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'.
Younger Than Today
Ben Harper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Old pictures yesterday
Sitting in disbelief at
How time slips away
Both at a loss for words to say
Knew we'd never be
Younger than today
From the world outside
They could never come between
Us but we knew they'd try
We remembered living as
If there were a way
To forever be younger than today
Never looked at anything
You didn't care to see
I was the one who wouldn't
Let you leave
Even though it was clear
You couldn't stay
Had to try to be
Younger than today
As we parted you
Reminded me I'm alive
To remember when the stars
Danced just for you and I
May the shimmer of summer
Always light your way
And make you feel
Younger than today
The lyrics to Ben Harper's "Younger Than Today" capture the essence of nostalgia and the passage of time. The song is essentially about reminiscing with an old friend about the past, being in awe of how fast time flies and how foolishness protected them from the world outside, but they both knew it would eventually come between them. The singer and his friend look at old pictures and realize they can't go back in time, they can't be younger than today.
The chorus of the song is particularly poignant and illustrates what the whole song is about, as the singer and his friend knew they couldn't turn back time, that every moment was fleeting, and it was up to them to make the most of it. The line "Knew we'd never be/ Younger than today" highlights the futility of clinging to the past and the importance of living in the present. The song ends on a hopeful note as the singer wishes his friend well and hopes that they continue to experience joy and excitement in their lives.
In conclusion, "Younger Than Today" is a song about the passage of time, memory, and the realization that every moment counts. The nostalgia and wistful tone of the song are a testament to the power of music to evoke emotion and create a connection between the listener and the artist.
Line by Line Meaning
You and I were looking at
We were together, examining old pictures
Old pictures yesterday
Pictures from the past that we looked at the day before
Sitting in disbelief at
Feeling stunned as we looked at the pictures
How time slips away
Thinking about how quickly time passes
Both at a loss for words to say
Speechless and unable to articulate our thoughts
Knew we'd never be
Realized that we cannot go back in time
Younger than today
We cannot become younger than we are right now
Foolishness protected us
Our naivety sheltered us from the world
From the world outside
The world beyond our bubble
They could never come between
Others could never disrupt our bond
Us but we knew they'd try
However, we were aware that they would attempt to do so
We remembered living as
Recalling a time when we lived as though
If there were a way
There was a means to do something
To forever be younger than today
To remain youthful forever
Never looked at anything
You never looked at something
You didn't care to see
That you didn't want to see
I was the one who wouldn't
I was the person who refused to
Let you leave
Permit you to depart
Even though it was clear
Although it was apparent
You couldn't stay
That you couldn't remain
Had to try to be
Had to make an effort to become
Younger than today
To feel younger than we were at the moment
As we parted you
When we said goodbye, you
Reminded me I'm alive
Told me that I'm still living
To remember when the stars
To recall a time when the stars
Danced just for you and I
Appeared to twirl and move only for us
May the shimmer of summer
May the brightness of summertime
Always light your way
Guide you through life's journey
And make you feel
And help you experience
Younger than today
Like you're younger than you are today
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: BEN C HARPER, JASON CONRAD YATES, JUAN DWAYNE NELSON, LEON LEWIS MOBLEY, MICHAEL B. WARD, OLIVER FRANCIS CHARLES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind