Benjamin rode out of Montana On a Palomino pony 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 Sellin' Pacific Ocean water And callin' 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 tellin' 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 pickin' 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-fallin' Hearin' the bob white callin' As though he'd know we'd understand 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 tellin' you Life could be fun for anyone Who had a good friend like Benjamin Had a good friend like Benjamin Well, Ben and me spent some time in Oklahoma Livin' on a reservation Workin' at a service station Pumpin' gas, passin' time We caught a train down to Harlan County Thinkin' we were awful lucky Just to walk along a Kentucky backroad Without no reason nor rhyme 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 tellin' you Life could be fun for anyone Who had a good friend like Benjamin Had a good friend like Benjamin Had a good friend like Benjamin

Let me set the mood, set the situation Imagine that you're sittin' in the congregation Hey, he's talkin' 'bout Judgment Day If you listen real close, hear what he say You may run on for a long time Run on for a long time May run on for a long time But let me tell you God Almighty's gonna cut you down Go 'n' tell that long-term liar Go 'n' tell that midnight rider Tell the gambler, rambler, backbiter Tell him God Almighty gonna cut him down Great God Almighty, let me tell you my need Yes, my head's been wet with the midnight deed I been down on my bended knee Talkin' to the man from Galilee My God spoke, spoke so sweet I thought I heard the shufflin' of angel feet He put one hand on my head Great God Almighty let me tell you what he said You may run on for a long time Run on for a long time May run on for a long time Let me tell you God Almighty gonna cut you down You may throw the rock, hide your hand Workin' in the dark against your fellow man But sure as God made the day and night What you do in the dark will be brought to light You may run and hide, slip and slide Try to take the mote from your neighbor's eye But sure as the Lord made the rich and poor What you reap, my brother, is what you sow You may run on for a long time Run on for a long time Run on for a long time But let me tell you God Almighty gonna cut you down Some people go to church just to signify They try to make a date with their neighbor's wife But let me tell you, brother, just as sure as your born Better leave that woman, better leave her alone One of these days just mark my words You think that your brother's gone off to work You'll walk up and knock on the door That's all, brother, there ain't no more (Swing low, sweet chariot) You may run on for a long time Run on for a long time May run on for a long time But let me tell you God Almighty gonna cut you down Go 'n' tell that midnight rider Go 'n' tell that long-term liar Tell the rambler, gambler, backbiter Tell him God Almighty gonna cut him down Amen

Why? How could you fall this time Fall for that same old line A line I know you've heard from me At least a hundred times? But here I am again You'll take me back and then It won't be long 'til I'll be gone Upon my way again What's somebody like you lovin' somebody like me for, baby? (Baby) What's somebody like you lovin' somebody like me for, child? (Child) What's somebody like you lovin' somebody like me for, baby? (Baby) What's somebody like you lovin' somebody like me for, child? (Child) Baby, sorry, it's only me Don't want nobody stayin' up late at night Waitin' on me Waitin' on me Waitin' on me Can't seem to settle down Maybe I'll just hang around But every time you pick me up I guess I take you down But though I wonder why you want me Somehow I just know if you stopped lovin' me I'd crawl on off and die What's somebody like you lovin' somebody like me for, baby? (Baby) What's somebody like you lovin' somebody like me for, child? (Child) What's somebody like you lovin' somebody like me for, baby? (Baby) What's somebody like you lovin' somebody like me for, child? (Child) (Better go find somebody to love you) (Better go find somebody to love) (Better go find somebody to love you) (Better go find somebody to love) (Better go find somebody to love you) (Better go find somebody to love) What's somebody like you lovin' somebody like me for, baby? (Baby) What's somebody like you lovin' somebody like me for, child? (Child) What's somebody like you lovin' somebody like me for, baby? (Baby) What's somebody like you lovin' somebody like me for, child? (Child) Baby, sorry, it's only me Don't want nobody stayin' up late at night Waitin' on me Waitin' on me Waitin' on me Can't seem to settle down Maybe I'll just hang around But every time you pick me up I guess I take you down But though I wonder why you want me Somehow I just know if you stopped lovin' me I'd crawl on off and die What's somebody like you lovin' somebody like me for, baby? (Baby) What's somebody like you lovin' somebody like me for, child? (Child) What's somebody like you lovin' somebody like me for, baby? (Baby) What's somebody like you lovin' somebody like me for, child? (Child) What's somebody, somebody to love you Better go find somebody to love Better go find somebody to love you Better go find somebody to love Better go find somebody to love you Better go find somebody to love Better go find somebody to love you Better go find somebody to love