Lyr Req: Benson, Arizona

Subject: Benson, Arizona, or Dark Star Theme
From:
Date: 23 Feb 98 - 09:40 PM

I am looking for the words to Benson, Arizona, the song from the beginning of the movie Dark Star. I've heard it once on a folk album by Clam Chowder.

Subject: Lyr Add: BENSON ARIZONA
From:
Date: 23 Mar 99 - 03:54 PM

From: maytg-jedi
To: [e-mail]
Date: Tue, 23 Mar 1999 11:57:00 -0500
Subject: Bensona, Arizona Lyrics
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>

R,

I was surfing around and found your post on the Mudcat Cafe. "Dark Star" is one of my favorite movies. I have a page on my web site about it. The URL is below.

I typed most of the lyrics in from memory, and checked the video last night to be certain. In fact, I went a bit overboard, checking an audio recording of a different version of the film. Details are below. If I get the opportunity, I'll post them to your thread on Mudcat.

Can you give me any information on the band "Clam Chowder"? I might have more to add to my page. I didn't know that "Benson, Arizona" was ever performed as a folk song or (perhaps) recorded on anything other than the "Dark Star" soundtrack.

Thanks and best wishes,

Michael A. Hendershot
[e-mail]
http://members.tripod.com/~maytg_jedi/index.html

Strings and sealing wax and other fancy stuff....


(Lyrics follow....)


BENSON, ARIZONA

from the film "Dark Star"


The rays of sun shine down,
But I see only one.
Try to think I'm over you,
I find I've just begun.

The years move faster than the days.
There's no warmth in the light.
And how I miss those desert skies,
Your cool touch in the night.

Benson Arizona, blew warm wind through your hair,
My body flies the galaxy, my heart longs to be there.
Benson Arizona, the same stars in the sky,
The days seemed so much kinder,
When we watched them,
You and I.

Benson Arizona, blew warm wind through your hair,
My body flies the galaxy, my heart longs to be there.
Benson Arizona, the same stars in the sky,
The days seemed so much kinder,
When we watched them,
You and I.

Now the years pull us apart,
I'm young and now you're old.
But you're still in my heart
And the memory won't go cold.

I dream of times and spaces
I left far behind
Where we spent our last few days
Benson's on my mind.

Benson Arizona, blew warm wind through your hair,
My body flies the galaxy, my heart longs to be there.
Benson Arizona, the same stars in the sky,
The days seemed so much kinder,
When we watched them,
You and I.

(This following verse is used as the ending of the film before the 1983 director's cut.)

Benson Arizona, blew warm wind through your hair,
My body flies the galaxy, my heart longs to be there.
Benson Arizona, the same stars in the sky,
The days seem so much kinder,
When we watched them,
You and I.

(The above verse and the and following three are used as the ending for the 1983 diector's cut.)

Now the years pull us apart,
I'm young and now you're old.
But you're still in my heart
And the memory won't go cold.

I dream of times and spaces
I left far behind
Where we spent our last few days
Benson's on my mind.

Benson Arizona, blew warm wind through your hair,
My body flies the galaxies, my heart longs to be there.
Benson Arizona, the same stars in the sky,
The days seemed so much kinder,
When we watched them,
You and I.

Subject: RE: Benson, Arizona, or Dark Star Theme
From:
Date: 23 Mar 99 - 03:58 PM

Well, nuts! I didn't think that formatting would be a problem with these.

In fact, I'm quite surprised that I could still reply to a message that's more than one year old. I hope that this doesn't disturb the message base.

Oh well, it's easy enough to see the capitalization, commas and periods to figure out the correct line spacing.

Enjoy. I hope this is of use to someone.

Subject: RE: Benson, Arizona, or Dark Star Theme
From:
Date: 01 Dec 99 - 01:15 PM

How can I get a sound file with at least some of the song "Benson Arizona"? Also, who was it that actually performed the song?

Thanks, John

Subject: RE: Benson, Arizona, or Dark Star Theme
From:
Date: 21 Dec 00 - 06:51 PM

Yes, Who did perform the song "Benson Arizona" in the Dark Star movie?

Subject: RE: Benson, Arizona, or Dark Star Theme
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Feb 01 - 08:31 PM

Bill Taylor performed the song as heard in the movie.

