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'.
Sweet Home Chicago
Ben Harper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, baby, don't you want to go?
Back to the land of California, to my sweet home Chicago.
Oh, baby, don't you want to go?
Oh, baby, don't you want to go?
Back to the land of California, to my sweet home Chicago.
Now one and one is two, two and two is four.
I'm heavy loaded baby, I'm booked I got to go.
Back to the land of California, to my sweet home Chicago.
Now two and two is four, four and two is six.
You goin keep on monkeying round here friend boy.
You goin get your business all in atrick, but I'm cryin.
Baby, honey, don't you want to go?
Back to the land of California, to my sweet home Chicago.
Now six and two is eight, eight and two is ten,
Friend boy she trick you one time, she sure goin do it again.
But I'm cryin, hey, hey, baby don't you want to go?
To the land of California, to my sweet home Chicago.
I'm goin to California, from there to Des Moines, Iowa.
Somebody will tell me that you need my help someday, cryin.
Hey, hey, baby, don't you want to go?
Back to the land of California, to my sweet home Chicago.
The first two lines of Ben Harper's "Sweet Home Chicago" are a plea to someone to come with him to California. He asks this person in a slightly desperate tone of voice not once, but twice, "Oh, baby, don't you want to go?" He then explains that California is his "sweet home Chicago" by referencing a place he's familiar with but doesn't reside in any longer. This could be interpreted metaphorically to mean that California has become just as much home to him as Chicago ever was. Harper then launches into a series of rhyming couplets that suggest that the singer is heading to Chicago from California, as if homesickness has overcome him. He mentions that he's "heavy loaded" and implies that he's got places to go and people to see in Chicago.
The chorus repeats the first two lines, as if to emphasize the sense of urgency and desperation. A pattern then emerges in the verse-chorus structure of the song. Harper goes from referencing mathematical equations to coupling lines that express both warning and temptation. He warns his friend about a certain woman who will trick him, but immediately tempts him to join him in California. There is a sense of longing throughout the song, but instead of pleading, Harper sticks to the pattern by alternating between warning and tempting his friend.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, baby, don't you want to go?
Asking if the listener wants to leave their current location.
Back to the land of California, to my sweet home Chicago.
Referencing a desire to go back and forth between California and Chicago.
Now one and one is two, two and two is four.
Simple math calculation to emphasize simplicity.
I'm heavy loaded baby, I'm booked I got to go.
Feeling busy and overworked.
Cryin baby - honey don't you want to go?
Asking again if the listener wants to leave with emotional plea.
Now two and two is four, four and two is six.
Continuing to emphasize simplicity.
You goin keep on monkeying round here friend boy.
Warning someone against wasting time or fooling around.
You goin get your business all in atrick, but I'm cryin.
Predicting negative consequences for poor behavior.
Baby, honey, don't you want to go?
Asking again if the listener wants to leave, this time with pet names.
Now six and two is eight, eight and two is ten,
Returning to simple math calculations.
Friend boy she trick you one time, she sure goin do it again.
Warning someone about past negative experiences repeating.
But I'm cryin, hey, hey, baby don't you want to go?
Expressing sadness but still asking if the listener wants to leave.
To the land of California, to my sweet home Chicago.
Reiterating desire to go back and forth between California and Chicago.
I'm goin to California, from there to Des Moines, Iowa.
Stating personal plans to travel between California and Iowa.
Somebody will tell me that you need my help someday, cryin.
Predicting that someone will need help in the future and expressing sadness in advance.
Hey, hey, baby, don't you want to go?
Asking for the final time if the listener wants to leave.
Back to the land of California, to my sweet home Chicago.
Reiterating desire to go back and forth between California and Chicago one last time.
Contributed by Scarlett H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@etettesqq
are you sure it is from Ben harper? I cannot find info online nor tabs
@TimBirkenholz
yup. Here's the info
http://www.benharper.com/music/collaborations/pleasure-and-pain
@raoulleminion8839
elle est super étrange cette version..
@argos4416
Elle est surtout excellente ;