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'.
Oppression->
Ben Harper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You pray on us when we sleep
Oppression
You chase after the tired the poor the weak
Oppression
You know you mean only harm
Oppression
You reach out with your long arm
But oppression
I won't let you near me
Oppression
You shall learn to fear me
Oppression
You seek population control
Oppression
To divide and to conquer is your goal
Oppression
I swear that hatred is your home
Oppression
You just won't leave bad enough alone
But oppression
I won't let you near me
Oppression
You shall learn to fear me
Oppression
I don't see how you sleep
Oppression
For your bleeding conscience I weep
Oppression
You may have the dollar on your side
But oppression
From the gospel truth you cannot hide
And
Oppression
I won't let you near me
Oppression
You shall learn to fear me
Oppression
I won't let you near me
Oppression
You shall fear me
In Ben Harper's song Oppression, he highlights the destructive force that oppression can be. He refers to it using personal pronouns "you" and "your," which evoke the idea of a person or entity. He accuses this entity of praying on people when they are most vulnerable - when they are asleep. The oppression he describes then chases after people who are already disadvantaged - the tired, poor, and weak. The impact of oppression is not just intentional harm but also leaves a sense of fear and vulnerability in its wake.
Harper sheds light on how oppression works. It seeks population control, which typically means a select few maintain power and the masses are subjugated to their will. To achieve this, oppression divides and conquers. In other words, it pits groups of people against each other, making it easier to maintain control. One way of achieving this is by fostering an environment of hate, which Harper refers to as the home of oppression. But, through this song, Harper asserts that despite the power oppression may have, he refuses to let it come near him. Furthermore, he promises that it will "learn to fear" him.
Line by Line Meaning
You pray on us when we sleep
Oppression preys on us when we are at our most vulnerable, during our sleep.
You chase after the tired the poor the weak
Oppression actively seeks out those who are already struggling, such as the tired, poor, and weak.
You know you mean only harm
Oppression is fully aware that its intentions are only malicious.
You reach out with your long arm
Oppression extends itself with great reach and power to maintain its grasp over others.
But oppression
I won't let you near me
Despite oppression's efforts, the artist refuses to allow it to come close or have power over them.
You shall learn to fear me
The singer will make sure that oppression realizes the strength of their resistance and will eventually be afraid of them.
You seek population control
Oppression aims to control and limit the number of people it chooses to oppress.
To divide and to conquer is your goal
Oppression aims to pit individuals against each other to weaken them and maintain its control over them.
I swear that hatred is your home
Oppression is fueled by pure hatred as it settles into a permanent residence within it.
You just won't leave bad enough alone
Oppression thrives on constantly worsening and intensifying its oppression onto others.
I don't see how you sleep
The singer questions how oppression can sleep with the harm and destruction it causes to others weighing on its conscience.
For your bleeding conscience I weep
The artist empathizes with oppression's conscience that must carry the weight of the damage it causes, even though they are on opposing sides.
You may have the dollar on your side
Oppression may possess wealth and material resources that support its oppression and agenda.
From the gospel truth you cannot hide
Despite its power and resources, oppression cannot hide from the truth and justice that will ultimately prevail.
And oppression
I won't let you near me
You shall learn to fear me
Oppression
I won't let you near me
You shall fear me
The singer emphasizes their conviction and determination that oppression will never gain power over them and it will eventually come to fear them.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@vie8894
ONE OF MY FAVORITE SONG EVER 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 💜💜💜💜💜🕊️🕊️🕊️🌹🌹🌹🌟1️⃣🌏
@vie8894
TOO STRONG THIS ONE 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🗽🕊️🕊️🗽🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️1️⃣🌏🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹
@grenolf
Sogood..sogood...SOOOO VERY GOOOOD. ..Ben is A PROPHET............
@vie8894
THANKS U SO MUCH BEN
@christiancarluccio5554
Thank you Mister.
You give misters a great name..the little misters like us all,thanks a bunch for been,Ben Harper maximum respect.
Love and respect
@romainlongo4934
so good so right
@sleekcartim
oppression, dont let it take the fight out of you
@kentsingman3808
"To divide and to conquer is your goal". Come together
@Aitatxo29
GIGANTE BEN
@laurene.breaux7366
♥️