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Welcome to the Cruel World
Studio album by Ben Harper
Released	February 8, 1994
Genre	Folk Rock Alternative
Length	50:25
Label	Virgin
Producer(s)	Ben Harper, J.P. Plunier
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link
Ben Harper chronology
	Welcome to the Cruel World (1994)	Fight for Your Mind (1995)

Welcome to the Cruel World (1994), Ben Harper's debut record from Virgin Records established Harper as a popular folk musician in the California area. After this release, Harper went on to add a permanent backing band, the Innocent Criminals, although they remained unnamed until the Fight for Your Mind album.

1. "The Three of Us" (Harper) – 2:35
2. "Whipping Boy" (Darrow) – 5:31
3. "Breakin' Down" (Harper, Plunier) – 4:00
4. "Don't Take That Attitude to Your Grave" (Harper) – 4:25
5. "Waiting on an Angel" (Harper) – 3:53
6. "Mama's Got a Girlfriend Now" (Harper) – 2:29
7. "Forever" (Harper) – 3:23
8. "Like a King" (Harper) – 4:18
9. "Pleasure and Pain" (Harper) – 3:44
10. "Walk Away" (Harper) – 3:49
11. "How Many Miles Must We March" (Harper) – 3:07
12. "Welcome to the Cruel World" (Harper) – 5:36
13. "I'll Rise" (Maya Angelou, Harper) – 3:35
    • Contains the hidden track "...By and By I'm Going to See the King"

• Ben Harper - vocals, multiple instruments
• Clyde Allen - background vocals
• Clarence Butler - background vocals
• Richard Cook - Uillean pipes
• Rock Deadrick - percussion, drums, background vocals
• Tom Freund
• Clabe Hangan - background vocals
• Jelani Jones - background vocals
• Suzie Katayama - cello
• Ken McDaniel - background vocals
• John McKnight - bass, accordion
• John Taylor - background vocals
• Kevin Williams - background vocals

• Producers: Ben Harper, J.P. Plunier
• Associate producer: Jeff Gottlieb, Mikal Reid
• Engineer: Mikal Reid
• Assistant engineer: Bradley Cook
• Mixing: Mikal Reid
• Mastering: Eddy Schreyer
• Advisor: Ben Elder
• Art direction: Tom Dolan, J.P. Plunier
• Research: Ben Elder
• Photography: Jeff Gottlieb