Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
“Ben” is a song lyrically written by Don Black (music by Walter Scharf) about the subject – a boy and his pet rat – of the 1972 film Ben for its soundtrack. It was originally intended for Donny Osmond, but since he was on tour at the time the song was instead recorded by a 14 year old Michael Jackso...
[Verse 1]
Ben, the two of us need look no more
We both found what we were looking for
With a friend to call my own
I'll never be alone
And you, my friend, will see
You've got a friend in me
(You've got a friend in me)
[Verse 2]
Ben, you're always running here and there
(Here and there)
You feel you're not wanted anywhere
(Anywhere)
If you ever look behind
And don't like what you find
There's something you should know
You've got a place to go
(You've got a place to go)
[Bridge]
I used to say "I" and "me"
Now, it's "us", now, it's "we"
(I used to say "I" and "me")
(Now, it's "us", now, it's "we")
[Verse 3]
Ben, most people would turn you away (Turn you away)
I don't listen to a word they say (A word they say)
They don't see you as I do
I wish they would try to
I'm sure they'd think again
If they had a friend like Ben
[Outro]
(A friend)
Like Ben
(Like Ben)
Like Ben
Ben was written by Don Black & Walter Scharf.
Ben was produced by The Corporation.
Michael Jackson released Ben on Fri Aug 04 1972.
At his 2007 induction in the Songwriters Hall Of Fame, songwriter Don Black said of “Ben”:
When it came to writing about a rat, I said, ‘You can’t write about a rat.’ I mean, I’m not going to use words like ‘cheese.’ I thought the best thing to do is write about friendship.
“Ben” I did in one take. I went right in and cut it. I said: “want to do another one?” The guy said: “no, no, it was great.” I said “was it?” That was at Motown. I’ll never forget that little apple box I stood on because I couldn’t reach the microphone. My name was written on it and it’s sitting at...
In his 1987 autobiography Moonwalk, he wrote:
Ben meant a lot to me. Nothing had ever excited me as much as going to the studio to put my voice on film. I had a great time. Later, when the movie came out, I’d go to the theater and wait until the end when the credits would flash on, and it would say...