8 - Little Benny Sing Well

A tale of perseverance, tenacity and patience. Little Benny Singwell’s father tasks him to build a bridge by throwing stones into a river. After his father is cruelly taken by the war Benny continues to sit by the river and, 21 years later, completes the task he was set.

For me this is a reminder  to perserve in the face of adversity, but also serves to remind me that every little act of kindness is worthwhile because over time those small acts of kindness can build up into something stronger.

Down by the river where the willow grows
There’s a boy on the bank forever skipping stones
Sits by the river and he sings his song
All for his father

Oh the stones all fall by the willow tree
One and two, two and three
Bound together by the roots and leaves
One and two, two and three
Build a bridge build a bridge
And bring him back to me
One and two, two and three
The stones all fall by the willow tree
One, two, three.

Little Benny Singwell, singwell, singwell
Little Benny Singwell, singwell, singwell
Little Benny Singwell, singwell, all for your father

Little Benny’s father loved him dearly
Made him a promise I will teach you well
Sat him by the river on a pebbled bank
Said build me a bridge I cannot fell
Little Benny’s father loved him dearly
Drew him to the river and to him did tell
Your determination tenacity and patience
When you are a man will serve you well

Oh the stones all fall by the willow tree
One and two, two and three
Bound together by the roots and leaves
One and two, two and three
Build a bridge build a bridge
And bring him back to me
One and two, two and three
The stones all fall by the willow tree
One, two, three.

Little Benny Singwell, singwell, singwell
Little Benny Singwell, singwell, singwell
Little Benny Singwell, singwell, all for your father

Little Benny’s father went to the waters
Fought in the war and there he fell
Little Benny cried as he thought how his father
Had left him all alone but had taught him well

Sitting by the river for a year and twenty
He through all of the pebbles into the waters swell
His determination tenancity and patience
Built for him a bridge that he could not fell

Oh the stones all fall by the willow tree
One and two, two and three
Bound together by the roots and leaves
One and two, two and three
Build a bridge build a bridge
And bring him back to me
One and two, two and three
The stones all fall by the willow tree
One, two, three.

Little Benny Singwell, singwell, singwell
Little Benny Singwell, singwell, singwell
Little Benny Singwell, singwell, all for your father