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'.
Put It On Me
Ben Harper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Spends her daddy's money so easy
She cuts cherry pie
While she looks you in the eye
So easy
The innocent naive of
Hairless cheek
The politics of generosity
There's an assassin out to get me
And they claim that
She's never missed
The one with an ex-lover
Whom she claims
To have never kissed
We turned at twenty paces
For love is a duel
And we stood still as stone
I can't imagine that
This is in the best interest
Of flesh and bone
I've been living in the city
For much too long
There's a neon sign in my mind
Flashing right and wrong
I can't afford your company
I spent my money buying time
I was lost out in the desert while
You were busy swimming in wine
You put it on me
Then left me lonely
In Ben Harper's song Put It On Me, he describes a woman who lives life easily, indulging in nectarines with honey and spending her father's money without thought. While she cuts cherry pie, she looks at you with innocent naive hairless cheek, and the politics of generosity make Harper weak. There is also an assassin out to get him, and the woman is said to have never missed. She even claims to have never kissed her ex-lover. They turned at twenty paces for love, but instead remained still as stone, as Harper questions if this is best for flesh and bone.
Line by Line Meaning
She eats nectarines with honey
She indulges in the sweetness of life
Spends her daddy's money so easy
She lives an easy life, spending her father's wealth effortlessly
She cuts cherry pie
She appears innocent and demure while engaged in something that causes pain or destruction
While she looks you in the eye
She is brazen and confrontational, facing things head-on
The innocent naive of
Referring to someone who though innocent, lacks experience or understanding
Hairless cheek
A reference to someone young or vulnerable
The politics of generosity
The act of giving can be seen as attempting to buy someone's affections
Make me weak
This behavior can be seductive and cause someone's morals to weaken
There's an assassin out to get me
Someone is out to harm the artist
And they claim that
There are accusations against a specific person
She's never missed
The assumption that someone has never failed before
The one with an ex-lover
The person being discussed has had romantic relationships in the past
Whom she claims
Someone is questioning the authenticity of the person's words
To have never kissed
The person is denying having any romantic involvement with the other party
We turned at twenty paces
Two people appear to be standing their ground, facing each other in a duel-like situation
For love is a duel
Love can be a battle or contest between two people
And we stood still as stone
Both parties are resolute and not willing to give in
I can't imagine that
The singer is having trouble understanding why someone would want to harm them
This is in the best interest
The singer doesn't believe that this situation is good for anyone involved
Of flesh and bone
Humans are vulnerable and can be physically hurt as a result of actions taken against them
I've been living in the city
The artist has been living a city lifestyle
For much too long
Being in the city has lasted longer than desired
There's a neon sign in my mind
The singer has conflicting thoughts or desires
Flashing right and wrong
These thoughts involve moral decisions
I can't afford your company
The singer cannot afford to be around people who are not good for them
I spent my money buying time
The singer has spent resources on things that aren't helpful or useful to them
I was lost out in the desert while
The singer was going through a difficult time
You were busy swimming in wine
Others around the artist seem to be enjoying life much more than they are
You put it on me
Someone has made the artist feel responsible for a situation they are in
Then left me lonely
That same person has left the singer feeling unsupported and alone
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: LEON LEWIS MOBLEY, BEN C HARPER, OLIVER FRANCIS CHARLES, MICHAEL B. WARD, JUAN DWAYNE NELSON, JASON CONRAD YATES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind