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'.
Gather 'Round The Stone
Ben Harper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That you're too young to go
There's no freedom to be found
Lying face up in the ground
Ashes from an unfinished life
Are all that's left
In a tear-drop-shaped locket
You whip the back of freedom
'Till it bleeds an oil stream
Then you sail down upon it
In your killing machine
Old men who send children
Off to die in vain
They will hear death's constant whisper
Call remember my name
Gather 'round the stone
The lyrics of "Gather 'Round The Stone" by Ben Harper speak to the consequences of war and the impact it has on those who are too young to fully comprehend the weight and danger of it. The opening lines tell the listener that they are too young to know that they are too young to die, implying that the reality of war is beyond the understanding of youth. The following lines paint a picture of the aftermath of war with the imagery of a person's ashes being encased in a locket worn by their mother. The idea of losing someone in the prime of their life is further emphasized with the phrase "unfinished life."
Harper then moves on to criticize the leaders who send young people off to fight in wars that achieve nothing. The metaphor of a ship sailing on an oil stream that was created by whipping the back of freedom is a commentary on how war is often fought for economic gains rather than the freedom of the people involved. The lyrics go on to suggest that the old men in power who make these decisions will eventually face their own mortality and regret their actions.
Line by Line Meaning
You're too young to know
You lack the maturity to understand the harsh realities of life.
That you're too young to go
As a youth, you are not ready to face death.
There's no freedom to be found
Freedom is elusive and cannot be attained easily.
Lying face up in the ground
Being dead and buried horizontally.
Ashes from an unfinished life
After an unfinished life, all that is left are the remains of the deceased.
Are all that's left
Nothing else remains.
In a tear-drop-shaped locket
A locket shaped like a tear drop.
Hanging from his mother's chest
Worn on a necklace around her neck, close to her heart.
You whip the back of freedom
You exploit freedom for personal gain.
'Till it bleeds an oil stream
You exploit freedom until it causes harm to others.
Then you sail down upon it
You ride upon the freedom you exploit.
In your killing machine
Using a weapon of mass destruction.
Old men who send children
Those in power who send young people to war.
Off to die in vain
Sending people to their death for pointless reasons.
They will hear death's constant whisper
Those who send people to war will eventually have to face the consequences of their choices.
Call remember my name
They will be remembered in history for the wrong reasons.
Gather 'round the stone
Assemble for a funeral or ceremony around the gravestone.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BEN C HARPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind