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I love Ben Harper's music, and The Will To Live (Virgin, 1997) is the album in which I most identify myself, because it conveys love for life and humanity and instills a pleasant sense of peace. As Ben says in the song that gave the album its name, We must all have / The will to live / You got to have / The will to live... always remember that too!
I think there's no need to dwell on Ben Harper. However, let me tell you what struck me most about his biography: his luthier grandfather, with whom he spent much of his childhood in the family musical instrument shop. Have you ever seen a luthier at work? I assure you it's something truly fascinating... I like to think that the way Ben plays his Weissenborn, holding it on his lap and "caressing" its strings with the slide, as if taking care of it to get in return that unmistakable sound, is precisely because of this. A very romantic vision, I know...
The album opens brilliantly with the guitar and drums of Faded, joined by the wonderfully hoarse, whispered, and intimate voice that characterizes Ben Harper. The tracks then follow themes ranging from politics, racism, love, and religion, but all are very deep and full of poetry. It seems that this artist's music doesn't even pass through the ears but touches directly the heart. My favorite track is Roses From My Friends, both for the rhythm and the lyrics: The stones from my enemies / These wounds will mend / But I cannot survive / The roses from my friends. The genre is the "Ben Harper" style: a unique mix of styles (blues, rock, folk, gospel...) stemming from this artist's musical background, influenced by legends like Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, Bob Dylan, and Muddy Waters, and his personal touch. There's no need for a lengthy description; this CD should be listened to in one breath, in complete silence, with closed eyes, and it will tell its own story.
If I haven't convinced you to listen to it or if you've heard it already and didn't like it, don't miss the chance to experience a live performance of Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, but I warn you... it'll be love at first note :-)))
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Faded (04:48)
You so easily amuse
Like a pantomime
Such a silent crime
You so easily abuse
Lack of confindence
It's your best offense
You so easily confuse
You can't deny it
Still you try to hide it
Faded
So faded
Like a memory gone
There's no recollection
Faded
So faded
Like a forgotten dream
Further than it seems
You so hastily defy
When you think you need it
You find a way to bleed it
You so hastily deny
Pleading innocence
It's your best defense
You so hastily reply
The moment (that) you said it
Already regret it
Faded
So faded
Like a memory gone
There's no recollection
Faded
So faded
Like a forgotten dream
Further than it seems
You so easily amuse
You so easily abuse
Faded
So faded
Like a memory gone
There's no recollection
Faded
So faded
Like a forgotten dream
Further than it seems
Faded
So faded
Like a memory gone
There's no recollection
02 Homeless Child (03:51)
Homeless Child
Nowhere here
to call my home
no one near
to call my own
all that's left
is for me to roam
somebody please
help me hang on
Homeless child
homeless child
what is left
for the homeless child
There is no night
and there is no day
it is all
one shade of gray
some will pass
and some will stay
is this the end
or just one more day
Homeless child
homeless child
what is left
for the homeless child
Sure not much
but it's my best
I just need
some place to rest
if you could just
let me be your guest
I won't burden you
for very long
Homeless child
homeless child
what is left
for the homeless child
04 Roses From My Friends (06:24)
I could have treated you better
But you couldn't have treated me worse
But it's he who laughs last
It is he who cries first
Sometimes I feel I know strangers
better than I know my friends
Why must a beginning
be the means to an end?
The stones from my enemies
these wounds will mend
But I cannot survive
the roses from my friends
When the last word has been spoken
and we've bleared witness to the final setting sun
All that shall remain is a token
of what we've said and done
When all we've had has been forsaken
And distant church bells no longer ring
That's the sound of a heart taken
and the story of tears from a king
The stones from my enemies
these wounds will mend
But I cannot survive
the roses from my friends
This may be the last time I see you
Forgive me for holding you close
This may be the last time I see you
So of this moment I will make the most
This may be the last time I see you
But if you keep me in your heart
together we shall be eternal
If you believe
we shall never part
The stones from my enemies
These wounds will mend
But I cannot survive
the roses from my friends
05 Jah Work (04:54)
Tell me do you really know
your brother man
cause a heart speaks louder
than a color can
and why would you even
shake a man's hand
if you're not going
to help him stand
Jah work
Jah work
Jah work is never done
Every man's actions
belong to he
if prepared for thereafter
to each his destiny
some people believe
and some people know
some people deceive
and some people show
Jah work
Jah work
Jah work is never done
You must do the heaviest
so many shall do none
you have got to stand firm
so many shall run
some they rest their head at night
some get no sleep at all
if you listen close to what you see
you will hear the call
06 I Want to Be Ready (04:02)
How I am strong
Is to know what makes me weak
How I am found
Is to know just whom I seek
The gift of a blessing
The burden of a sin
Oh, turn, turn to him
I wanna be ready
I wanna be ready
I wanna be ready
Ready to put on my long, white robe
Nailed across
From hand to hand
For the sin
Of every woman and man
And all upon his earth
Is all within his plan
And I know
This shall be my journey home
I wanna be ready
I wanna be ready
I wanna be ready
Ready to put on my long, white robe
Ready
I wanna be ready
I wanna be ready
Ready to put on my long, white robe
Covet no silver
Oh, covet no gold
Reach your empty
Hands for him to hold
Up in his kingdom
Glory shall be proclaimed
Ah, sing the song
And praise his name
I wanna be ready
I wanna be ready
I wanna be ready
Ready to put on my long, white robe
Ready
I want to be ready
I wanna be ready
Ready to put on my long, white robe
Ready
I wanna be ready
I wanna be ready
Ready to put on my long, white robe
08 Ashes (03:52)
ashes to ashes
and dust to dust
that's what has become
of our love and trust
love has no direction
cause love has no aim
love can leave you
as fast as she came
meeting is such sweet sorrow
cause someday we may have to part
hush don't you make a sound
you're gonna let me down
good things come
to those who wait
but good things are gone
from those who are late
all that i am
is all i can give
but with or without you
my life i must live
meeting is such sweet sorrow
cause someday we may have to part
hush don't you make a sound
you're gonna let me down
living ain't easy
since you've been gone
no one else can please me
or make me feel home
forgetting ain't easy
you stay on my mind
thoughts of us haunt me
can't leave them behind
09 Widow of a Living Man (04:10)
mama why does he treat me so cold
So cold, so cold
Why do I feel so old
So old, so old
How long has he treated me unkind
Unkind, unkind
Oh, have I always been so blind
So blind, so blind
I'm a widow, I am a widow
Of a living man, of a living man, of a living man
Why can't the times stay the same
Stay the same, stay the same
Now I am begging him to change
Please change, please change
What about all the plans we've made
The plans we've made, Lord I pray
Now I am so afraid, I'm so afraid, I'm so afraid
I'm a widow, I am a widow
Of a living man, of a living man, of a living man
I'm a widow, I am a widow
Of a living man, of a living man, of a living man
mama why does he hurt me so
He hurts me so, he hurts me so
I'm gonna need some place to go
Some place to go, some place to go
He's no longer some kind woman's son
Kind woman's son, kind woman's son
Mama, I think I had better run
I'd better run, I'd better run
I'm a widow, I am a widow
Of a living man, of a living man, of a living man
I'm a widow, I am the widow
Of a living man, of a living man, of a living man
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