Ben Harper stated "I have now spent a considerable amount of time with all of them, and I know for certain, they see what we won't, they see what we don't, and they see what we can't. It is an honor to be in their presence and to know they are my friends. I thank them for the singing lessons, and more importantly I thank them for teaching me that blessings are a privilege, not a birthright, and are never to be taken for granted.
What started out as me working with them on a couple of tracks, blossomed and bloomed into an entire record in eight days. It all happened so fast. If it weren't for the recordings that prove that this magic actually happened, I would not be entirely aware of what went on. "
Wicked Man
Ben Harper And The Blind Boys Of Alabama Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But you got to peel the skin to get the food
And while one is living high, another is grieving
But what sweet by morning is bitter by the evening
I say the wicked man shall fall
When the moon chase away the sun
And force my day to run
For I know upon the other side is light
I say the wicked man shall fall
Every man is a common man
And every common has his plan
But while the hungry man seek any food, any food in sight
There's a greedy man who seek only appetite
I say the wicked man shall fall
The song "Wicked Man" by Ben Harper and The Blind Boys of Alabama is a reflection on the disparities and injustices in the world. The opening lines suggest that children possess an uncanny ability to discern the truth, but in order to discover it, they must peel away the skin of falsehood that is often used to cover it up. The following lines introduce the idea that for every person who appears to be living a life of abundance and luxury, there is another who is suffering and in pain. The chorus reiterates the idea that the wicked man, that is, the one who is selfish and greedy, will eventually fall from grace.
The second verse further emphasizes the notion that every man has his own story, his own struggles, and his own plan for survival. However, while some may have to scrape and scrounge for any morsel of food they can find, others are driven solely by their ravenous appetites for more and more. In the end, the message of the song is one of hope and determination. Even in the darkest of times, there is always the promise of a new day and the possibility of finding the light on the other side of the darkness.
Line by Line Meaning
Children come running to the truth
Children have an innocent craving for truth and knowledge
But you got to peel the skin to get the food
In order to gain true understanding, one must dig deeper and remove superficial layers to get to the core
And while one is living high, another is grieving
Unequal distribution of resources and opportunities leads to a society where some thrive while others suffer
But what sweet by morning is bitter by the evening
The things that bring us happiness and pleasure in the moment may not have lasting value and may turn out to be harmful in the long run
I say the wicked man shall fall
Those who do wrong and cause harm will eventually face consequences for their actions
When the moon chase away the sun
Metaphorically suggesting a dramatic shift in power or control
And force my day to run
The singer pledges to persevere despite obstacles, circumstances and adversity
I shall not fear the darkest night
The artist is brave and unafraid to face the unknown
For I know upon the other side is light
The artist has faith and hope in a better future, despite current difficulties or hardships
Every man is a common man
All individuals are equal and share the same human experience of pain, joy, love, and loss
And every common has his plan
Regardless of status or wealth, everyone has ambitions and aspirations
But while the hungry man seek any food, any food in sight
When one is desperate and struggling to survive, they will do what they can to get by
There's a greedy man who seek only appetite
Some individuals are willing to exploit others for their own selfish gain, without any regard for the well-being of others
I say the wicked man shall fall
Reiterating that those who do wrong will ultimately face their comeuppance
Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: BEN C HARPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
enrique jara
Children come running to the truth
But you got to peel the skin to get the food
And while one is living high, another is grieving
But what sweet by morning is bitter by the evening
I say the wicked man shall fall
When the moon chase away the sun
And force my day to run
I shall not fear the darkest night
For I know upon the other side is light
I say the wicked man shall fall
Every man is a common man
And every common has his plan
But while the hungry man seek any food, any food in sight
There's a greedy man who seek only appetite
I say the wicked man shall fall
ga87
Juan Nelson, King of groovin' bass lines... Long Live Your Groove !
IamLauren230906
Il chante, joue de la guitare, souris magnifiquement !
Jon Wiliams
Tremendous!!!!
Have Mercy.
Bryan Craven
you have to peel the skin to get the fruit...~awesome lyric!!..he's such a genius!!..
JimiJam74
Marc Ford acting cool on guitar, but it's Ben Harper's singing and slide solo that take the biscuit.
Sound Monster
I like this version, but the version on that Music for Our Mother Ocean compilation is my favorite.
Curt Gordon
All great! Who is the drummer? And that ride cymbal is wonderful! What is that?
ukulele frodo
if i was at one of his concerts and i had to pee i would be screwed and i would pee my pants because there is no way im missing one of his songs
Maurizio Zenari
Somebody can give me the guitars chords please?