Rick C Benson

Some Irish Maritime music for your pleasure on St Paddy's Day

Irish/Maritime Music

First recording attempt ... lots of fun with Greg Marquis on acoustic bass and mandolin, Craig Lang on some lead acoustic lead.  Me on rhythm acoustic and vocals.

Song was written in fall of 1982, after spending a two week silent retreat at a Carmelite Hermitage in the backwoods of Digby County Nova Scotia.  Discerning my direction in life, Elijah's searching for and finding God in the quiet wind, in my case the quiet solitude of the wilderness on a series of lakes and woods.

Elijah's Call (Original - First recording)

Guitar and Vocals only.  
Wrote this song in Ottawa 1985 .  I was watching a young dad play with his little boy in the park.  It was fall many of the leaves were down and they were having a ball ! To think I had the same experiences with my two sons and daughter years later ... kids ... such gifts !
Will record again with other instruments in a few weeks

Father and Son at Play   						Ottawa Oct. 1984

 
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:

BREAK :      Repeat chorus in instrumental


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-Solo)

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)

The first song I ever wrote.  My old dog Joe was  friend to people all over the country. Between fetching tires (Yes he really did)barking at jeeps (Which he hated)and eating ice cream (which he loved).  He lived and was looked after by many all over Canada!  Joe you are up in heaven chewing on a frisbee probably right now !
I can't believe it ... I forgot one verse .... next recording !  
Greg Marquis on Mandolin and harmonies
Dan Cyr on bass and mixer !       Thanks to you two !

Old Joe Dog                                                Ottawa 1985
Rick C. Benson (First song I ever wrote)
Old Joe dog, well he’s got his fame
A lot of people new his name
Even if he ain’t around anymore
We’ll tell the stories   We’ll tell the lore
Well old Joe dog he don’t like em small
He likes em big and he likes em tall
He’ll rip up a tree and go for a jog
Don’t give him a stick well he wants a log!
Chorus:
Well Old Joe dog we’d love to keep
Old Joe dog where’s that jeep?
Chase that Frisbee,  steal that ball
You were my best darn friend of all.
You know this dog had some brains ya see
He got his education from St F X, a degree
Just look it up don’t be quick to disagree
He as a grad Class of 83
After supper to play a tune
Ya know he’s want to be in that room
Give him a pat, well he’s give ya a burp
Smiling brown eyes , always alert!
Chorus:
LOL - Forgot to sing this verse ...
Late at night to take a pee
Tripped on the old black beast I didn’t see
A snarl from him and I’d bark back
Then he’d wag his tail, I’d given a pat.
Wolfville, Winnipeg, Antigonish town
He’d been in the cities and country all around
He wasn’t shy, he was quick to make a friend
And to these people, these words I send!
 


Old Joe Dog (Original with Friends)

I wrote this while spending 2 weeks in the backwoods of Digby County, NS Canada. Elijah heard God at the mouth of a cave, in the gentle breeze, I experienced God in nature during this quiet time.  
Thanks to Greg Marquis on mandolin and harmony, Dan Cyr on bass and recording studio.
Thanks to my brother Dave Benson for providing the reflective photo.

ELIJAH’S CALL

Down at the lake at dawn
Mist rising with the morning sun
Birds sing their daybreak melody
All around me the feeling is as one

Chorus                                    Elijah’s call … Elijah’s call
Solitude with you well spent
Closing summer prepare for fall
Come listen to the desert call … come listen to the desert call

Watchin the cloud drift by
Suspended in the blue sky
That’s when I feel your grace
                                           Smilin from this wilderness place                               Chorus

Listen to the waves lap ashore
Wind whistling through the tall pines
That’s when I hear your voice
                                                  Calling gently from within			           Chorus

Out on the lake at dusk
Ears ring with the silent peace
Come to you again I must
Back to the voice in the wind

Elijah’s call … Elijah’s call
Solitude with you well spent
Closing summer prepare for fall
I’ll listen to the desert call
Come listen to the desert call … come listen to the desert call
Come listen come listen come lis …  ten   … come lis …  ten


 Rick Benson  … Sept. 1982


Elijah's Call (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)

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