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'.
I Will Not Be Broken
Ben Harper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you give till it's gone
Then the people you fight
Hardest for say you're wrong
Before me flash all of
My memories and days
So don't stand insincere
I will not be broken
I won't be turned away
When it's too cold to breathe
And too dark to pray
I will not be broken
I go too far then
I go further still
Time starts to collapse
Leaves a void none can fill
Nothing you can say to
Hurt me with your forked tongue
Through blood shot eyes
I watch the world come undone
I will not be broken
I won't be turned away
When it's too cold to breathe
And too dark to pray
I've come too far to give up
Or to be turned around
I will not be broken
I will not go down
The song "I Will Not Be Broken" by Ben Harper is a powerful anthem about standing resolute in the face of adversity. The lyrics describe an individual who has given everything they have, only to be met with criticism and opposition from the very people they were fighting for. Despite this, the singer refuses to give up or be turned around, their memories and experiences flashing before their eyes as they face the end of their life. The lyric "I will not be broken" is repeated throughout the song, serving as a rallying cry for the singer and anyone who feels like they've been knocked down but refuses to stay there.
The image of the singer standing at the side of their own grave is a poignant one, as it speaks to the idea of standing up for yourself and your beliefs even in the face of death. The line "when it's too cold to breathe and too dark to pray" adds to this feeling of desperation, as if the singer is clinging to their strength and determination even in the bleakest of circumstances. The chorus is a reminder that no matter how far you go or how hard you fight, you can always choose to remain unbroken.
The song is a powerful testament to the human spirit and the strength we can find within ourselves when faced with adversity. It's a call to arms for anyone who has ever felt like giving up, reminding them that they can choose resilience in the face of even the toughest challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Give and you give
You offer your help and support generously
And you give till it's gone
You continue to give until you have nothing left to offer
Then the people you fight
The ones that you have struggled for
Hardest for say you're wrong
Those same people criticize and reject you
Before me flash all of
In front of me, there are so many
My memories and days
Remembrances of my past
So don't stand insincere
Don't pretend to be something you're not
At the side of my grave
When I'm gone and no longer here
I will not be broken
I won't allow others to defeat me emotionally or spiritually
I won't be turned away
I won't be dismissed or rejected by others
When it's too cold to breathe
During the toughest and most challenging moments
And too dark to pray
When even prayer or hope seems impossible
I go too far then
I often push myself to my limits
I go further still
And then I surpass those limits
Time starts to collapse
The passage of time seems to lose all significance
Leaves a void none can fill
And it creates an emptiness that cannot be satisfied by anyone or anything
Nothing you can say to
You can't wound or hurt me with
Hurt me with your forked tongue
Your empty and deceptive words
Through blood shot eyes
Despite my physical and emotional exhaustion
I watch the world come undone
I observe the chaos and destruction that surrounds me
I've come too far to give up
I've made significant progress and achieved too much to give in or quit now
Or to be turned around
I won't let others sway me from my path or goals
I will not go down
I won't let anyone or anything defeat me or bring me to my knees
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: BEN HARPER, JASON MOZERSKY, JESSE INGALLS, JORDAN RICHARDSON, KYLE CRUSHAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind