Ben Harper Album

Words and music by Ben Harper

Oh- Oppression
You prey on us when we sleep.
Oppression
You chase after the tired, the poor, the weak.
Oppression
You know you mean only harm.
Oppression
You reach out with your long arm.

But Oppression
I won't let you near me, aah no.
Oppression
You shall learn to fear me, yes you will.

Oppression
You seek population control.
Oppression
To divide and to conquer is your goal.
Oppression
I swear that hatred is your home.
Oppression
You just won't leave bad enough alone.

But Oppression
I won't let you near me, aah no.
Oppression
You shall learn to fear me, yes you will.

Oppression,
I don't see how you sleep.
Oppression
For your bleeding conscience I weep.
Oppression
You may have the dollar on your side.
But Oppression
From the gospel truth you cannot hide.

And Oppression
I won't let you near me, aah no.
Oppression
You shall learn to fear me, yes you will.
Oppression
I won't let you near me - aah no.
Oppression

Words and music by Ben Harper

I believe in a few things :
God, the Devil and Love,
Cause I've looked up from the bottom and I've stared down from above.
And I have faith in a few things :
Divinity and Grace,
But even when I'm on my knees, I know the devil prays.

And you're working your way,
From the ground on down.

I hate to say I love you,
Because it means that I will be with you forever or will sadly say goodbye.
And I love to say I hate you,
Because it means that I will live my life happily without you or will sadly live
a lie.

And you're working your way,
From the ground on down,
On down.
Your way,
From the ground on down,
On down.

Life is short and if you're looking for extension,
With your time, you had best do well,
Cause there's good deeds and there is good intention,
They're as far apart as heaven and hell.

And you're steady working your way,
From the ground on down,
On down.
Your way,
From the ground.

Words and music by Ben Harper

Yes indeed, I'm alone again.
And here comes emptiness crashing in.
It's either love or hate,
I can't find in between,
'cause I've been with witches and I've been with a queen.

It wouldn't have worked out anyway.
So now it's just another lonely day.
Further along we just may.
But for now it's just another lonely day.

Wish there was something now 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 than let you drag me on down.

It wouldn't have worked out anyway.
And now it's just another lonely day.
Further along we just may.
But for now, it's just another lonely day.

Yesterday seems like a life ago,
'cause the one I love today, I hardly know,
You I held so close in my heart, Oh dear,
Grow further from me with every fallen tear.

It wouldn't have worked out anyway.
So now it's just another lonely day.
Further along we just may.
But for now it's just another lonely day.
For now it's just another lonely day.

Words and music by Ben Harper

Don't do me any favors.
Matter of fact why don't you do yourself a few.
Your presence ain't nobody's blessing.
I've got plenty of other things that I could do.
Oh no, not another excuse.
Your tired silly games for me are just no use.
And now it's plain for me to see you're with somebody that you don't want to be.

So won't you,
Please, please me like you want to.
Not like, like you have to.
Or won't you just go on and leave me.
You know, leaving me is the least that you could do.
You know, leaving me is the least that you could do.

You could have spared me so much misery and told me you just wanted a friend.
'cause believe me, there's a difference when you mean it and when you pretend.
Or was I just your habit.
'cause I know a habit is a hard thing to break.
But won't you spare me a little mercy, there's only so much that I can take.

So won't you,
Please, please me like you want to.
Not like, like you have to.
Or won't you just go on and leave me.
You know, leaving me is the least that you could do.
Leaving me is the least that you could do.

Words and music by Ben Harper

You look like gold to me, and I'm not too blind to see.
Oh, you look like gold.
Said, you look like gold.

And you make me want to sing with all the joy you bring.
Oh, you look like gold.
Oh, you look like gold.

Like the rays down from the sun when a new day has just begun.
You look like gold.
You look like gold.

And now, look it 'cause, I've been fooled before,
But now I know,
I've made the mistake in the past,
But now, now I know the difference from the gold,
from the gold and the brass.

It's not the kind of gold that you wear but the kind that can feel my care.
Oh, yeah, you look like gold.
Oh, 'know you look like gold.

Some shine when the day is new but fade when the day is through.

But not you, you look like gold.
I said, you look like gold

Oh but, but I've been wrong before,
But now I know
I've made the mistake in the past,
But now, but now, I know,
Now I know, now I know,
Now I know the difference from the gold and the brass.

