Michael Jackson – Ben

* produced by The Corporation
* Written and Composed by Don Black and Walter Scharf

Title track of Michael’s second solo album, released in August 1972 in the US and December 1972 in the UK.

Initially intended for Michael’s teen rival Donny Osmond, until lyricist Don Black suggested Michael might make a better job of it.

Title song for a tame horror movie, the sequel to Willard, in which a youngster has a rat as his best friend. Michael’s version of Ben is played at the end of the movie. Michael wasn’t old enough to go see the film when it was first released!

The song gave Michael his first no.1 on the Hot 100 in the States and peaked at no.7 in the UK. It sold 1.7 million in the US alone.

Ben – Lyrics

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
You feel you’re not wanted anywhere
If you ever look behind
And don’t like what you find
There’s one thing 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
I don’t listen to 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