The current lineup consists of Ben Harper (vocals, guitar/slide guitar), Jason Mozersky (lead guitar), Jesse Ingalls (bass and keyboards), and Jordan Richardson (drums).
Harper met Jason Mozersky in the late nineties when Mozersky was working for an Austin, Texas music promoter. Mozersky was chauffering Harper to a gig, and asked if he could play a demo for his band, Wan Santo Condo. Harper resisted initially, fearing the music would interfere with his mental preparation for the show, but then felt remorseful and agreed to hear the demo. He was "blown away," and the association led first to a record contract for Wan Santo Condo, and then to a collaboration between the two. He also recruited him to work on Harper's album Both Sides Of The Gun. Mozersky recommended Ingalls and Richardson to Harper, thus yielding the song Serve Your Soul.
In November 2008, the band debuted their new material on the Vote For Change Tour for Barack Obama's presidential campaign, where they also breathed new life into the Queen & David Bowie classic Under Pressure which has since become a staple of their live set. They ended the year cutting their teeth with a series of small club shows from famed venues such as Spaceland and The Mint in Los Angeles, to The Mercury Lounge and Kenny's Castaway in NYC. The band is scheduled to tour extensively across the world in 2009.
Their debut album White Lies For Dark Times released on May 5th, 2009.
http://relentless7.benharper.com
Keep It Together
Ben Harper and Relentless7 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The fact that I'm talking to a wall
Or that the wall keeps answering me
Saying that I've heard it all before
Never underestimate how complicated
A simple life can be
You've gotta keep it together
You've gotta keep it together so I can fall apart
I know you've grown tired of trying to feed me
And I know by now my reputation precedes me
I know you've grown tired of trying to fix me
And I know by now my best years,
They are no longer no longer with me
Keep it together
You've gotta keep it together
You've gotta keep it together
You've gotta keep it together so so I can fall apart
You've gotta keep it together, you've gotta keep it together so I can fall apart
You've gotta keep it together, please keep it together
So that I can fall apart
You've gotta keep it together
Please keep it together
You've gotta keep it
So I can fall apart
So I can fall apart
Fall apart, fall apart
You've gotta keep it together
You've gotta keep it together
Keep it together
You've gotta keep it
Oh you've gotta keep it
Please keep it together
I need you to keep it together
So I can fall apart
So I can fall, fall apart
Fall fall
Keep it together
Please please keep it together
I need you, I need you
I'm asking you, I'm asking you
To keep it toghether
Something I can
Something I can fall
Fall, so I can fall apart (yeah)
In "Keep It Together," Ben Harper expresses his struggle with mental health and the challenges of a simple life. He opens by questioning his own sanity, wondering if it is more concerning that he talks to a wall or that the wall answers back, reminding him that he has heard it all before. This suggests that he feels stuck in a rut, dealing with the same issues repeatedly without making progress. He warns others not to underestimate the complexity of a simple life, acknowledging that even the smallest details can add to a person's stress and anxiety.
The chorus repeats the phrase "You've gotta keep it together" as a plea to those around him to remain stable so that he can fall apart. This is a common sentiment among people dealing with mental health issues who need a solid support system to rely on when they feel like they are losing control. Harper admits that he has grown tired of people trying to help him, and he knows that his reputation precedes him. He is aware that his best years are behind him and that he is not the same person he used to be. The repetition of the phrase "Fall apart" in the final verses reinforces the idea that Harper is struggling to cope and feels like he is barely holding on.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm not sure what worries me more
I am uncertain about the thing that is bothering me the most
The fact that I'm talking to a wall
I am speaking to an unresponsive surface
Or that the wall keeps answering me
The wall continues to respond to me despite having nothing to say
Saying that I've heard it all before
The wall repeats the same things it has said to me previously
Never underestimate how complicated
One should not overlook the intricacies of
A simple life can be
Even an uncomplicated existence can have its challenges
You've gotta keep it together
You must maintain composure
So I can fall apart
So that I can break down emotionally
I know you've grown tired of trying to feed me
I am aware that you are exhausted from attempting to provide for me
And I know by now my reputation precedes me
I am cognizant that my past actions have defined me
I know you've grown tired of trying to fix me
I understand that you are done trying to remedy my issues
And I know by now my best years,
I am aware that my prime years
They are no longer no longer with me
have passed me by
Please keep it together
I implore you to remain composed
So that I can fall apart
So that I can have a meltdown
I need you, I need you
I require your assistance
I'm asking you, I'm asking you
I am pleading with you
To keep it toghether
To remain composed
Something I can
In order for me to have
Fall, so I can fall apart (yeah)
A breakdown or a collapse (yes)
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BEN HARPER, JASON MOZERSKY, JESSE INGALLS, JORDAN RICHARDSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind