Ben Harper famous quotes

What enables me to believe in anything is hope.
-- Ben Harper

#Believe

Make sure the fortune that you seek is the fortune that you need.
-- Ben Harper

#Needs #Fortune

Every moral has a story, every story has and end. Every battle has its glory, and its consequence.
-- Ben Harper

#Battle #Stories #Moral

As long as someone else controls your history the truth shall remain just a mystery
-- Ben Harper

#Long #Ethics #Moral

Music is the last true voice of the human spirit. It can go beyond language, beyond age, and beyond color straight to the mind and heart of all people.
-- Ben Harper

#Heart #Color #Voice

A candle throws its light into the darkness, in a nasty world so shines a good deed. Make sure the fortune that you seek is the fortune that you need.
-- Ben Harper

#Philosophy #Light #Shining

When you have everything, you have everything to lose.
-- Ben Harper

#Adages

All that we can't say is all we need to hear.
-- Ben Harper

#Empathy #Needs

Of all the states of emotion I've ever been in, music takes me to the strongest state of emotion the quickest, of any other sort of state of mind I've ever been in or been put in by any substance or circumstance, music brings me to an emotional state of being faster than anything I've ever known
-- Ben Harper

#Emotional #Mind #Substance

There's no room in my life for religion. Religion is separation and segregation of God. How can you segregate the Almighty?
-- Ben Harper

#God #Rooms #Separation

With so many people to love in my life, why do I worry about one?
-- Ben Harper

#People #Worry #Unanswered Questions

I'm more afraid of falling than I am of flying high. I'm not as scared of dying as I am of growing old. Every battle has its glory and its consequence.
-- Ben Harper

#Fall #Flying #Dying

I've never made a record that didn't sound better than what was in my head - that's sort of my rule.
-- Ben Harper

#Sound #Records #Made

We've all got stardust in our bones...
-- Ben Harper

#Stars #Bones #Stardust

I really feel there's no limitation on what this band can do in the studio or on the stage. That's an empowering feeling - that we can bring a song to life.
-- Ben Harper

#Song #Empowering #Feelings

If it comes out sounding like Dixieland jazz or classical or punk or rock or even slightly metal, that's because that's where I'm going to find inspiration.
-- Ben Harper

#Inspiration #Rocks #Jazz

I really feel like the sky is the limit with the Innocent Criminals today.
-- Ben Harper

#Sky #Criminals #Today

I'm really looking forward to, not more of the same, but a continual growth.
-- Ben Harper

#Growth #Looking Forward

Let us burn one from end to end, and pass it over to me my friend...
-- Ben Harper

#Weed #Smoking #Smoking Weed

It was a huge deal, a huge musical discovery that became life lessons learned. You can't return from having an experience like that. The Blind Boys are truly the deepest well of American musical heritage you can discover.
-- Ben Harper

#Life Lesson #Boys #Discovery

Time is really for those who really need it. I mean, I deal with it. A lot of people are slaves to the second, minute hand. I can't do that!
-- Ben Harper

#Mean #Reality #Hands

The spirit is what guides my life, and I'm humbly on my knees in thanks for guidance and direction every day. But God is not something to be preached, it's something to be lived.
-- Ben Harper

#God #Knees #Spirit

Don't be discouraged by writer's block. Writer's block just means you need to listen to other music.
-- Ben Harper

#Block #Mean #Needs

Some things You have to let be lost Some battles, some battles You have to leave unfought. Then the truth just wastes away In all we dare not say. And in all we can't explain But I faithfully remain.
-- Ben Harper

#Battle #Waste #Lost

Now that you've grown up You can finally learn to be a child We made it to the end of the world But we'll never make it out alive.
-- Ben Harper

#Children #Alive #World

You can run away from home But you can't run away from your pain I sit here alone There's always someone else to blame.
-- Ben Harper

#Running #Pain #Home

The very thing that drives you, can drive you insane Got a head full of thought crimes and a number with no name Got an eleventh hour Jesus and a mouth full of blame A casket lined with silver dollars and a number with no name.
-- Ben Harper

#Jesus #Names #Numbers

The lifetime we've left behind with strangers Promises and lies both have their dangers. I just can't be wrong enough and I can't hide for long enough So far away, but I still feel your pain.
-- Ben Harper

#Pain #Lying #Long

When your whole world is shaken from all the risks we have taken, Dance with me, dance with me into the colors of the dusk.
-- Ben Harper

#Taken #Color #Risk

The world awakens on the run And will soon be earning With hopes of better days to come It's a morning yearning.
-- Ben Harper

#Running #Morning #World

Children come running to the truth But you've got to peel the skin to get the fruit And while one's living high another's grieving But what's sweet by morning is bitter by the evening Oh - What's sweet by morning is bitter by the evening.
-- Ben Harper

