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'.
In Your Eyes
Ben Harper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Days pass and this emptiness fills my heart
When I want to run away
I drive off in my car
But whichever way I choose
I come back to the place you are
And all my instincts, they return
Without a noise, without my pride
I reach out from the inside
In your eyes
The light, the heat
I am complete
I see the doorway
To a thousand churches
The resolution of all the fruitless searches
Oh, I see the light and the heat
Yes, I want to be that complete
I want to touch the light
The heat I see in your eyes
Love, I don't like to see so much pain
So much wasted and each moment is slipping away
I get so tired, working so hard for our survival
I look to these times with you, to keep me awake and alive
And all my instincts, they return
And the grand facade, so soon will burn
Without a noise, without my pride
I reach out from the inside
In your eyes
The light and the heat
I am complete
I see the doorway to a thousand churches
And resolution of all my fruitless searches
Oh, I see the light and the heat
Yes, I want to be that complete
I want to touch the light,
The heat I see in your eyes
In your eyes
In your eyes
The song "In Your Eyes" by Ben Harper is a romantic ballad that expresses the power of love and how it can bring completeness to one's inner self. In the first verse, the singer expresses the emptiness in his heart despite his attempts to run away from his pain. He tries to escape but always finds himself back where the person he loves resides. He realizes that his desire to be away from the pain leads him back to love.
In the chorus, the lyrics are filled with vivid imagery which expresses the nature of the singer's love. The light and heat in the lover's eyes represent the depth of this emotion. The thousand churches represent the infinite power of love and the resolution of all his fruitless searches is finally found through his lover's eyes. The singer wants to touch the light and the heat he sees in his lover's eyes and become complete.
In the second verse, the singer recognizes the pain of the world and how each moment seems lost. He is tired of working hard to survive and finds his strength through the love of his partner. The grand facade, which represents the struggles of life, will burn without noise or pride reminding us of the power of love.
Overall, the song paints a picture of the transformative power of love which can provide completeness, resolution and escape from the struggles of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Love, I get so lost, sometimes
Sometimes I feel lost in my life and don't know what direction to take.
Days pass and this emptiness fills my heart
As time goes by, I feel increasingly empty and unfulfilled inside.
When I want to run away, I drive off in my car
When I feel overwhelmed and want to escape, I often get in my car and drive away.
But whichever way I choose, I come back to the place you are
No matter where I go or what I do, I always come back to the person I love.
And all my instincts, they return
When I'm with you, all of my natural feelings and desires come back to me.
And the grand facade, so soon will burn
Any false image or pretense I may have will quickly dissolve when I'm with you.
Without a noise, without my pride, I reach out from the inside
I reach out to you from the depths of my heart and soul, without any ego or self-importance.
In your eyes, the light, the heat, I am complete
When I look into your eyes, I see all the passion and warmth that makes me feel whole and complete.
I see the doorway to a thousand churches and resolution of all the fruitless searches
Being with you brings me a sense of fulfillment that no amount of searching for truth or religion ever could.
Oh, I see the light and the heat, yes, I want to be that complete
I see the love and passion in your eyes, and I long to feel completed by it.
I want to touch the light, the heat I see in your eyes
I want to be close to you and feel the same warmth and love that I see in your eyes.
Love, I don't like to see so much pain, so much wasted and each moment is slipping away
I feel a deep empathy for the suffering and wasted time that exists in the world.
I get so tired, working so hard for our survival, I look to these times with you, to keep me awake and alive
Life can be exhausting, and my love for you helps keep me motivated and alive during difficult times.
In your eyes, the light and the heat, I am complete
When I'm with you, I feel whole and fulfilled, and I see all of the passion and warmth that makes me feel alive and complete.
In your eyes, in your eyes
I am constantly drawn to the love and passion I see in your eyes, and that's where I find my sense of completion and fulfillment.
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brian Morrison
The artist singing this is definitely Jeffrey Gaines. I saw him live twice and have heard this version of the song a hundred times. I love it so much!
Zübeyde kesgin
Yesss its him. And i didnt understand why its writen like its by ben harper
Willow's campfire songs Rainy
Where drops the guitar pick and thanks the guy in the audience for giving it back to him. Ben Harper or is it Jeffrey Gaines? At the end of the song when the crowd is singing.... IN YOUR EYES
hoan zoumouroud
you're right
Sara Ananda
Ben Harper's version is touching me deeply, he has this soar and longin' voice. Like a trampoline, he sings me up and down and l feel so complete!
sledge hammer
Great voice, great cover.
julz611
After 15 years of thinking this was Ben Harper, I'd like to officially thank those that commented telling us it is Jeffrey Gaines. I have now found this on Spotify and am one happy lady.
Angela Curran
Omg it’s taken me 10 years and today I have finally realised it’s Jeffery Gaines and I found it on Spotify and it’s completed my day. I’m sure you know the feeling.
Mr Mr
@Angela Curran poor person...Jeff Gaines all the way on this one..
Yago Froes
Same LOL