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'.
Indifference
Ben Harper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Watch as she lies silent
For soon light will be gone
Oh I will stand arms outstretched pretend I'm free to roam
Oh I will make my way through one more day in hell
How much difference does it make?
How much difference does it make yeah
Oh I'll keep takin' punches until their will grows tired
Oh I will stare the sun down until my eyes go blind
Hey, I won't change direction
And I won't change my mind
How much difference does it make?
How much difference does it make?
I'll swallow poison, until I grow immune
I will scream my lungs out till it fills this room
How much difference?
How much difference?
How much difference does it make?
How much difference does it make?
The lyrics of "Indifference" by Ben Harper and Eddie Vedder are highly evocative, telling of a person's resolve to continue enduring a difficult situation, perhaps even a period of depression, despite the overwhelming pain and emptiness they feel. The song opens with the lines, "I will light the match this morning so I won't be alone / Watch as she lies silent / For soon light will be gone." The person is contemplating the frailty and impermanence of life, and it seems they may be close to losing hope.
As the song progresses, the listener can hear the determination and stubbornness in the person's resolve as they say, "Oh I will stand arms outstretched pretend I'm free to roam / Oh I will make my way through one more day in hell." The person seems to be putting up a brave front and pretending to be free and unbothered by their situation, when really they are struggling to get by.
The lyrics "I'll swallow poison, until I grow immune / I will scream my lungs out till it fills this room" suggest a willingness to endure and overcome whatever obstacles they face, even if it means enduring more pain. Overall, the song is about resilience, the ability to persevere through difficult times, and the hope that perhaps one day things will be different.
Line by Line Meaning
I will light the match this morning so I won't be alone
I will light a match early in the morning to make sure I am not going through the day alone.
Watch as she lies silent
Observe as she remains quiet.
For soon light will be gone
Because the light would be gone, something unpleasant would be bound to happen.
Oh I will stand arms outstretched pretend I'm free to roam
I'll raise my arms while pretending to be free to travel wherever I please.
Oh I will make my way through one more day in hell
I'll get through another day in misery one step at a time.
How much difference does it make?
How much of an impact does it make?
I will hold the candle till it burns up my arm
I'll grasp the candle until my arm becomes numb.
Oh I'll keep takin' punches until their will grows tired
I'll keep taking blows until the opponent gets exhausted.
Oh I will stare the sun down until my eyes go blind
I'll fix my gaze on the sun until my vision becomes blurred.
Hey, I won't change direction
Hey, I won't move in a different direction.
And I won't change my mind
And I won't alter my opinion.
I'll swallow poison, until I grow immune
I'll take in poison until my body is immune to it.
I will scream my lungs out till it fills this room
I will yell so loudly that it would fill up the entire room.
How much difference?
How much of an impact?
How much difference?
How much of an impact?
How much difference does it make?
How much of an impact does it make?
How much difference does it make?
How much of an impact does it make?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID ABBRUZZESE, EDDIE VEDDER, JEFF AMENT, MIKE MCCREADY, STONE GOSSARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jakeberliner9246
Great performance!! Must've watched this hundreds of times over the years.
@namelessgrace6319
Me too! Always come back to it. :)
@laurawatters914
BEAUTIFUL SOOO BEAUTIFUL!! Ben Harper has always loved this song, he has sang it with Eddie many times. 😊💓🤘✌️
@sarahfinch6192
I will never stop viewing this performance. Spectacular!!
@mumblez7712
Got to see these guys do this one live in Adelaide '09.
Pure magic
@aleksandrabozovic3174
"I will change direction and I won't change my mind" heavy lirycs. Love this
@andrewsantos106
Me too. But its i wont change direction..
@Anne-zv3kp
The exchange beftween these two artists, at the end, is so beautiful and touching.
@rbenesh
I've listened to this every couple months for about 15 years and to this day its my favorite live performance.
@yasisoufi
R. Benesh Now I join u!