#Running #Sweet #Morning

Take my hand when you are worried Take my hand when you're alone Take my hand and let me guide you Take my hand to lead you home.
-- Ben Harper

#Home #Hands #Worried

I can change the world With my own two hands Make a better place With my own two hands Make a kinder place.
-- Ben Harper

#Hands #Two #World

Now I love to feel that warm southern rain, Just to hear it fall is the sweetest sounding thing. And to see it fall on your simple country dress It's like heaven to me I must confess.
-- Ben Harper

#Country #Rain #Fall

My band is the best band in the world, period. So, I insist on every song being better then it is on the record. So by the end of the tour, we have to be playing the song better then how it's recorded.
-- Ben Harper

#Song #Band #Records

Every time feels like my first time. And I just find that the process of it feeds into one's own self-obsession.
-- Ben Harper

#Self #Firsts #Obsession

The woman in you is the worry in me.
-- Ben Harper

#Worry #Evil #Misogyny

I dont know if hell exists, but there sure as hell are some people who dont belong in heaven.
-- Ben Harper

#People #Heaven #Hell

It will make a weak man mighty. it will make a mighty man fall. It will fill your heart and hands or leave you with nothing at all. It's the eyes for the blind and legs for the lame. It is the love for hate and pride for shame. That's the power of the gospel.
-- Ben Harper

#Easter #Hate #Fall

My choice is what I choose to do and if I'm causing no harm it shouldn't bother you. Your choice is who you choose to be and if you're causin' no harm, then your alright with me.
-- Ben Harper

#Love #Life #Relationship

Fearlessness, absolutely. Discipline. You also need open-minded creativeness that lets everything in. You never want to lose a word or a phrase, yet every one should count. Always the best language possible. And, finally, knowing when to leave it alone. Stop when it's done.
-- Ben Harper

#Writing #Knowing #Discipline

But I would never insult the people that love this music and I would never insult the blessing of music in my life and I would never insult myself by playing uninspired music.
-- Ben Harper

#Blessing #People #Insult

There's something in everyone only they know.
-- Ben Harper

#Empathy

If you're gonna live, then live it up. If you're gonna give, then give it up. If you're gonna walk the Earth, then walk it proud. If you're gonna say the word, you got to say it loud.
-- Ben Harper

#Giving #Earth #Proud

I get diminishing returns when I bore myself in an interview.
-- Ben Harper

#Interviews #Return #Diminishing Returns

As long as the songs are strong, I think you can express yourself in any style and have it be soulful and have it be your own voice.
-- Ben Harper

#Song #Strong #Thinking

I grew up with the Blind Boys' music. My family owns a music store in Claremont, California, called The Claremont Folk Music Center. I grew up with a heavy diet of gospel, folk, and blues because those are kind of the cornerstones of traditional American music.
-- Ben Harper

#Boys #California #Kind

There's no love like a lost love and no pain like a broken heart.
-- Ben Harper

#Love #Life #Relationship

Forever always seems to be around when it begins, but forever never seems to be around when it ends
-- Ben Harper

#Break Up #Ex Boyfriend #Forever

Life is short and if you're looking for extension, you had best do well. 'Cause there's good deeds and then there's good intentions. They are as far apart as Heaven and Hell.
-- Ben Harper

#Funny #Life #Heaven

Sometimes I may be totally arrogant, sometimes I may totally be the most humble guy you've ever met, sometimes I may be in between. But that's life. Who isn't like that? What's the big deal if I had an arrogant moment.
-- Ben Harper

#Humble #Guy #Arrogant

The Blind Boys are truly the deepest well of American musical heritage you can discover.
-- Ben Harper

#Boys #Musical #Heritage

I'm not going to do the Ben Harper house record or the Ben Harper drum 'n' bass record.
-- Ben Harper

#House #Records #Bass

My family owns a music store in Claremont, California, called The Claremont Folk Music Center.
-- Ben Harper

#California #My Family #Stores

You're definitely a different person at different stages in your life.
-- Ben Harper

#Different #Stage #Persons

We figured you could download live shows for days, so we decided to go for a cream-of-the-crop approach, but not just take the best vocal or the best performances.
-- Ben Harper

#Crops #Shows #Cream

When it comes to partnership, some humans can make their lives alone - it's possible. But creatively, it's more like painting: you can't just use the same colours in every painting. It's just not an option. You can't take the same photograph every time and live with art forms with no differences.
-- Ben Harper

#Art #Differences #Use

Distance is temporary, but our love is permanent. 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.
-- Ben Harper

