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'.
Don't Take That Attitude to Your Grave
Ben Harper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And what's yours is mine too
Now you've got more than you can spend
But all of the money
In the whole wide world
Is not gonna help you in the end
Now while there's still time to be saved
Don't take that attitude to your grave
Don't take that attitude to your grave
Don't you take it there
I hear helicopters
Over my house every day
Shining their lights and flying low
Treat a child like a criminal
From the day that he is born
And you're gonna reap just what you sow
Now while there's still time to be saved
Don't take that attitude to your grave
Might be too late for you I'm afraid
Don't take that attitude to your grave
Don't you take it there
So you can move your court case
Way across town
You can move it across the whole wide globe
But it ain't gonna help your court case
Up in the sky
When you go to put on your white robe
Now while there's still time to be saved
Don't take that attitude to your grave
Might be too late for you I'm afraid
They don't want it there
Don't you take it there
And you dare the children
To stay off of drugs
Now I dare you to stop letting them in
And how dare you point your finger
At a gang out on the street
While it's you who is committing the sin
Now while there's still time to be saved
Don't take that attitude to your grave
Might be too late for you I'm afraid
Don't take that attitude to your grave
Don't you take it there
They don't want it there
You know your mother taught you better
Don't take that attitude to your grave
The song "Don't Take That Attitude to Your Grave" by Ben Harper is a call to action to anyone with a negative and selfish attitude. The first verse begins with a message to a person who believes that everything belongs to them and that they have more than enough money to satisfy their desires. However, Harper reminds the listener that all the money in the world won't help them when they pass away. The chorus urges the listener not to take their negative attitude with them to their grave and to change their ways while there is still time.
The second verse addresses deeper societal issues such as the treatment of children and the criminal justice system. Harper speaks of helicopters flying low over his house every day, suggesting a militarized society that holds a negative view of its own citizens. He points out the irony of treating children like criminals from the day they are born, only to be met with negative behavior that stems from the situation the children have been placed in by the system. He goes on to speak about court cases being moved across the globe, only to find that it won't matter in the grand scheme of things when faced with judgement in the afterlife. The final lines of the song refer to the hypocrisy of those who point fingers at gangs and other negative influences, while they are themselves responsible for the root of the problem.
Overall, the song is a call to be mindful of one's actions and attitudes while alive, and to not let negativity and selfishness define one's legacy. It's a reminder that we will all face judgement eventually, and the way we choose to live now will determine how we are remembered.
Line by Line Meaning
You say what's mine is mine
You claim ownership over what belongs to you and even what belongs to others.
And what's yours is mine too
You have an entitled attitude, believing you should have what others possess as well.
Now you've got more than you can spend
You've amassed wealth beyond what you can actually use.
But all of the money
Regardless of how much wealth you've gained,
In the whole wide world
on a planet with billions of people,
Is not gonna help you in the end
money will not matter in the afterlife or when facing death.
Now while there's still time to be saved
Before it's too late, before you face the consequences,
Don't take that attitude to your grave
Don't let your pride and selfishness consume you.
Might be too late for you I'm afraid
If you continue in your ways, you may not be able to turn things around.
I hear helicopters
The artist hears the sounds of police presence and surveillance.
Over my house every day
This is a common occurrence, happening frequently.
Shining their lights and flying low
The police are conducting their work in a way that feels invasive and threatening.
Treat a child like a criminal
Criminalizing youth and holding them accountable before they've even done anything wrong.
From the day that he is born
This kind of treatment and mentality starts as soon as someone is born.
And you're gonna reap just what you sow
The negative consequences of these behaviors will eventually come back to haunt you.
So you can move your court case
You may try to avoid consequences for your actions,
Way across town
Moving location to evade accountability.
You can move it across the whole wide globe
You may even move to a different country or continent.
But it ain't gonna help your court case
No matter how much you try to run or hide, justice will eventually catch up to you.
Up in the sky
When you face judgment in the afterlife or beyond,
When you go to put on your white robe
No amount of wealth or power will be useful for salvation.
And you dare the children
You challenge and provoke young people to behave a certain way.
To stay off of drugs
Encouraging youth to avoid the dangers of drug use.
Now I dare you to stop letting them in
The artist challenges adults to stop exposing young people to negative influences and temptations.
And how dare you point your finger
You have the audacity to accuse others,
At a gang out on the street
Blaming street gangs for violence and crime.
While it's you who is committing the sin
Yet, you yourself are engaging in destructive behaviors and contributing to the problem.
Don't you take it there
Don't carry your harmful attitudes through life and into death.
They don't want it there
You will not be accepted in certain places with these harmful beliefs and behaviors.
You know your mother taught you better
You were raised with morals and values that contradict your current behavior.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BEN C HARPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind