Ben was soo cool. And A really nice guy. Everyone loved him. Even Ric in this tribute shows his genuine love for Ben . They had their differences but down deep they still had deep feelings for each other.
Harry Gold. Taking that extra step to write a song and record it about someone he was very close to and loved shows how he cherished his friendship with Ben. It doesn't get any closer than this.
I wanted to thank everyone for the comments; many believe Benjamin left too soon. I think we all appreciate the incredible gifts of spirit and voice that he shared with us.
When I was a kid I always thought Rick was the front man on all the songs because Ben was never really featured in any of the videos. Had no idea Ben sang lead on many of their hits.
They both loved and appreciated each other. Rest in peace you two. A stunning body of artistic works you guys have left behind for us to absorb. Respectfully.
This tribute speaks volumes about the writer (Ric) & the person written about (Ben) & their friendship. Especially meaningful to hear today. Ben, your memory will stay forever....
This brought a lump to my throat, very touching, life is shit when someone as beautiful and talented like Ben is taken from us so prematurely!!! May he rest in peace, he definately made his mark on earth!! xx
So many small eloquent details to this sing. Like at the end listen carefully. Sounds like losing a connection to radio station, tries to tune in, then connection lost. Pure silence
This is so so sad, Ric made Ben immortal with this beautiful song, and now we sing it for Ric. These two remarkable men live forever. I hope I see you both again. RIP Ric & Ben. You took a piece of our hearts with you both.
How beautiful can one man be. He had it all...the unaffected attitude, the face, the body...and that voice that goes straight to the heart. Whoever took him from us...just give him back. How could you have done that? I want to walk in a little club some night and find its just not true.
salee320: that was so raw, so heartfelt. made me cry. The lesson here is to mend fences, heal differences and tell the people you love how much they mean to you while they are alive...tell them how important they are to you, how much they've meant to you......tell them what you love about them........tell them now, before a day dawns and they are no more and it is too late. (speaking fr new firsthand experience) Ben felt forsaken, abandoned & forgotten as the years ticked by, post Cars. He devoted everything he could give to The Cars years and deserved better than he got. peace~
Both beautiful statements about lovely Benjamin..I wish it was all a lie and he was alive as well. No one like him around now. No one. Times are changing and folk are getting meaner, colder, crueler...
LYRICS: You were my silver you were my gold You were all the things that can't be told You were my star falling through the night You were the one who showed me grand delight I can't see you but I need you And you're gone You were my right hand you were my friend You were always strong until the end You were my good time you were my rave You're the one that always set the stage You're what I once new now I miss you Cause you're gone Now I spend my lonely nights Wishing you were here to make things right To turn my darkness into light You were my party you were my tea You're the one that had faith in me - (c) by Ric Ocasek
Thank you for the lyrics. You can tell that Ric and Ben were really best friends. I love the fact that the whole band treat each other with respect, affection and mutual admiration.
Thank you Ric so much for this wonderful song you have made for your friend and our gorgeous Benjamin. It is so so sad that you are gone now. But who will dedicate a nice song to you? We will see it. I hope it would soon happen. Rest in peace Benjamin and Ric. You will never be forgotten.
This song is bringing tears to my eyes right now I never heard it before and I'm standing at the counter paying for my groceries and I couldn't help it but tears just fall
A FKN GREAT SONG!!!! Firs time hearing this! Did not even know it existed! Grew up on the cars in the late 70s and 80s (class of 84!!!) Where is my flying fucking car that they promised us huh? Thanks, Rick. Love you!!! PS. Nothing gold can stay, By Robert Frost. Nature's first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf's a flower; But only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief, So dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay.
I wasn't even aware that Ric wrote this song ~ what a pleasant surprise to hear him sing what we Ben fans have felt for so long...that Ben was a gift to us all!! I'm also relieved that Ben died with a sense of peace - knowing all was forgiven between them. Thanks for posting this!!
WOW...very touching. I had the biggest crush on Benny back in the late 70's/early 80's...LOL, and I was only 4 when it first started! I use to just stare at him on my brother's album covers with a shy smile. He had such beautiful eyes...The Cars will never be 'The Cars' without Ben. "May you rest in Peace Ben, we love you and miss you!!!"
@@patricias5122 No they didn't. Benjamin hid in the background on purpose, if you look at some of their songs before music video came like Bye Bye Love, Ben would only come to the front when singing. You have to understand that Benjamin Orr was a gorgeous man and he played in a group with unattractive men. The media always played on his looks and Ben wanted them to focus on the music so he hid in the back. In the music video for Drive, he spent most of it in the dark and even on his solo song Stay the Night, you rarely get a clear shot of his face. Heck on an album cover he turned his face to the side. He did all this because he did not want his exceptionally handsome face to be the main focus
I miss Ben every day. To this day I have many dreams where he is alive and well...and then I wake up sad. All Ben/Cars fans MUST check out his last interview on the Rhino "Musicladen" disc. He was obviously in the late stages of pancreatic cancer and looks so frail and weak. He doesn't speak much (what else is new!) but when he does, he is warm & charming and even cracks a few jokes. Miss you so much Ben!
God couldnt wait to hear his voice in person.I truly hope that guy who disliked only missclicked the button.One and only Benjamin,now and forever.Rest in piece.
