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Music as PoetryProject

Please Bleedby Ben Harper

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The song

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The ArtistBen Harper

Combining shuddering, groove-laden funky soul and folky handcrafted acoustics,singer/songwriter Ben Harper enjoyed cult status during the course of the '90s

before gaining

wider attention toward the decade's end. As a young artist, Harper combinedelements of classic singer/songwriters, blues revivalists,JimiHendrix, and such

'90s jam bands as Blues Travelerand Phish, which meant that he was embracedby critics and college kids alike. Despite the commercial success of the radiosingle Steal My Kisses" in 2000, Harper continued to explore different musical

textures into the 21st century, enjoying a solid fan base at home and aconsiderable amount of fame in Europe, where was named 2003's "Artist of the

Year" by the French branch of Rolling Stone.

A native of California, Harper grew up listening to blues, folk, soul, R&B, andreggae. He started playing guitar as a child, and began to perform regularly as apreteen. During his adolescence, he turned toward acoustic slide guitar, whichwould eventually become his signature instrument. Harper scored a deal withVirgin Records in 1992 after a steady schedule of shows in the L.A. area; two

years later, he released his debut album, Welcome to the Cruel World, to positivereviews.

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Interpretation

This lyric poem is a reflection on how one person feel whenbetrayed by another in a relationship. The tone is frustratedto the point incredulity and angry.

It seems the person in the poem is experiencing a break-

up or some other type of extreme hurt caused by a partner.One can assume that the speaker feels totally desperate,having to beg for attention by the other person, but hatingfeeling this way. The song is thus not a fatal attraction orobsessive reaction, but rather the speaker dislikes him/herselffor feeling this way. Its an unconscious reaction.

He or she is struck in such disbelief at the others coldness of action thathe/she is asking if the person is even real, if he/she even knows what he/shehas done.

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Interpretation

Speaker Not much is indicated about the

speaker of the poem other than itis a person feeling betrayed anddesperate because of the action,

or rather, inaction of the otherperson. The gender of thespeaker is unknown, and as thesituation could occur to either, isnot relevant. One can assumeeither position, as the song isobviously sung by a male, butstereotypically a female could feelsubject to these emotions.

Tone

The tone of the song isdesperate and angry. Thelyrics So as it standsI remain on my knees show

that the speaker isdesperate, while the wordsNever said thank youNever said please illustratethe speakers anger. Finally,

the title of the song and therepetition of PleaseBleed/So I know that you arereal illustrate the speakersdisbelief and hurt.

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Theme

The theme of the songseems to be that inrelationships,sometimes people canbecome so cold andhurtful that they donteven realize what they

are doing to otherpeople.

Title Signficance

The title of the poemsignifies how the speakerwishes to know if the

person recognizes whathe or she has done tothe speaker-after howwhat they may havebeen through, if the

person recognizeshis/her owndestructiveness.

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Song Lyrics

Figures of Speech/PoeticDevices

Similes-the song begins withseveral similes which illustratehow the actions of the otherperson have made the speakerfeel, like he/she is desperate

Paradox-this line in the song demonstratesa paradox, that a good lover can also be agreat enemy, which is an opposite idea butcontains a truth. Generally two people

that are very close can not only love eachother, but also know what buttons to pushto facilitate opposite emotions.

Make me feel like a beggarMake me feel like a thiefMake me feel like a battle, thatcannot end in peace

Good lovers make greatenemies

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Why this song?

I think this song is emotionally charged andlistening to the singer perform the song alwaysevokes a sentiment in me. I have a personalconnection to the song because I have been in

relationships where I was desperate for theperson to understand how Ive felt, but I think Ihave also been the person who did notunderstand the damage Ive caused another and

can see that aspect in the lines to myself I amnumb. Also, I just love Ben Harper!

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