#Relationship #Distance #Believe

You can't just say I love you, you have to LIVE I love you
-- Ben Harper

#Love You #Say I Love You

I just want to keep doing what I feel.
-- Ben Harper

#Want #Feels

I refuse to age disgracefully in rock 'n' roll.
-- Ben Harper

#Rocks #Age #Rock N Roll

Try it first And you'll see its a blessing And it's not a curse
-- Ben Harper

#Blessing #Trying #Firsts

Sometimes I think to talk too much about music almost cheapens it
-- Ben Harper

#Thinking #Too Much #Sometimes

You have to do what you believe in
-- Ben Harper

#Believe

That happens every time I get behind a guitar, regardless of what I'm saying, 'cause music is freedom and being free is the closest I've ever felt to being spiritual.
-- Ben Harper

#Spiritual #Guitar #Being Free

My choice is what I choose to do, And if I'm causing no harm, it shouldn't bother you. Your choice is who you choose to be, And if you're causin' no harm, then you're alright with me. If you don't like my fire, then don't come around, 'cause I'm gonna burn one down. Yes, I'm gonna burn one down. Herb the gift from the earth, And what's from the earth is of the greatest worth. So before you knock it try it first, Oh, you'll see it's a blessing and not a curse.
-- Ben Harper

#Blessing #Fire #Choices

You can kill a lot of time if you really want to put your mind to it Or leave it all behind and never really have to go through it
-- Ben Harper

#Time #Mind #Want

Could've sworn I heard you say Amen this morning, showing some kind of sign that you believe. Did it fall from your tongue without warning? Or just another trick to fall from your sleeve?
-- Ben Harper

#Morning #Believe #Fall

The music is in the lead here, and a large part of this, I have no idea what I'm doing. I feel a closer bond with the craft of songwriting, stronger than I ever have.
-- Ben Harper

#Ideas #Stronger #Crafts

I love being on the road, I love playing.
-- Ben Harper

#Love Is

It's so hard to do and so easy to say but sometimes you just have to walk away
-- Ben Harper

#Break Up #Ex Boyfriend #Sometimes

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.
-- Ben Harper

#Mean #Rose #Enemy

In my life I have been blessed In my life I have been cursed I have lived the best of times I have suffered the worst Do you know which road you're traveling? Do you know where you want to be? With so many roads to travel, There's just one can set you free.
-- Ben Harper

#Blessed #Want #Worst

The advice I have for new artists is this - write great songs and play them live as often as possible. Get residencies all over town and crush it.
-- Ben Harper

#Crush #Song #Writing

People who try to define their spirituality sometimes are annoying, 'cause the spirit is something you feel and let guide you and humbly respect.
-- Ben Harper

#Spiritual #People #Trying

If I fall, I fall. I'll rise up like anybody else.
-- Ben Harper

#Fall

My head works in music, so there's always music there.
-- Ben Harper

I grew up listening to spiritual music, Blind Willie Johnson and folk.
-- Ben Harper

#Spiritual #Listening #Blind

Folk is bare bones music.
-- Ben Harper

#Bones #Folks

I refuse to make uninspired music.
-- Ben Harper

#Refuse

I knew a girl, her name was Truth. She was a terrible liar.
-- Ben Harper

#Girl #Liars #Names

If I'm inspired and music inspires me, then I will continue to play it.
-- Ben Harper

#Play #Inspire #Inspired

If you don't like my fire, then don't come around. Cause I'm gonna burn one down.
-- Ben Harper

#Philosophy #Fire #Causes

My main concern when travelling around the world is finding a place to skateboard!
-- Ben Harper

#World #Around The World #Concern

Genetics do play a role in how you consciously or subconsciously manifest your true self.
-- Ben Harper

#Self #Play #Roles

It's not easy for a mother and son to sing a duet. You can't just sing about anything.
-- Ben Harper

#Mother #Son #Duets

Wish there was something that I could say or do, I can resist anything but the temptation from you. But I'd rather walk alone than chase you around, I'd rather fall myself then let you drag me on down.
-- Ben Harper

#Relationship #Fall #Temptation

What started as a whisper Slowly turned into a scream Searching for an answer Where the question is unseen I don't know where you came from And I don't know where you've gone Old friends become old strangers Between the darkness and the dawn
-- Ben Harper

#Old Friends #Darkness #Dawn

They say time will make all this go away. But it's time that has taken my tomorrows and turned them into yesterdays.
-- Ben Harper

#Taken #Sadness #Yesterday

You look like gold. I've been fooled before, but now I know I've made the mistake in the past. But now I, now I know the difference from gold and brass.
-- Ben Harper

#Mistake #Past #Differences

These eyes weren't made for crying, this love wasn't made to waste. These arms weren't made for battle, but to share in your embrace.
-- Ben Harper

#Relationship #Eye #Battle

Every single time I step into the studio, I say, 'Can I still do this? Do I still have it? Have I ever had it?' I suppose there's a good amount of self-loathing that goes into any form of artisanship.
-- Ben Harper

#Self #Loathing #Steps