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'.
Faded
Ben Harper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like a pantomime
Such a silent crime
You so easily abuse
Lack of confidence
It's your best offense
You so easily confuse
Still you try to hide it
Faded
So faded
Like a memory gone
There's no recollection
Faded
So faded
Like a forgotten dream
Further than it seems
You so hastily defy
When you think you need it
You find a way to bleed it
You so hastily deny
Pleading innocence
It's your best defense
You so hastily reply
The moment that you said it
Already regret it
Faded
So faded
Like a memory gone
There's no recollection
Faded
So faded
Like a forgotten dream
Further than it seems
You need coolin', baby, I'm not foolin'
I'm gonna say it, yeah, go back to schoolin'
Way down inside, honey, you need it!
I'm gonna give you my love, I'm gonna give you my love!
Oh - wanna whole lotta love, wanna whole lotta love,
Wanna whole lotta love, wanna whole lotta love
You've been learning, baby, I mean "learning"
All them good times, baby, baby, I've been yearning
Way, way down inside, oh honey, you need it!
I'm gonna give you my love, ha, I'm gonna give you my love, aha!
Oh - wanna whole lotta love, wanna whole lotta love,
Wanna whole lotta love, wanna whole lotta love
"Ah, ah, ah ..." oder "Lo-o-o-ove"
You've been coolin', baby, I've been droolin'
All the good times, baby, I've been misusin'
Way, way down inside, I'm gonna give you my love
I'm gonna give you ev'ry inch of my love,
I'm gonna give you my love - hey! - all right, let's go!
Wanna whole lotta love...
Way down inside, woman, you need - (2 Fuzz-Guitar-Schl"ge)
Lo-o-o-o-o-ove!
The song "Faded" by Ben Harper is a reflection on a dysfunctional relationship where the partner easily amuses, confuses, and abuses the other person. The song describes the partner as lacking confidence and using that to their advantage to manipulate the other person. The chorus refers to the fading of the relationship, like a memory or forgotten dream, that is further than what initially appeared. The song's chorus repeats, further emphasizing that the relationship is distant and disconnected.
Harper's lyrics explore the dysfunctional relationship further, referring to the partner as hastily defying and denying, indicating how the partner is quick to act out and blame others for their actions. The "pleading innocence" line further explores the partner's manipulative tendencies. The chorus repeats again, emphasizing the distance between the two people.
The final verse changes the tone of the song, with Harper singing, "You need coolin', baby, I'm not foolin'" and referring to the partner as "woman." These lyrics are a nod to Led Zeppelin's song "Whola Lotta Love." The lyrics in this verse suggest that the partner needs to cool down and that the singer is willing to offer love and loyal affection. This shift in the song's tone highlights the deep-seated emotion and complexity of the relationship. The chorus repeats one more time before ending with the sound effects of distorted guitar feedback.
Line by Line Meaning
You so easily amuse
You can be brought to joy so effortlessly
Like a pantomime
Like an exaggerated theatrical performance
Such a silent crime
Your actions that hurt others can often go unnoticed and without any consequence
You so easily abuse
You can hurt others so effortlessly
Lack of confidence
Your inability to believe in yourself
It's your best offense
Is your go-to method of protecting yourself
You so easily confuse
You can easily mix up things and make them unclear
You can't deny it
You cannot ignore that this is the case
Still you try to hide it
You try to conceal your actions from others
Faded
Disappeared over time
So faded
So drastically disappeared over time
Like a memory gone
Like a recollection that vanished
There's no recollection
There's no memory remaining
Faded
Disappeared over time
So faded
So drastically disappeared over time
Like a forgotten dream
Like a vision that has been abandoned, did not happen or never happened at all
Further than it seems
Having disappeared to the point it seems several steps farther away than it is
You so hastily defy
You are quick to refuse or disobey others
When you think you need it
When you believe the decision is necessary
You find a way to bleed it
You find a way to do things to damage or cause harm to yourself
You so hastily deny
You are quick to refuse or contradict someone
Pleading innocence
Attempting to convince another that one did not commit a wrongdoing
It's your best defense
Your primary mechanism to try to avoid blame
You so hastily reply
You make remarks quickly
The moment that you said it
As soon as words leave your mouth
Already regret it
Immediately feeling remorse over it
You need coolin', baby, I'm not foolin'
You need to be calmed down, honey, I am not jesting
I'm gonna say it, yeah, go back to schoolin'
I will not keep it a secret, yes, you should return to your education
Way down inside, honey, you need it!
