Simple guitar and voice, classic song ... which can relate to any urban centre.  In my work at Director of Spiritual Care/Grief Recovery Specialist I have met with and journeyed with many people who would fit into this song.  In so many of these life stories I am so amazed at the survival ability and the deep deep wisdom that comes from hardship!  Danny this is your song !

Streets Of London (Cover)

Thanks to Cathy who taught me this song in Wolfville NS.  oh so many years ago.  There is always a place in my  heart for "The Place" ... the place that gives us comfort and fond memories .... the place that we go back to in our memories like a cool well that is deep and refreshing on a dry day!

Come ByThe Hills (Scottish Celtic )

I wrote this song in June 2006 ... spending three days alone in a cabin on a cliff outside of Alma NB, overlooking the Bay of Fundy.  Watching the full moon rise over Nova Scotia on the far shore and then coming up over the Bay !  It happened the way I wrote it, the feelings were there too!

Big thanks for Greg Marquis for playing mandolin and harmonies, Dan Cyr on bass and recording the Bay of Fundy waves in his front yard. To Dan and Harold Dobson for recording and to Dan for the mixing.  Such a gift to have a team effort! 

Finally thanks to Roy Bishop of Wolfville NS for giving permission to use this image that he took of the Bay of Fundy .... the figure on the shore can be you or me ... you choose ... "I don't know"

         FUNDY FULL MOON           June 2006  Alma        Rick C Benson                                                                                           
Sitting here on the Bay of Fundy
   Full moon arise above me.
The night so awesome
Let me show you				

That massive tide rolls on in
Hear the water flow on out
Ocean tide
Moves with your soul.       

Chorus:
Well I know, I don’t know
   You know well you shouldn’t know
God    knows
And  that’s  ok     right     now

Clouds drift in, cover the moon
Darken sky, darken my soul
  Drowning
I’m sinking so low.

I light a fire on the shore
Feel the warmth, so much more
Nature
How she touches your soul			

Chorus:

I look up , the stars awake
Oh my God, my soul’s at stake
Full Moon
How she sparkles up the Bay!

La  la    la di da		
La la     la di da
L a a  a  a   a aa
ah     La  di  da

								Chorus:


Fundy Full Moon(Original with Friends)

So much joy in this song! Watching a young dad roll around with his son in a park! I later experienced that same joy ten fold with my daughter and two sons.  Kids are such a gift to us all ... even those we see in the park !

Thanks to Greg Marquis with some great mandolin riffs and background vocals and to Dan Cyr with bass and recording in his home studio KAJAM in Saint John NB ... the Bay of Fundy in his front yard outside the studio .  I am on finger pick guitar and lead vocals.

The photo is of Brenadan and myself in 1991 ... now at 23 he would be holding me up in the water ! Mahoneys Beach Antigonish NS.

Father and Son at Play   						Ottawa Oct. 1984
 (Watching a dad play with his young son in the  park.)

I’ll get ya dad, cause I’m stronger
The boy cries in the park!
I’ll pull your shirt and I’ll flip ya
He races around the tree,  and gets caught!
Chorus:
Father and son at play
On this cool, sunny fall day
Frisbee in hand and child in hand
The roll amongst the leaves and grass
And laugh, oh they laugh, the day away!

Catch it son with two hands
As the Frisbee floats between
Try again you can do it
As the Frisbee floats past,  his face beams!
Chorus:
The boy’s and man with his dad
They walk back to the car
Dad’s a kid from bounds
Accept for the love,  of father and son!
Chorus           2 X


Father & Son @ Play (Original with Friends)

This song is for my good buddy, Terry Moore.  It is a song The Irish Descendants performed and we listened to that version together while we visited in his hospital room. He asked me to sing it at his funeral and I had the honor of doing that a number of years ago.

 Images, songs, music ... it all fills in the gaps where words just fail.

I would like to do this again with a mandolin and a mic'd guitar rather than plugged in.  Stay tuned.

CatchTheWind (Donovan)

The journey, really that's what I find is the focus.  This U 2 song provides some very fine images ... images that we can take for our own personal meaning.  Single guitar - will set up for mic next time rather than plugged in.