You were my silver you were my gold you were all the things that cant be told you were my star falling through the night you were the one who showed me grand delight i cant see you but i need you and youre gone you were my right hand you were my friend you were always strong until the end you were my good time youwere my rave youre the one that always set the stage youre what i once new now i miss you cause youre gone now i spend my lonely nights wishing you were here to make things right
Wonderful tribute to Benjamin would not expect anything less. Ric said he was in every band he was in so the bond would have been magic...just lovely lyrics awesum song..
THIS SONG IS SO SAD. RIC SINGING ABOUT HIS FRIEND HE HAD LOST TO CANCER. THE SONG IS HAUNTINGLY BEAUTIFUL. WE ALL MISS YOU BENJAMIN ORR! R.I.P. WE LOVE YOU❣️
Great video! This is such a haunting song--you can feel the pain in Ric's voice. Those two were magic together, and their music is still as relevant today as it was in the early 80s. At least I can listen to the song without crying now..... Benjamin was certainly special.
Thks f Info.Ben was a type who wants to die singing on the stage(+almost succeeded) Sure the situation was disappointing for him. But they always worked together since end 60s + Ben knew good and bad side of Ric more than anybodyelse I guess. Let Ric play a frontman and smiles when introduced as "backing vocals"(for a fan from debut, incredible+sad) So sorry that not so many Ben´s vocalsongs left. He was so exceptionally gifted vocalist and I did want to hear more. He deserved much much more...
Paula Hewson Benjamin Orr could sing anything, and totally sell it to you. Ever listened to "Don't Go to Pieces"? Truly bizarre lyrics, but Benjamin delivers them like _nothing matters more._ A truly pro singer, with intense charisma and presence. Watch any live clip, and you can't take your eyes off him! And I am saying this _as a heterosexual man._ I really love and idolize all of the Cars. They were all great artists and beautiful icons -- but for me, they just don't quite exist without Benjamin.
dam9191, thanks for the kind words. Please don't allow a few to derail the spirit you've shared here. It took me down a path of memories gathering dust in my mind's attic. I got to brush them and play them again, discovering a renewed magic. I am thankful for you and others who take this time and effort so the rest of us can remember those times, to escape and re-feel the joys, and if need be, mourn...and care. Thank you.
This is such a thought-provoking and brilliant piece, and a real tribute to Ric 's artistry and to his and Ben's friendship. We should all be so lucky to have such richness in our lives. Just a kid from Cleveland, yes -- but what a kid.
Thank you so much for posting. This really made me cry - such a bittersweet tribute to his dear, old friend. Ben was one of a kind. We are all so lucky to have his voice to listen and still move us even with him gone from this world. RIP dear Ben xx
Ric Ocasek, Wow! The Cars. You and your band were amazing. One of the best band in the 1980. A come back on the scene, in 2013, will be very popular. No doubt about it.
Shame how some insist on holding Benjamin to their own callous prejudice & selfish doom. This song reflects the hurt of losing him - this man we admired, but never personally knew...not as his friend Ric did. Sides drawn in shadows to hold darkness over the light of their works is not an honor to his memory, but degradation to the legacy forged with his friends - we know publicly as The Cars. Respect Benjamin Orr. Properly honor him. I doubt he holds YOUR grudge against his friends...only love.
Yes, they were really good friends. It was a friendship of long standing. As Ric said in one radio interview (it`s here on youtube: "Ric Ocasek and Ben Orr on Radio Rock Line 1987" by slance), they were "blood brothers"... :-) This is very sad song, I think...Thanx for posting!
I don't know who put this video together but I just want to offer my compliments. This is one of the most poignant songs in rock 'n roll, it's a tremendous accomplishment by Ric Ocasek, and the video really stands up to the song very well. Good work.
Dam9191: I just can't tell you how much I appreciate your video. When I'm in the middle of a missing Ben meltdown I have come here time and time again. Probably makes it worse...ain't that the beauty of it. Really great sentiment shines thru...thanks so much
"Now I miss you... now you are gone..." I had lost track of Ric Ocasek ever since "Fireball Zone" in the early 1990s. A haunting, simpliistic song which I understand Ocasek did basically everything since he wanted to do the album on a low budget. Still, not a bad song although you can tell it is definately not commercial - not intended to be a hit I assume.
I miss Ben. I never even met the guy, but I bet he was a great man. I hear the new Cars song, Sad Song. Felt a void...they still have it...the song is fantastic but it made me miss Ben more.
So sad :-( I have just found out about his death. I had no idea :-( I was going to look for him on facebook to kindly request friendship. He sang "Stay The Night", now I ask him to "Stay Forever" in our minds and in our heart. R.I.P. Benjamin Billy, from Montevideo, Uruguay, South America :-(
Thank you getbtt; you express what I view as truth in a beautifully poetic way. I've been thinking about pulling this meager tribute to friendship off the page, due to all of the negative vibe merchants and fanatical fans. Peace to you.
I just realized what was bouncing around in the back of my mind. I buddy cop movie with Benjamin Orr and Rutger Hauer in their primes. It would have been visually assaulting and mesmerizing. You wouldn't be able to take your eyes off of those two.