Deep down inside, dear, this is something you need!
I'm gonna give you my love, I'm gonna give you my love!
I will give you my affection, I will give you my endearment!
Oh - wanna whole lotta love, wanna whole lotta love,
Oh - crave a lot of love, crave a lot of love,
You've been learning, baby, I mean "learning"
You have been living life, honey, that is what I truly mean
All them good times, baby, baby, I've been yearning
I have been wanting those good moments, honey
Way, way down inside, oh honey, you need it!
Deep down inside, oh darling, you need it!
I'm gonna give you my love, ha, I'm gonna give you my love, aha!
I will give you my affection, ha, I will give you my heart, aha!
You've been coolin', baby, I've been droolin'
You have been chilling, honey, I have been lusting
All the good times, baby, I've been misusin'
I have not made the most of all those great moments, darling
Way, way down inside, I'm gonna give you my love
Very, very deep inside, I will love you
I'm gonna give you ev'ry inch of my love,
I will give you all of the love that I have,
I'm gonna give you my love - hey! - all right, let's go!
I will give you my heart - hey! - alright, let's do it!
Way down inside, woman, you need - (2 Fuzz-Guitar-Schl"ge)
Deep down inside, woman, you need - (2 Fuzz-Guitar beats)
Lo-o-o-o-o-ove!
Love! (sung in a long drawn out manner)
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BEN HARPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@smokinjz
You so easily amuse
like a pantomime
such a silent crime
You so easily abuse
lack of confidence
it's your best offense
You so easily confuse
you can't deny it
still you try to hide it
Faded
so faded
like a memory gone
there's no recollection
Faded
so faded
like a forgotten dream
further than it seems
You so hastily defy
when you think you need it
you find a way to bleed it
You so hastily deny
pleading innocence
it's your best defense
You so hastily reply
the moment that you said it
already regret it
Faded
so faded
like a memory gone
there's no recollection
Faded
so faded
like a forgotten dream
further than it seems
@Rosa29
LYRICS
You so easily amuse
Like a pantomime
Such a silent crime
You so easily abuse
Lack of confidence
It's your best offense
You so easily confuse
You can't deny it
Still you try to hide it
Faded
So faded
Like a memory gone
There's no recollection
Faded
So faded
Like a forgotten dream
Further than it seems
You so hastily defy
When you think you need it
You find a way to bleed it
You so hastily deny
Pleading innocence
It's your best defense
You so hastily reply
The moment that you said it
Already regret it
Faded
So faded
Like a memory gone
There's no recollection
Faded
So faded
Like a forgotten dream
Further than it seems
Source: LyricFind
@jasonsteverson4609
The perfect Led-Hendrix song.
@boombunmi9061
Hendrix never played slide.
@jasonsteverson4609
@@boombunmi9061 Google it!
And, the slide wasn't the Jimi reference. His influence is the swirling and lyrical conversation style with a 3 piece dynamic sound. Much like Led in that respect. Led's influence here, is the pointed choppiness as a Bonham etude with Page's slide combination similarity.
@blueswasthecatalyst7758
I was drawn to Ben Harper because of his dynamic use of light and shade just like Led Zeppelin did. He is brilliant.
@blueswasthecatalyst7758
Faded is the 1st Ben Harper song I ever heard on the recovery programme on ABC TV in Australia. He played it live and I was blown away. He has so many good albums and the quality and musicianship is fantastic. His diversity is what I love. He can collaborate brilliantly too. What a super talented artist Ben is.
@rodlonger17
Hard 2 believe this recording is 20 years old! Ben's first 4 recordings (Welcome to the Cruel World, Fight for Your Mind, The Will to Live, & Burn to Shine) R simply some of best musical compositions of his generation that far 2 few ears of that generation have heard. Brilliant, Prophetic, Genius, Iconic, Acoustic, & Electric...
@mickgalbiati4802
i totally agree with you. 4 INCREDIBLE ALBUMS IN A ROW. I was lucky to discover Ben's music at that time (thanks to a friend of mine)
@thelastperfectman4139
Best song by Ben Harper; number 2 “Burn to Shine”. Real rockers
@nosskopajtas
so good I found it ...again..Thanks Bill and RadioParadise
@fussymynx78
This song is my entire mood. And this song,..-will NEVER fade