Benjamin

(album: Patchwork - 1971)

Benjamin rode out of Montana
On a Palomino pony
He told me he was all alone
He lost his family in forty-nine

Benjamin took me to San Diego
Guess we caused quite a commotion
Selling Pacific ocean water
And calling it seaweed wine

Oh, I never had as good a friend as Benjamin
He loved to travel
He'd been ever' place I'd been and back again
That boy could unravel
Stories that would make your eyes
Big as blackberry pies, I'm telling you
Life could be fun for anyone
Who had a good friend like Benjamin
Had a good friend like Benjamin

Well, me and Ben thumbed a ride to Alabama
Spent the summer picking cotton
Now it was so doggone hot
We bought us a three-speed electric fan

Then at night we'd drink a Coca-Cola
Listen to the rain a'falling
Hearing the bob white calling
As though he'd know we'd understand

Well, Ben and me spent some time in Oklahoma
Living on a reservation
Working at the service station
Pumping gas and passing time

We caught a train down to Harlan County
Thinking we were awful lucky
Just to walk along a Kentucky backroad
Without no reason nor rhyme

Had a good friend like Benjamin