Best Erik Larson [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Benson, Arizona, or Dark Star Theme
From: cetmst
Date: 13 Feb 01 - 06:44 AM

Judy Collins has recorded this song. I have taped it from a radio program but do not know the source.

Subject: RE: Benson, Arizona, or Dark Star Theme
From: GUEST,Karl Johanson
Date: 08 Aug 07 - 02:06 PM

I think the first line is, "A million suns shine down, But I see only one. When I think I'm over you, I find I've just begun."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Benson, Arizona
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Sep 07 - 07:04 PM

Also, slight correction in the chorus. Should be "But they seemed so much kinder, when we watched them, you and I".

Cheers, Dave

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Benson, Arizona
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Nov 07 - 07:36 PM

Actually the song was performed by John Yager

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Benson, Arizona
From: Peace
Date: 08 Nov 07 - 11:12 AM

Info here.

And links to darned near any question one might have about it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Benson, Arizona
From: GUEST,GUEST
Date: 09 Nov 07 - 02:50 PM

I've had the Clam Chowder version for many years, and I think it actually surpasses the original - at least in my opinion (please don't kill me!). But my album is on an unlabeled tape, so I'm not exactly sure what the album title is; it may be "Leftovers", but it just might also be "Special Order".

Clam Chowder, amazingly enough is still together periodically. They now have a website, and you might get more information at as far as what albums have the song, and which ones have been reissued as CDs.

I do seem to remember that Clam Chowder's lyrics had one or two minor differences from what was originally written.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Benson, Arizona
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Nov 07 - 03:16 PM

I messed up a bit in creating a link in my previous post. Sorry.

Click here for Clam chowder's website.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Benson, Arizona
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Nov 07 - 03:01 AM

Clam Chowder sang a third verse to the song. Their version was on one of their early albums - "Special Order", and it is out of print. Unfortunately, the song has not been included on their recent CDs that were compilations from their earliest albums. A real pity.

Anyway, here is the third verse, transcribed from Clam Chowder's version:

Now the seasons spin on by
Like seconds on this ship
And I'll take another pull
From the flask that's at my hip
The might-have-beens and the never-weres
Can drive a man insane
So I think I'll stay out in the void
'Cause Benson's not the same

(Chorus)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Benson, Arizona
From: SeaCanary
Date: 04 Mar 08 - 11:12 PM

That last verse was written by the lovely and talented Terry Sheehan.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Benson, Arizona
From: GUEST,SimoN from Poland
Date: 13 Jun 08 - 09:40 PM

excuse me do you can send me this wonderful song, my email is: [e-mail]   Im from Poland   
thx

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Benson, Arizona
From: GUEST,alaskagoldman
Date: 22 Jul 08 - 01:29 AM

This thread deserves to go on and on and on... after all, they have probably only aged 9 years since they shot the movie.

The song has Special meaning to those of us that have actually been to Benson, Arizona in the early evening after the Sun goes down and the stars come out and the air temperature finally drops down into the double digits.

Especially while drinking a Root Beer Float from the A & W drive Inn.

AWESOME! sure brings back some old memories.

A DESERT RAT in the Arctic

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Benson, Arizona
From: SeaCanary
Date: 11 Sep 08 - 07:13 AM

To: maytg-jedi et al

My name is Don, and I am one of the founding members of Clam Chowder (The group, not the soup).

>>> Can you give me any information on the band "Clam Chowder"? I might have more to add to my page. I didn't know that "Benson, Arizona" was ever performed as a folk song or (perhaps) recorded on anything other than the "Dark Star" soundtrack.

Sure. What would you like to know?

(I am having just the best of times messing around with HTML !!)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Benson, Arizona
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 14 Sep 08 - 07:33 PM

IMDb.com says:

BENSON ARIZONA
Music by John Carpenter
Lyrics by Bill Taylor

John Carpenter was also director and co-writer of "Dark Star" (1974).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Benson, Arizona
From: SeaCanary
Date: 16 Sep 08 - 04:58 PM

Jim --

>>> Lyrics by Bill Taylor

And that is absolutely correct.