You look like gold to me, and now I'm, I'm down on bending knees.
Oh, you look like gold.
Oh, you look like gold.

And I just, I just want you to know,
To me you mean so, so, so much more than all the gold.

Oh, you look like gold.
Oh, you shall like gold.
Said, you look like gold.

Words and music by Ben Harper

Let us burn one from end to end,
And pass it over to me my friend.
Burn it long, we'll burn it slow,
To light me up before I go.

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.

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.

If you don't like my fire, then don't come around,
'cause I'm gonna burn one down.

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

Oh, excuse me Mr.
Do you have the time,
Or are you so important that it stands still (for you).
Excuse me Mr.
Want you lend me your ear,
Or are you not only blind but do you not hear.
Excuse me Mr.
But isn't that your oil in the sea,
And the pollution in the air Mr.,
Whose could that be.

So, excuse me Mr.
But I'm a mister too.
And you're givin' Mr. a bad name,
Mr. like you.
So, I'm taking the Mr. from out in front of your name,
'cause it's a Mr. like you that puts the rest of us to shame.
It's a Mr. like you that puts the rest of us to shame.

And I've seen enough,
I've seen enough to know that I've seen too much.

Excuse me Mr.
Can't you see the children dying.
You say that you can't help them,
Mr. you're not even trying.
Excuse me Mr.
Just take a look around.
Oh, Mr. just look up and you will,
You'll see it's coming down.

Oh, excuse me Mr.
But I'm, I'm a mister too.
(And you're) givin' Mr. a bad name,
Mr. like you.

So, I'm taking the Mr. from out in front of your name,
'cause it's a Mr. like you that puts the rest of us to shame.
'cause it's a Mr. like you, puts the rest of us to shame.

And I've seen enough,
I've seen enough, seen enough,
I've seen enough to know that I've seen too much.
I've seen enough,
And I've seen enough to know that I've seen too much.
Seen.

'cause Mr. when you're rattling on heaven's gate,
(let me tell you Mr.)
By then it is too late.
'cause Mr. when you get there,
They don't ask, they don't ask (how much) what you saved.
All they'll want to know Mr. is what you gave.

So, excuse me Mr.
But I'm a mister too.
And you're givin' Mr. a bad name,
Mr. like you.

So, I'm taking the Mr. from out in front of your name,
'cause it's a Mr. like you (that) puts the rest of us to shame.

Words and music by Ben Harper

When the people lead, the leaders they'll have to follow.
And all their lies and their alibies, they will have to swallow.
And it's you, you, you that has the authority.
For the one who is right is the majority.

Yes, when the people lead,
People take the lead.
Children you've got to take your lead,
Or you shall be led astray.

So as long as someone else controls your history.
The truth, it shall remain just a mystery.
You can lead a horse to the water, but you cannot make him drink.
You can put a man to school, but you cannot make him think.

When the people lead,
People take the lead.
Children you've got, 've got to take your lead,
Or you shall be led astray.

Watch them try to hide this world's imposition.
But like didease that come round from remission.
And when it seems as if it has left, left your person.
All the while it has only worsened.

When the people lead,
People take the, take the lead,
People take the lead,
People take the lead,
People take the, take the lead,
People take the lead.
Children you've got to take your lead,

Words by Ben Harper
Music by Ben Harper / Juan Nelson / Leon Lewis Mobley / Oliver Charles

If you're gonna live,
Then live it up.
And if you're gonna give,
Then give it up.
If you're gonna walk the earth,
Then walk it proud.
And if you're gonna say the word,
You got to say it loud.

'said, you got to fight, fight, fight for your mind.
You got to fight, fight, fight for your mind.
While you got the time,
You got to fight, fight, fight for your mind.

If you're gonna build a house,
make it a home.
If you're gonna pull some weight,
Oh, pull your own.
If you're gonna help,
Man, reach out your hand.
If you're getting up,
Then take a stand.

'said, you got to fight, fight, fight for your mind
You got to fight for your mind.
While you got the time,
You got to fight, fight for your mind.

Now, if you're gonna step,
Step on in.
If you're gonna finish,
You got to begin.
Don't you fear,
What you don't know.
Just let that be,
Your room to grow.

