Ben Harper Album

Words and music by Ben Harper

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

Words and music by Ben Harper

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
Mmh- Mmh- Homeless child
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
Mmh- Mmh- Homeless child
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
Mmh- Mmh- Homeless child
Homeless child
Homeless child

[No lyrics]

Words and music by Ben Harper

I could have treated you better
But you couldn't have treated me worse
But it's he who laughs last
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 beared witness to the final setting sun
All that shall remains is a token
Of what we've said and done
When all we've had has been forsaken
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 stones from my enemies
These wounds will mend
But I cannot survive
I cannot survive
Oh- I cannot survive

Words and music by Ben Harper

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.

Oh- 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.

Oh- Oh- Jah work
Jah work
Jah work is never done
Never done

Jah work
Jah work
Jah work is never
Oh- is never
Done
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.

Oh- Jah work
Jah work
Jah work is never done
Is never done

Jah work
Jah work
Jah work is never
Is never

Words and music by Ben Harper

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 want to be ready
I want to be ready
I want to be ready
Ready to put on my long white robe

Nailed across
From hand to hand
For the sin
Of the woman and man
And all upon his earth
Is all within his plan
And I know this shall be my journey home

I want to be ready
I want to be ready
I want to be ready
Ready to put on my long white robe

Ready
I want to be ready
Want to be ready
Ready to put on my long white robe

Covet no silver
Covet no gold
Reach your empty
Hands for him to hold
Up in his kingdom
Glory shall be proclaimed
Sing the song
And praise his name

I want to be ready
I want to be ready
I want to be ready
Ready to put on my long white robe

Ready
I want to be ready
I want to be ready
Ready to put on my long white robe

Ready
I want to be ready
I want to be ready

Words and music by Ben Harper

I met a girl whose heart was on the right hand side
And upon the left an angel did reside
They told her mother that she never would survive
But she kept the rythm and is still alive
She's still alive

And we all must have
The will to live
Oh- you got to have
The will to live
Oh- the will
Oh- the will
The will to live

Then I met a man who had to walk with his hands
Born into a world he couldn't stand
Blessed with life but cursed as a man
Still he walks taller than most of us can

We all must have
The will to live
Oh- you got to have
The will to live
Oh- the will
Oh- the will
The will to live

Some are born with more and some born with less
So don't take for granted the life we've been blessed
It's hard to understand that we're only a guest
And each one of us shall be put to life's test
Oh- life's test

We all must have
The will to live
Oh- you got to have
The will to live
Oh- the will
Oh- the will
The will to live
Oh- the will
Oh- the will to live

Words and music by Ben Harper

Ashes to ashes and dust to dust
That's what have 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 to 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
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

Meeting is such sweet sorrow
Cause someday we may have to part

Words and music by Ben Harper

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
Or have I always been so blind
So blind
So blind

I'm a widow
I'm a widow
I'm 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
--
Now I am so afraid
I'm so afraid
I'm so afraid

I'm a widow
I'm a widow
I'm a widow of a living man
I'm a widow
I'm a widow
I'm a widow of a living man
Of a living man
Of a living man

Mama why does he hurt me so
He hurt me so
He hurt me so
I'm gonna need someplace to go
Someplace to go
Someplace to go
He's no longer some kind (of ) woman' son
Kind (of ) woman' son
Kind (of ) woman' son
Mama I think that I had better run
I'd better run
I'd better run

I'm a widow
I'm a widow
I'm a widow of a living man
I'm a widow
I'm a widow
I'm a widow of a living man
Of a living man

Words and music by Ben Harper

I'm more afraid of living than I am scared to die.
I'm more afraid of falling than I am of flying high.

Every moral has a story and every story has an end.
Every battle has its glory and its consequence.

I'm more afraid of loving than I am of being scorned,
being scorned.
But I will keep on trying though I have been forwarned.

Every moral has a story and every story has an end.
Every battle has its glory and its consequence,
and its consequence.

I would rather me be lonely and you have someone to hold.

Words by Ben Harper - music by Ben Harper / JP Plunier

Can you tell me why you're so uptight
out of your head and ain't talkin' right
Can you tell me why your mind ain't straight
out of touch and can't relate

Mama's trippin'
Daddy's slippin'
Mama's trippin'
Daddy's slippin'
Mama's trippin'
Daddy's slippin'
Mama's trippin'
Daddy's slippin'

Everybody's talkin' 'bout keepin' it together
but I see people splittin' when there's inclement weather
What you want is what I want so why can't we agree
if I could be inside of you maybe I could see why

Mama's trippin'
Daddy's slippin'
Mama's trippin'
Daddy's slippin'
Mama's trippin'
Daddy - Daddy's slippin'
Mama's trippin'
Daddy's slippin' - yeah

Now you and I ain't spoken
ain't spoken for a week
soon there won't be nothin'
nothin' left to speak
Things ain't the same since you've gone insane
let's take some time and ease the strain

Mama's trippin'
Daddy's slippin'
Mama's trippin'
Daddy's slippin'
Mama's trippin'
Daddy's slippin'

Words and music by Ben Harper

Battered and torn still I can see the light
Tattered and worn but I must kneel to fight
Friend of mine what can't you spare
I know some times it gets cold in there

When my legs no longer carry
and the warm wind chills my bones
I reach for Mother Mary
and I shall not walk alone

Hope is alive while we're apart
Only tears speak from my heart
Break the chains that hold us down
And we shall be forever bound

When I'm tired and weary
and a long way from home
I reach for Mother Mary
and I shall not walk alone
I shall not walk alone

Beauty that we left behind
How shall we tomorrow find
Set aside our weight in sin
So that we can live again

When my legs no longer carry
and the warm wind chills my bones
I reach for Mother Mary
and I shall not walk alone