The song "Benjamin" by Bobbie Gentry tells the story of the close friendship between the narrator and a man named Benjamin. Benjamin is portrayed as a free-spirited and adventurous person who loves to travel and explore new places. The lyrics mention how Benjamin rode out of Montana on a Palomino pony, and how he lost his family in 1949, implying that he may have experienced some sort of tragedy or hardship in his past. The song goes on to describe the various adventures the narrator and Benjamin embark on together. They travel to San Diego and create a commotion by selling Pacific ocean water as "seaweed wine," showing their resourcefulness and ability to make the best of any situation. They later hitchhike to Alabama and spend a summer picking cotton, dealing with the sweltering heat by purchasing an electric fan. The lyrics also mention their time in Oklahoma, where they live on a reservation and work at a service station. They then catch a train to Harlan County in Kentucky, where they appreciate the simple joys of walking along a backroad without any particular purpose or agenda. Through the lyrics, we learn that the narrator considers Benjamin to be their best friend. Benjamin is described as someone who has been to all the places the narrator has been, suggesting that he shares the same adventurous spirit. Benjamin has a talent for storytelling and can captivate others with his tales, depicted in the line "stories that would make your eyes big as blackberry pies." Overall, the song portrays a life filled with adventure, friendship, and the joy of sharing experiences with someone like Benjamin. Benjamin is seen as a catalyst for fun and bringing excitement into life, making it more enjoyable and memorable.
