Ben Harper: Both Sides of the Gun
Ben Harper’s latest, a two-disc album called “Both Sides of the Gun,� explores his various musical talents by blending his vocals with the guitar, drums, percussion, piano and vibes. Described as folk meets rock meets reggae, Harper’s album deserves a listen, or two or three. Having taken sole production responsibility for the album, this talented musician offers a ‘softer’ acoustic album and a ‘harder’ rocking album, each complete with strong images of light, and social activism, some even recorded on the first shot.
On disc one, “Mourning Yearning� kicks off with “the world awakens on the run/And will soon be earning/With hopes of better days to come/It’s a morning yearning.� New life, new hopes and new dreams provide him with a chance to learn and another opportunity to ‘get it right.’ He calls himself a “victim of the fall� but says “your love’s the warmest place the/sun ever shines.� There’s some folk religion involved in the lyrics of these songs but it’s certainly not pushy—the only pushiness in Harper comes out when someone else’s agenda seems pushed on someone helpless.
Harper is mellow for much of the first disc. First, he’s “Waiting For You� because only the other satisfies, then remorseful in “Picture In A Frame.� Joy and sorrow drive both “Never Leave Lonely Alone� and “Reason to Mourn.� Religion nudges his actions as he begs someone not to do anything that can’t be undone, offering to “remove the crown of sorrow which you have been adorned.� This Christ imagery points to pain inflicted by another on the wearer of the crown but may be self-inflicted as well. Harper wishes life would be embraced before dying forced that on the living in “More Than Sorry� and condemns negativity in “Cryin’ Won’t Help You Now.�
The final song of the first disc, “Happy Everafter In Your Eyes� refers us back to the sunlight of the first song and sends us toward the second disc. Here, light allows him to see everafter in the eyes of the other, as nature/creation reflect the love he’s come to know. This helps him become a “living sunset� in “Better Way,� where he begins to become more persistent: “what good is a man/who won’t take a stand/what good is a cynic/with no better plan.� He admits that reality is tough but argues for the pursuing of dreams because “I believe in a better way.� Harper’s movement toward rock speaks more strongly but his message’s emphatic delivery also works for me.
The listener is called to make a stand regardless of how low the standards set are in “Both Sides of the Gun,� and Harper admits that he still struggles to embrace the real in “Engraved Imagination.� He regrets some choices he’s made as the Lord’s servant and Satan’s pawn on alternating days, remarking later that he remembers the other from heaven. Something deeper is driving him even if he can’t quite put his finger on it, as he belts out angry diatribes in “Black Rain,� “Gather ‘Round the Stone,� and “Please Don’t Talk About Murder While I’m Eating� (most likely against the current administration and the war.)
More positively, Harper encourages the pursuit of dreams in “Get It Like You Like It� and the dangers that one faces in the world in “The Way You Found Me.� Here, he seems to be challenging a human lover or a higher power: “Take me as I am/Or leave me the way you found me.� He seems to be screaming that he’s doing his best so like him or love him, he can’t change! His condemnation finally seems directed at the church in “Serve Your Soul,� where he sings, “Battles over which direction to kneel/People reaching out to touch/But forgetting to feel/Daily breath shouldn’t be a daily penance/Is that what you believe/Or just a life sentence.� Harper knows something is being fought for, won and lost, and the battle seems more spiritual than anything else. He pushes the listener to search within themselves for what is true—and while not exactly screaming ‘organized church,’ the belief in the temple that each believer becomes stands this test.
Harper is a wonderful folk musician, and backs up his soulful voice with a wide variety of sounds. Thankfully, he’s got a wealth of message to go with the beats, and we can be blessed by his struggle and his triumphs. Listen in to “Both Sides of the Gun� and consider which end you’re on…today.
On disc one, “Mourning Yearning� kicks off with “the world awakens on the run/And will soon be earning/With hopes of better days to come/It’s a morning yearning.� New life, new hopes and new dreams provide him with a chance to learn and another opportunity to ‘get it right.’ He calls himself a “victim of the fall� but says “your love’s the warmest place the/sun ever shines.� There’s some folk religion involved in the lyrics of these songs but it’s certainly not pushy—the only pushiness in Harper comes out when someone else’s agenda seems pushed on someone helpless.
Harper is mellow for much of the first disc. First, he’s “Waiting For You� because only the other satisfies, then remorseful in “Picture In A Frame.� Joy and sorrow drive both “Never Leave Lonely Alone� and “Reason to Mourn.� Religion nudges his actions as he begs someone not to do anything that can’t be undone, offering to “remove the crown of sorrow which you have been adorned.� This Christ imagery points to pain inflicted by another on the wearer of the crown but may be self-inflicted as well. Harper wishes life would be embraced before dying forced that on the living in “More Than Sorry� and condemns negativity in “Cryin’ Won’t Help You Now.�
The final song of the first disc, “Happy Everafter In Your Eyes� refers us back to the sunlight of the first song and sends us toward the second disc. Here, light allows him to see everafter in the eyes of the other, as nature/creation reflect the love he’s come to know. This helps him become a “living sunset� in “Better Way,� where he begins to become more persistent: “what good is a man/who won’t take a stand/what good is a cynic/with no better plan.� He admits that reality is tough but argues for the pursuing of dreams because “I believe in a better way.� Harper’s movement toward rock speaks more strongly but his message’s emphatic delivery also works for me.
