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'.
Waiting On A Sign
Ben Harper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Trying to find forgiveness
I didn't come here
Looking for a fix
I didn't come here
In hopes of seeing
How the unforsaken get their kicks
Close as you can get
But I'm still nowhere near
Now I'm just down here
Waiting on a sign
I'm running out of time
I'm here waiting on a sign
A mother is only happy as her saddest child
To learn to live without can take awhile
And it's a long way back to anywhere
And it's not too late, oh but it's getting there
Like a cry for help that nobody hears
Close as you can get
But I'm still nowhere near
I'm just here waiting on your sign
I'm running out of time
I'm here waiting, waiting on a sign
So you blow a veil of smoke
To protect yourself from the joke
Look around this room and say,
"Man, I don't belong here."
There's so many sides to the truth
But only one side to a fact
What will we do with what we can't take back?
Like a cry, like a cry for help
That nobody hears
Close as you can get but I'm still
Nowhere near
I'm just down here
Waiting on a sign
I'm running, I'm running out of time
I'm waiting on a sign
Oh I'm waiting on a sign
Got me here, I'm waiting on a sign
Just waiting on a sign
I'm waiting on a sign
Just waiting on a sign
The song "Waiting On A Sign" by Ben Harper seems to be about the feeling of being lost and trying to find guidance or direction. Harper starts off by saying that he did not come to a certain place for forgiveness or to find a "fix". He is also not interested in seeing how the "unforsaken" find happiness. It is clear that Harper is searching for something more meaningful than what is on offer. He then goes on to describe the feeling of being close to finding what he's looking for but being unable to reach it - "It's like a cry for help nobody hears/Close as you can get/But I'm still nowhere near". It seems that Harper is still trying to find a way to better himself and overcome whatever struggle he is facing. He also speaks to the idea of not feeling like you belong in certain spaces or groups of people, but being unable to articulate why. The repetition of the phrase "waiting on a sign" throughout the song suggests that Harper is waiting for some sort of signal from the universe to guide him towards where he needs to be.
Line by Line Meaning
I didn't come here
Trying to find forgiveness
The singer did not come to this place with the intention of seeking forgiveness
I didn't come here
Looking for a fix
The singer did not come to this place hoping to find a solution to their problems
I didn't come here
In hopes of seeing
How the unforsaken get their kicks
The singer did not come to this place to observe how the fortunate people here enjoy their lives
It's like a cry for help nobody hears
The artist feels like they are calling out for help, but nobody seems to be listening
Close as you can get
But I'm still nowhere near
Although the artist is physically close to something or someone, they still feel emotionally distant
Now I'm just down here
Waiting on a sign
The singer is currently feeling lost and waiting for a sign or indication of what to do next
I'm running out of time
I'm here waiting on a sign
The singer feels like they are running out of time to make a decision and are still waiting for guidance
A mother is only happy as her saddest child
To learn to live without can take awhile
And it's a long way back to anywhere
And it's not too late, oh but it's getting there
The artist reflects on the idea that a mother's happiness is influenced by her child's sadness, and sometimes it takes time to adjust to living without someone. The journey back to happiness is long, but not impossible.
So you blow a veil of smoke
To protect yourself from the joke
Look around this room and say,
"Man, I don't belong here."
There's so many sides to the truth
But only one side to a fact
What will we do with what we can't take back?
The artist observes how people use smoke or other ways to shield themselves from pain or embarrassment. They then comment on the complexity of the truth and the uncertainty of what to do with past mistakes.
Just waiting on a sign
I'm waiting on a sign
Got me here, I'm waiting on a sign
The artist repeats the idea of waiting for a sign, emphasizing their current state of confusion and indecisiveness.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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