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'.
When She Believes
Ben Harper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They have blessed me; they have blessed me in the good graces of you
Now I have heard a hundred violins crying
And I, I have seen a hundred white doves flying
But nothing is as beautiful as when she believes
When she believes
When she believes
When she believes
When she believes in me
In me
How good it must feel to be so young, young and free
And a song that pleases a queen will always please me
Now I, I have heard the wisest of wisdom
And I, I have dined in palaces and kingdoms
But nothing is as beautiful as when she believes
When she believes
When she believes
When she believes
When she believes
When she believes in
Oh in me yeah, oh no no no no
Now all, all of life is just passing the time
Until once again your eyes look into mine
Now I, I have been adored by a stranger
And I, I have heard the whispering angels
But nothing is as beautiful as when she believes
When she believes
When she believes
When she believes
When she believes
When she believes in me
The lyrics to Ben Harper's song When She Believes are about the power and beauty of a woman's belief in the singer. He praises the goodness of God and his mother for bringing him closer to the woman he loves. The song expresses how the singer has seen and experienced many beautiful things, but nothing is more beautiful than when she believes in him. He talks about how it must feel to be young and free and how he has heard the wisest of wisdom and dined in palaces, but nothing can compare to the beauty of her belief. The song acknowledges that life is just passing the time until he can see her again and that he has been adored by strangers and heard whispering angels, but nothing is as beautiful as the woman's belief in him.
The lyrics are deeply personal and emotional, and they reflect the importance of love and commitment. The song is a tribute to the power of belief in a relationship and the way it can make someone feel strong and invincible.
Line by Line Meaning
Well the good lord is such a good lord with such a good mother too
The singer feels very fortunate to have been blessed by God and his mother.
They have blessed me; they have blessed me in the good graces of you
The blessings of God and his mother have led the singer to the person they are addressing.
Now I have heard a hundred violins crying
The singer has experienced a lot of sadness in life.
And I, I have seen a hundred white doves flying
The artist has experienced a lot of beauty in life.
But nothing is as beautiful as when she believes
The artist finds the belief of the person they are addressing to be the most beautiful thing in the world.
When she believes
Repetition of the previous line for emphasis.
When she believes in me
The belief of the person they are addressing in the singer is particularly meaningful and special.
How good it must feel to be so young, young and free
The artist envies the carefree nature of youth.
And a song that pleases a queen will always please me
The artist enjoys pleasing those in power, as it brings them happiness.
Now I, I have heard the wisest of wisdom
The artist has heard a lot of wise sayings in their life.
And I, I have dined in palaces and kingdoms
The singer has had the privilege of experiencing royal lifestyles.
Now all, all of life is just passing the time
The artist believes that life is simply a fleeting experience.
Until once again your eyes look into mine
The singer looks forward to being reunited with the person they are addressing.
Now I, I have been adored by a stranger
The singer has experienced admiration from someone they do not know well.
And I, I have heard the whispering angels
The singer has had a spiritual experience involving angels.
But nothing is as beautiful as when she believes
Repetition of an earlier line to reinforce its importance.
When she believes
Repetition of an earlier line for emphasis.
When she believes in me
The belief of the person they are addressing is crucial to the singer's happiness.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BEN HARPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Hugo Prince
The good lord is such a good lord
With such a good mother too
They have blessed me
In the good graces of you
I have heard a hundred violins crying
I have seen a hundred white doves flying
But nothing is as beautiful
As when she believes in me
How good it must feel
To be so young and free
And a song that pleases a queen
Will always please me
I have heard the wisest of wisdom
And I have dined in palaces and kingdoms
But nothing is as beautiful
As when she believes in me
All of life
Is just passing time
Until once again
Your eyes look into mine
I have been adored by a stranger
And I have heard the whispering angel
But nothing is as beautiful
As when she believes in me
♥
L. Lawliet
Ben Harper est vraiment magique. Il y a beaucoup de chagrin en entendant cette superbe musique.
J’ai hâte de le voir en contre en Juillet 2022
Doug Kreitzer
OH my GOD, I love Ben Harper. That was the most magical performance I've heard in a long time. What a song. That just lifted my heart up into my eyebrows
pompom2001
this is such a soul cleansing song.
Fabienne Boutillon
Cette chanson est juste sublissime 💜💜💜💜💜
Ashley W
This is a song my husband and I danced to at our wedding. Today we still dance to it. One of the most beautiful and inspiring songs I have ever heard.
Morgan Gable
We did too!
David Coralie
Plusieurs années que ce sons, ce morceau profond demeure en moi. Si on le perçois de la bonne manière on trouve notre sens commun ........ après la vie est faite de choix ..... god bless you la paix avec vous et en vous !! Amitié de ma part !
Mysha Williams
Love in its purest form is a drink no one can refuse. I am so freakin in love with this song....goose bumps. :)
Hugo Prince
The good lord is such a good lord
With such a good mother too
They have blessed me
In the good graces of you
I have heard a hundred violins crying
I have seen a hundred white doves flying
But nothing is as beautiful
As when she believes in me
How good it must feel
To be so young and free
And a song that pleases a queen
Will always please me
I have heard the wisest of wisdom
And I have dined in palaces and kingdoms
But nothing is as beautiful
As when she believes in me
All of life
Is just passing time
Until once again
Your eyes look into mine
I have been adored by a stranger
And I have heard the whispering angel
But nothing is as beautiful
As when she believes in me
♥
Pablo Antonino Nieto
Every word is magic, every song's a lesson.