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'.
Heavyhearted World
Ben Harper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There’s a flight risk today so a nurse guards the door
There’s a man in the corner who sounds just like me
Rambling on about time square new years eve
If I could only forget what I’m supposed to know
If I could only keep from sinking so low
Strapped me down and into the void I was hurled
Traded our rage for broken bones
Traded our fear for someplace to call home
Traded a lifetime for one long day
Nothing is more beautiful than to fade away
Fear and the memory of painful youth
It prepared us for the painful truth
So gather only what’s sacred summons all of your courage
And walk with me into this heavyhearted world
The lyrics of Ben Harper's song, Heavyhearted World, start by setting the stage on Christmas morning in the psych ward, where there is a nurse guarding the door as there is a flight risk that day. The lyrics then describe a man in the corner who sounds like the singer rambling on about time square new years eve. The singers then express a longing to forget what he is supposed to know and keep from sinking so low. However, he is strapped down into the void and has nowhere to turn in this heavyhearted world.
The second part of the song's lyrics talks about the different things the singer and other people may have traded in life, such as their rage for broken bones, fear for a place to call home, and a lifetime for one long day. Ben Harper then notes that nothing is more beautiful than to fade away, which is a sad but powerful affirmation. However, he also highlights that the fear and memory of painful youth has prepared us for the painful truth of life. Therefore, he encourages us to gather only what is sacred, summon our courage, and walk together into this heavyhearted world.
Overall, this song seems to be a poignant reflection on the struggles that people go through in their lives, especially for those who may be confined in a psych ward. Ben Harper's lyrics draw attention to the feelings of loneliness, despair, and longing for peace that people may experience. He encourages listeners to face life's difficulties with courage and valuable insight gained from past experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
It’s Christmas morning in the psych ward
The scene is set for the start of the song where Ben describes the conditions in a psychiatric ward
There’s a flight risk today so a nurse guards the door
Because a certain patient might try to escape from the ward, the vigilant nurse is keeping watch at the entrance
There’s a man in the corner who sounds just like me
Ben Harper notices a man who is just like him in terms of his behavior and mental state
Rambling on about time square new years eve
The man in the corner is going on an absurd monologue about a New Year's Eve that happened at Time Square
If I could only forget what I’m supposed to know
Ben wishes that he could erase himself of what he knows, implying that knowledge has weighed him down
If I could only keep from sinking so low
Not only erased of knowledge, but also Ben wants to lift the depths of his distress and betraying emotions
Strapped me down and into the void I was hurled
Ben Harper is physically and mentally restrained or limited to carry out what he desires, forcing him into a world of emptiness or darkness
With nowhere else to turn in this heavyhearted world
Basically admitting that his attempts are in vain as there's nowhere for him to get relief from his unresolved mentality
Traded our rage for broken bones
Individuals are willing to trade off their anger for getting physically hurt instead
Traded our fear for someplace to call home
People are willing to surrender their fear in return for a dwelling where they can have peace of mind
Traded a lifetime for one long day
Swapping the length of an entire lifespan for one stress-free day is worth it for some people given the stresses of life today
Nothing is more beautiful than to fade away
Metaphorically speaking, it is beautiful to vanish from the world, and escape from all the torments and burden of it entirely
Fear and the memory of painful youth
The fear and distress of an individual is not limited to experience but is also influenced by the memory of his difficult childhood
It prepared us for the painful truth
The difficult times in life whether experienced or recalled prepares us for the painful truths that await us both in the present and future
So gather only what’s sacred summons all of your courage
Reminding the listener to identify and preserve all of the most valuable aspects of life and summon up the courage to deal with them even in these trying times
And walk with me into this heavyhearted world
Ben Harper calls on every listener to join him in his heavyhearted world and sounds a message of hope for those who remain there
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BENJAMIN CHASE HARPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind