Ben Harper Quotes

I get diminishing returns when I bore myself in an interview.

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.

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

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

What enables me to believe in anything is hope.

Make sure the fortune that you seek is the fortune that you need.

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.

I'm a living sunset, lightning in my bones.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Don't let what you have to heal from blind you to how much there is to heal for.

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

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

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

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.

It turns out that there is something more magnificent than nature. It's love.

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

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.

People say, "How do you write songs?" I say, "Patience." I may have a track that's hot, but no words. I'll just let it sit for years, because I know they're going to meet. They'll find it.

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

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.

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.

My choice is what I choose to be.

Hiding is not an option and you're going to step out and you're going to make mistakes. I'm going to look stupid. I'm going to say things I want to retract. I'm going to sing notes I wish I could have back, there's just no getting around the stumble, but if you stumble enough times you're going to fall off the edge and have no choice but to freakin' fly.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

There's something in everyone only they know.

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.

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.

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.

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

Folk is bare bones music.

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.

Every man's actions belong to him.

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?

When you hear Doc Watson singing Amazing Grace, something else enters the room.

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.

I want to try to be who I am today, not who I was yesterday.