The album released one single, the title track "Ben", which was a commercial success on the music charts, topping both the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and the Australian ARIA charts, giving Jackson his first number 1 single, domestically and internationally. "Ben" also charted within the top 10 in other territories worldwide. "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" was planned to be released as the second single from the album, but was cancelled for unspecified reasons. Two of the album's songs were "stripped" in 2009 as part of the three-disc compilation Hello World: The Motown Solo Collection.
The album was released by Motown Records, his second studio album for the label as a solo artist, in August 1972. As part of promotion for the album, "Ben" was released as the album's lead and only single in July 1972. "Ben" was a commercial success worldwide, generally charting within the top 10 and top 20 positions on the music charts. The song peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, which was Jackson's first, of what would be 13 songs, to top that chart during his career as a solo artist. “Ben" also charted on Billboard's Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs at number 3 and 5. "Ben" charted within the top 10 on the Dutch Top 40 chart, peaking at number 2 and number 7 on the U.K. Singles Chart, as well as charting at number 14 in Australia. "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" was planned to be released as the second single from the album, but was cancelled for unspecified reasons.
Ben was more successful on music charts in both the U.S. and worldwide compared to Jackson's previous studio album. The album peaked at number 5 on the U.S. Billboard 200; becoming Jackson's first of what would be six studio albums to peak within the top 10 on that chart. Ben also peaked at number 4 on the U.S. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. On January 13, 1973, Ben debuted on the U.K. Album Chart at its peak position, number 17. The album remained within the country's music chart's top 50 positions for seven consecutive weeks. On January 1, 1973, the album was certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry for shipping 60,000 units across the U.K. After Jackson's death in June 2009, his music experienced a surge in popularity. The album charted on the French music charts on July 25, 2009, at its peak position of number 162. Ben remained within the country's top 200 positions for two consecutive weeks.
Ben
Michael Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning
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)
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)
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")
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
(A friend)
Like Ben
(Like Ben)
Like Ben
The song "Ben" by Michael Jackson is a touching ode to a close friendship between the singer and a rat named Ben. The lyrics speak to the bond the two share and how, despite being different creatures, they have found what they were looking for in each other. The chorus declares, "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." It's a beautiful reminder of how important it is to have someone you can count on.
The second verse addresses Ben's feelings of loneliness and rejection from society, with the singer offering comfort and reassurance that he will always be there for him. The lyrics say, "Ben, you're always running here and there, you feel you're not wanted 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." It's a powerful sentiment that speaks to the heart of what it means to be a true friend.
Line by Line Meaning
Ben, the two of us need look no more
There is no longer a need for us to search as we have found what we were looking for
We both found what we were looking for
We have found what we were looking for in each other
With a friend to call my own
Having a friend who belongs to me and is always there for me
I'll never be alone
I will never be by myself because I have a loyal friend in Ben
And you, my friend, will see
You, my dear friend Ben, will soon realize
You've got a friend in me
That you have an unwavering friend in me
Ben you're always running here and there (here and there)
Ben, you always seem to be on the move and restless
You feel you're not wanted anywhere (anywhere)
You are of the belief that nobody wants to be around you
If you ever look behind
If you ever take the time to reflect
And don't like what you find
And you dislike what you discover about yourself
There's something you should know
You need to know something important
You've got a place to go
You have a home where you are welcomed with open arms
I used to say "I" and "me"
In the past, my vocabulary included more singular pronouns like "I" and "me"
Now it's "us", now it's "we"
However, now it's about "us" and our partnership
Ben most people would turn you away (turn you away)
Most people would push you away or ignore you, Ben
I don't listen to a word they say (a word they say)
Their opinions or feelings about you do not sway me, Ben
They don't see you as I do
They don't view you the way I do
I wish they would try to
I desire they would attempt to
I'm sure they'd think again
I'm confident their perception of you would change
If they had a friend like Ben
If they had a friend like you, Ben
(A friend)
(Because you are a dear friend)
Like Ben
Just like you, Ben
(Like Ben)
(Like you, Ben)
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Tratore, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Don Black, Walter Scharf
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Maureen G. O'Brien
Knowing his father Joe the Skank and Momma Catherine the psycho JW were controling him ($$$$$$$$) and his brothers all picked on him because his nose was huge like his dad's esp going through puberty....
yeah the youngest boys were hammered with JW shit and yet the. idiot parents let them a bunk with them r older brothers who were just bringing groupies in all night long and screwing them with their little brothers under the blankets inches away.
Yeah then were the good old days for Michael.
Then of course one visit to the Disney Underground and "C-Ya!"
They can smell traumatized children
anywhere (CIA - "The Finders") and he of course was no exception .
it was clearly obvious that he had several different personalities when he was growing up, then the adult years - I'm surprised they let him live so long.
When I heard he was off to Cedars I was like "He's Dead".
And like Whitney he was.
Joshua Jagus
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)
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)
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"
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
(A friend)
Like Ben
(Like Ben)
Like Ben
Daito Meny
LETRA
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)
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)
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"
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
(A friend)
Like Ben
(Like Ben)
Like Ben
thanxx
Probably the best song ever written about a rat.
Cass Zang Gonmiah
Definitely
Chris RJ
No question...
though "Oh Ratigan" was pretty good; just don't actually say it to his face! X-D
KingStoneyBlanco
@Shinobi Nah...STILL a rat!
KingStoneyBlanco
@Shinobi wtf are YOU talking about!!
KingStoneyBlanco
@꧁Mike Sully꧂ BOY!! Are you f×××ing serious??? Wtf do you know about black dad's or black families!! "Sit yo' black ass down??" "Comb this nappy ass hair??" Someone should "wrap u up in seran. Kidnap u & slap u up in back of a van!" - LL
"Little POS Hitler!" - KSB
"Klan Member in Training!" - KSB
"Sit yo' pastey a×× down, CaveBoy!" - Mrs. Karen Sully
"Comb that LICE INFESTED hair, Peck R. Wood!!" - Mr. Adolf Sully
Ethan Ang
3 best singers of all time.
Child MJ
Young MJ
Middle-aged MJ (Till his last breath at 50 years old)
R.I.P. Michael Joesph Jackson.
Tye Artisik
Young should be teen
Cameron Vaughn
Hahahah literally 🔥🔥🔥
HughJackass2
I wouldn't say that but he was good when he was a ,kid.