'said you got to fight, fight, fight for your mind.
Oh, your mind.
While you got the time,

Words and music by Ben Harper

Have you ever lost your way,
Have you ever feared another day,
And have you ever misplaced your mind,
Watching this world leave (in) you behind.

Won't you,
Won't you give,
Won't you give a man,
Give a man a home.

Have you ever worn thin,
Have you ever never known where to begin,
Have you ever lost your belief,
Watching your fate turn to grief.

Won't you,
Won't you give,
Won't you give a man,
Give a man a home.
Won't you,
Won't you give,
Won't you give a man,
Give a man a home.

In a world that is unwhole,
You have got to fight, just to keep your soul,
Some would rather give than receive,
Some would rather give up before they believe.

Won't you,
Won't you give,
Won't you give a man,
Give a man a home.
Won't you,
Won't you give,
Won't you give a man,
Give a man a home.
Won't you,
Won't you give,
Won't you give a man,

Words and music by Ben Harper

Don't you get ahead of me and I won't leave you behind.
If you get unhappy want to show me a sign.
There's no love like lost love and no pain like a broken heart.
There's no love like you and me and no loss like us apart.

Promises, promise is only a word,
And when softly spoken is never heart,
And a heart is not a stone,
And is fragile, is fragile when alone.

By my side,
By my side,
Won't you be by my side.
By my side,
By my side,
Won't you be by my side.

Oh, my care for you is from the ground up to the sky.
It's over, under, up above, down below and to the side.
There's no use in pretending, no use in saving face.
My love is never ending and you are my saving grace.

By my side,
By my side,
Won't you be by my side.
By my side,
By my side,
Won't you be by my side.
Won't you be by my side.

Words and music by Ben Harper

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.
That's the power of the gospel.
That's the power of the mighty, mighty power.
That's the power of the gospel, well.
That's the power of...

Gospel on the water,
Gospel on the land.
The gospel in every woman,
And the gospel in every man.
Gospel in the garden,
Gospel in the trees.
The gospel that's inside of you,
Gospel inside of me.

That's the power of the gospel.
That's the power of the gospel.
That's the power of the mighty power.
That's the power of...
That's the power of the gospel.

In the hour of richness,
In the hour of need.
For all of creation comes from the gospel seed.
And you may leave tomorrow and you may leave today,
But you've got to have, got to have the gospel when you start out on your way.

That's the power of the gospel.
That's the power of the gospel.
That's the power of the mighty power.
That's the power of the gospel.
That's the power of the gospel.
That's the power of the gospel.

Words and music by Ben Harper

Listen mister, brother, sister, family and friend,
I fear with each day pass, our time grows closer to the end.
Listen stranger, passer by and those I never knew,
There's not one day that you're living has been promised to you.

And I am a God fearing man.
I'm a God, I'm a God fearing man.
I reach out, I reach out for my God's hands.
I am a God fearing man.

Listen mother, sister, brother, relatives and kin.
You want to know just where you're going,
You got to know where you've been.
And tell me what gives one the right to say their God is better than anybody
else.
Don't we all have a right to find a God for ourself?

I am a God fearing man.
I'm a God, a God fearing man.
I reach out for my, for my God's hands.
I am a God fearing man.

So when I rise with the morning sun I give thanks to my God for the gift of
another one.
Oh, when my day is over and complete I reach to my God to put me back on my
feet.

And I am a God fearing man.
I'm a God, a God fearing man.
I reach out for my, for my God's hands.
I am a God fearing man.

Words and music by Ben Harper

Tell me which road,
Which road are you travelling,
Which road are you travelling on.
Tell me who will you turn to when the light, when the light is gone.
'said I hear somebody calling,
'said I hear somebody calling to me.

With so many roads to travel,
There's just one can set you free.
'said there's just one road,
One road to freedom.
'said there's just one road,
One road to freedom.
There's just one.
There's just one.

In my life, in my life I have been blessed.
In my life I have been cursed.
I have lived the best of times.
I have suffered, I have suffered the worst.
Do you know which road you're travelling.
Do you know where you want to be.

With so many roads to travel.
There's just one can set you free.
'said there's just one road,
One road to freedom.
'said there's just one road,
One road to freedom.
'said there's just one road,
One road to freedom.
There's just one.
There's just one.
There's just one.