The listener is called to make a stand regardless of how low the standards set are in “Both Sides of the Gun,� and Harper admits that he still struggles to embrace the real in “Engraved Imagination.� He regrets some choices he’s made as the Lord’s servant and Satan’s pawn on alternating days, remarking later that he remembers the other from heaven. Something deeper is driving him even if he can’t quite put his finger on it, as he belts out angry diatribes in “Black Rain,� “Gather ‘Round the Stone,� and “Please Don’t Talk About Murder While I’m Eating� (most likely against the current administration and the war.)
More positively, Harper encourages the pursuit of dreams in “Get It Like You Like It� and the dangers that one faces in the world in “The Way You Found Me.� Here, he seems to be challenging a human lover or a higher power: “Take me as I am/Or leave me the way you found me.� He seems to be screaming that he’s doing his best so like him or love him, he can’t change! His condemnation finally seems directed at the church in “Serve Your Soul,� where he sings, “Battles over which direction to kneel/People reaching out to touch/But forgetting to feel/Daily breath shouldn’t be a daily penance/Is that what you believe/Or just a life sentence.� Harper knows something is being fought for, won and lost, and the battle seems more spiritual than anything else. He pushes the listener to search within themselves for what is true—and while not exactly screaming ‘organized church,’ the belief in the temple that each believer becomes stands this test.
Harper is a wonderful folk musician, and backs up his soulful voice with a wide variety of sounds. Thankfully, he’s got a wealth of message to go with the beats, and we can be blessed by his struggle and his triumphs. Listen in to “Both Sides of the Gun� and consider which end you’re on…today.
5 Comments:
I am a true Ben Harper fan and I have each album he's ever made. While I think his latest album may have been the best ever musically I was sadly disappointed and upset that his only two straight out references to God were " they tell me Jesus walked on water He should have surfed instead" and "one day I'm the Lords servent the next I'm Satans pawn", not to mention the song Serve your Soul which talks about how there is nothing left to do but serve our souls. I believe Ben's album shows a spiritual struggle within. I'd like to believe he was a believer in Jesus Christ but the truth is he has never confessed this in an interview or otherwise, intead he has been very prideful and it seems angry when confronted with his beliefs during interviews. This is his first album in awhile that does not express any direct references to God or Jesus being good or that way being true. Instead it is a very political album expressing his views of current day news such as the war on Iraq.I of all people should have a voice in this since my husband fought on the front lines in Iraq for a year. I felt the same way as Ben about it all being in vain, that it was all for oil,and I sat at home and cried each night fearing for my husbands life. But I feel most people are disillusioned with the history of Iraq and the fact that whether it was the right reasons to go or not Saddam was a natzi and now he's out of power the Iraqis are better off now then before and my husband was directly helping to save Iraq citizens lives over there. I encourage all Ben Harper fans to watch Sadamm Weapon of Mass destruction. Anyway as that is getting off the subject here is my final words on Ben Harper. God says you are eithier for me or against me. Right now Ben hasn't made up his mind. While I think he is a brilliant musician a word to fellow believers be careful of the suddle messeges in his lyrics. And to Ben Harper I say,What is the Better Way ?? The only better Way I have found is the path of Jesus Chirst the Son of God.
Hi. Thanks for posting! I agree that it isn't completely obvious what Harper thinks about God in his latest album, but I think that's okay! It seems sometimes like we WANT to see things in black and white, but they aren't always that clear cut.
I don't know Harper so I don't want to jump too quickly to saying he's not a Christian just because some of his points aren't as clear as I'd like them to be. Like most of us, Harper may be on a journey where he hasn't reached the point in the road where he's said 'AHA!' Maybe he's just starting down around the corner. Either way, it sounds good, AND it's prompted this discussion about God-- I think God works in that too!
Have a great day!
If you listen to several of his earlier works, mainly pre "Live from Mars", I think it is evident that Ben is a Christian. I feel that his issue is that he feels that so much is pounded down our throats as to what to be and do that we as individuals rarely take the time to decide on our own. I don't feel like he intends to influence one's own identity with his words or beliefs.
Hey Philip, thanks for posting!
I think it's fair to say that Harper may be concerned that he not come across as "pounding anything down our throats" and faith is certainly an experience that one must choose for oneself.
But...Harper is trying to influence his listeners one way or the other. It might look completely different based on different issues, but he wouldn't be taking the time to write music if he didn't have a message and want other people to embrace it.
He clearly has an opinion about the war, taxes, race, etc...and I think he does have an opinion about faith. My argument would be that he ducks some of the faith argument when it is clearly wrapped in all the rest, and that doesn't make sense.
I say take on faith head-on, the same way he does war, government and everything else! Either way, he's a fine musician!
Nice review! I love Ben Harper and plan to take the family and see him at Red Rocks in August. Your review was awesome, thanks!
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