santa Fe
Landmarks lost to parking lots in the city I called home
Looking back I see what used to be
Now freeways crawl though the suburban sprawl
As far as the eye can see
And the city lives only in my dreams
Twilight shades the valley of my memory
When citrus groves still perfumed the sky
But I guess those orange blossoms weren't so special after all
Now it's a city of days gone by
Landmarks lost to parking lots in the city I called home
Looking back I see what used to be
Now freeways crawl through the suburban sprawl
As far as the eye can see
And the city lives only in my dreams
The song "City of Dreams" by Ben Harper is a nostalgic ballad about the loss of a city that he once considered home. The lyrics describe the daybreak over the city of his childhood, where the sage met the sea and the groves were sweet and green. He reminisces about the groves where he played as a child and fooled around as a teenager, but now they are paved from LA to Santa Fe. The city that once existed only in his dreams has been lost to progress and development.
Harper laments the loss of landmarks to parking lots and the urban sprawl that has taken over the city. He realizes that the orange blossoms that once perfumed the sky were not so special after all, but now the city of days gone by lives only in his memory.
The song captures the feeling of loss that often accompanies the passing of time and the changes that come with it. It reflects on the bittersweet memories of childhood and the longing for a simpler time, before progress and development took over.
Line by Line Meaning
Day breaks over the city of my childhood
The start of a new day in the city where I grew up
Where the sage met the sea and the groves were sweet and green
A place where sea meets green; reminiscent of the pleasant and peaceful groves
It's a city that lives only in my dreams
The city I loved so much exists only in my dreams now
The groves where we played when we were children
Those happy places where we spent our childhood
Those green groves are paved from la to Santa Fe
The once lush green groves are now covered with asphalt from LA to Santa Fe
Landmarks lost to parking lots in the city I called home
Places I once cherished now replaced by parking lots
Now freeways crawl though the suburban sprawl
Highways crisscrossing busy suburbs
As far as the eye can see
As far as my sight can reach
Twilight shades the valley of my memory
Reminiscing about the picturesque valleys during twilight
When citrus groves still perfumed the sky
The groves still carrying the sweet citrus scent
But I guess those orange blossoms weren't so special after all
As time passed, those sweet orange blossoms lost their charm and beauty
Now it's a city of days gone by
The city I once knew is now part of my memories
And the city lives only in my dreams
The city I once knew is alive only in my dreams now
Looking back I see what used to be
Reflecting on the past and the things that aren't there anymore
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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