But Clam Chowder recorded an extra verse that never appeared in the movie or anywhere else (to the best of my knowledge) except our album, "Special Order."

And that verse ...

Now the seasons spin on by / Like seconds on this ship
And I'll take another pull / From the flask that's at my hip
The might-have-beens and the never-weres / Can drive a man insane
So I think I'll stay out in the void / 'Cause Benson's not the same

... was most assuredly NOT written by Bill Taylor. This verse was written by Terry Sheehan.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Benson, Arizona
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 16 Sep 08 - 07:00 PM

I spent a couple of weeks in Benson one afternoon in 1978. I had been there in the late 1950's and it had grown due to the constructiion of Interstate 10. It is still not a particularly noteworthy spot. It is NEAR a lot of tourist sites; Tombstone, Jerome, Cochise Stronghold and other frontier relics. In and of itself, I am amazed that someone found inspiration for the song. God bless 'em; we find our muse where we may.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Benson, Arizona
From: GUEST,Guest in Benson Arizona
Date: 14 Oct 09 - 02:58 PM

Does anyone know why Bill Taylor picked Benson Arizona? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Benson, Arizona
From: GUEST,Belgaer
Date: 20 Jul 10 - 04:19 PM

Hey, I hate to be the person to ask for this, but does anyone have any chords for this song?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Benson, Arizona
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 20 Jul 10 - 07:15 PM

sheet music for Benson, Arizona

Hope this does

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Benson, Arizona
From: SeaCanary
Date: 01 Aug 10 - 12:25 PM

<<>>

No idea. That's one I'd like to know the answer to as well.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Benson, Arizona
From: SeaCanary
Date: 07 Aug 10 - 07:29 AM

(shucks)

<>

No idea. That's one I'd like to know the answer to as well.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Benson, Arizona
From: SeaCanary
Date: 07 Aug 10 - 07:32 AM

(consarn it)
***Does anyone know why Bill Taylor picked Benson Arizona? Any help would be greatly appreciated.***

No idea. That's one I'd like to know the answer to as well.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Benson, Arizona
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 16 Aug 10 - 12:08 PM

SeaCanary: Don't use angle brackets (also known as "greater than" and "less than" symbols) as punctuation. Anything inside angle brackets will be interpreted as HTML, and won't be visible. If you want to learn more, see the "Mudcat FAQ – Newcomer's Guide." There is a link at the top of the main forum page. You can also click the "preview" box next to the "submit message" button to preview your message before it is posted.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Benson, Arizona
From: GUEST,Seanearlyaug
Date: 22 Aug 10 - 09:20 PM

Benson Arizona has a wiki page.
In it it mentions both dark star and this other:
Media references

    * "Benson, Arizona" is the name of the theme song to the movie Dark Star.
    * In a tip of the hat to Dark Star, the Avengers crossover story Operation: Galactic Storm, which is about a war between alien races, commences in Benson.
    * "Benton, Arizona" is the fictitious Arizona town that Humphrey Bogart's character, Vincent Parry, transits by bus on his way to Peru through Mexico in the 1947 Bogart & Bacall film Dark Passage. In reality, this would have been "Benson, Arizona".

        Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Benson, Arizona

This might or might not have some bearing on it being mentioned in a somg, It might have just scanned right. Or someone might have been from this town. I have passed thru it, and talked to a young clerk who was surprised that that his town was famous.
Sean

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Benson, Arizona
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Apr 12 - 06:36 PM

Bill Taylor broke down in Benson on his way to Las Cruces to see his girlfriend on Christmas Day 1962. Two total strangers helped him fix his car and left him with fond memories of the place. The girlfriend later became his wife. He was looking for the most unlikely place he could think of for the Dark Star crew to long for and thought of Benson.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Benson, Arizona
From: SeaCanary
Date: 14 Apr 12 - 08:45 PM

I believe one of the founding members of Clam Chowder, Kathy (or maybe her husband), have been to Benson, AZ. It really is a great song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Benson, Arizona
From: SeaCanary
Date: 15 Apr 12 - 04:13 AM

BTW here's a link to Bill Taylor -- at least I think it's Bill Taylor -- performing this song.

http://grooveshark.com/s/Benson+Arizona/3wTLc0?src=5