Still Haven't Found  (U-2 )

A lovely simple song that wishes you well ... guitar plugged in finger pick style.  Thanks to my brother Dave Benson for this image of an old prairie church at sunset, from Limerick Saskatchewan... about SW 90 mins SW of Moose Jaw.  Oh what a coincidence that I chose this Church photo not knowing it was Limerick .... can't get much more Irish than that!

May the road rise up my friend to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face today
And the rains fall soft upon your fields
And until we meet again 
May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.
May God hold you in the hollow of her hand. 



Irish Blessing (Traditional)

Lizzie Lindsay (Celtic Traditional)

Solo guitar and voice ... we are all knockin ... what a mystery when the door opens!
Photo by Dave Benson - Manitoba Canada - Northern lights

Knockin On Heavens Door (All 4 Verses - Dylan Cover)

Costa Rica, Cancer, Oneness, Travelers ... these are all threads that have helped weave this song together.  The message is short, but purposefully in two langauges and can adapt to may more.  Because we all share the language of our souls  .... music!

Big thanks to: Dan Cyr for providing the Santana-like guitar licks and bass. His KAJAM Studio on the Bay of Fundy is a little peace of heaven.  Also to Lilli Lin for singing the French verse and duet for the last. 

Finally this is dedicated to my friend Gary Daigle who I have had the privilege to journey with these past 12 months. Gary your 3 months to live with pancreactic cancer has literally gone through the seasonal changes of 12 months. You continue to bring us blessings!  Thanks for doing the initial French translation! Chantes la chanson!  Sing this Song!  Vivez la chanson ! Live this Song !
PURA VIDA - life is so wonderful !


Soul Song - Ame Chanson - Pura Vida (Original)

Summer End.banjola2

TAKE THESE BEADS BQ (1)

A Ballad about Major JR Benson spiritual coping with Shell Shock/ PTSD WW I

TAKE THESE BEADS - coping with shell shock and his daughters loving support

Written five years ago (Lyrics Below)and revised this year - Tony's 75 birthday!  The first of nine kids - he lead the way as # 1 son in a Navy family.  He later was a volunteer baby Cuddler for over 25 years at the IWK Children's Hospital in Halifax  Nova Scotia.  
This song is also about the family - Mom and Dad along with Karen and Chris - all gone before us along with infant John ... a Loving and often times unruly family!   
Tony you lead the way !

The Cuddler Tony      
Words and Music by:  Rick C Benson April 11, 2014  revised 2019

Intro ….   
Oldest of nine he was always first
Family moved somewhere new
Karen and he looked after the gang
They filled in as parents number two

Chorus: 
Baby boomer born during the war
Daddy’s fighting at sea
Received warm love from his mother’s arms
Now known as The Cuddler .. Tony

Navy life ended,  sails pulled town
Parents moved the crew out west
But number 0ne son stayed east coast bound
There goes the family travelling nest

CHORUS … 

Well love of his life sweet Annie Pine
They built their home in the woods
A girl , two boys many cats and dogs
Sharing their love in the neighbour hood

Chorus … 

BREAK ….Into repeated 4 x … guitar break … then mandolin break

75 years now, we all gather around
With many fine stories to share
Gero toine, receive this love
From all of us who care

Chorus 
… ending….
You were always the Cuddler
The babies love the Cuddler
We all love the Cuddler … Tony

The Cuddler Tony 75 Years of Benson History

Take These Beads is a family and friend collaboration - an inspiring story of family connection in the face of PTSD.
I have some new banjo and guitar tunes up on YouTube. I'm really enjoy the musical connection to all styles around the world. 

As the former Director of Spiritual Care at a downtown Hospital, and Licensed Counsellor specializing in Grief , Loss and Life Transitions I have journey with patients and families in personal, grief and spiritual matters. I enjoyed using my guitar, banjo  and music in this setting, a gift to share when appropriate!

I am new to the recording side of things. My guitar (Larivee) does not sound nearly as crisp plugged in so need to mic it before posting more. (Jan 2014) That was pointed out from a music industry friend.  I started playing clawhammer style banjo around 2016 - I love it!Hope you enjoy

Rick C Benson

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