Category: Uncategorized

Posted on

My lawnmower stopped working

“Mending meadow” painted with watercolor and gouache by Sanford Ross Bender on September 3, 2006
“My lawnmower stopped working”composed and performed with vocals and guitar by Sanford Ross Bender on May 31 and June 1, 2026.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

My lawnmower stopped working,

So, I let the grass grow high.

My neighbors are complaining,

That it would soon touch the sky.

I always wanted a forest,

And the birds that it would bring.

The minstrels will follow,

The troubadours will sing.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

The lawnmower was the pushing kind.

Like the mower that my father had.

He liked the clinking of the blades,

Without the fumes and noise that was so bad.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Never had I thought of ghosts before.

But now I am in belief.

My father appeared to mow the lawn,

And now, I can sigh in relief.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Lyrics and music by Sanford Ross Bender

Posted on

Slow walk home

“Bay wetlands” photographed at Island Beach State Park by Sandy Ross Bender on May 12, 2026.
“Slow walk home” composed and performed with guitar and mandolin by Sandy Ross Bender on May 11, 2026.
Posted on

Slip out through the window

“Outbuildings” photographed in Bucks County, Pennsylvania by Sanford Ross Bender in late February, 2026.
“Slip out through the window” composed and performed with banjo, concertina, and guitar by Sanford Ross Bender on March 29, 2026.

Slip out through the window,

Shift your unsettled mind,

Lift up your aching limbs,

Leave what holds you down behind.

Fragrant woods are beckoning,

Singing their soulful sound,

Dance beneath the gables,

As planet moons spin around.

SRB 033026

Posted on

Start of the year

“Deciding which trail to explore” drawn with pen and ink by Sanford Ross Bender on January 29, 2026.
“Start of the year” composed and performed with concertina and guitar by Sanford Ross Bender on January 28, 2026.

Posted on

Fairytale

“Barred owl” drawn with pen and ink by Sanford Ross Bender
“Fairytale” composed and performed with guitar and anglo concertina by Sanford Ross Bender on January 6, 2026.

Posted on

Crime story

“Crime story” drawn in note pad with green colored pencil by Sanford Ross Bender on December 20, 2025.
“Crime story” composed and performed with banjo, mandolin, and guitar by Sanford Ross Bender on December 20, 2025.

Posted on

Our gallant ship

“Sailing ship in rough seas” drawn with color pencil on paper by Sanford Ross Bender with inspiration from the Dutch masters
“Our gallant ship (The mermaid)” composed, arrange, and performed with voice, concertina, clarinet, and guitar by Sanford Ross Bender on November 28, 2025.,

*Oh, the stormy winds do blow

With the landlubbers down below,

And the sailor-men a-climbing to the top

To haul in the riggin’-o.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

“Twas Sunday night, our sails were set,

We hardly cleared the land-o,

When we spied a mermaid-a-swimmin’ by,

A comb and a glass in her hand-o.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

The captain plumbed with a lead and a line,

He plumbed for to reach the sand-o,

While the wind and the waves did toss and roar,

We knew we’d never see land-o.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Then three times ’round went our gallant ship.

And three times more went she,

And the mate and the cabin boy said goodbye

As we sank in the salt, salt sea,

As we sank in the salt, salt sea.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

*Traditional ballad called “The Mermaid” was ccollected and compiled as No. 62 B by John Jacob Niles. Original musical arangement was composed for voice, concertina, clarinet, and guitar and performed by Sanford Ross Bender.

Posted on

Tiny Drops of Rain

” Raindrops and Red Berries”” photographed by Sanford Ross Bender in Bucks County, Pennsylvania on November 22, 2025.
“Tiny Drops of Rain” (verses sung from the traditional ballad, “Green Grave, or the Restless Dead”, arranged and performed with vocals, guitar, and banjo by Sanford Ross Bender on November 21, 2025.

The Green Grave, or The Restless Dead*

The wind across the graveyard blew

With tiny drops of rain,

“I never had but one true love,

And she in the grave, one year hath lain,

And she in the grave hath lain.”

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

He sat and grieved upon her grave

As many lovers may,

He sat and grieved and made a moan

A twelvemonth and a day,

A twelvemonth and a day.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

And when the grieving time was past,

The maiden’s ghost did say,

“Who sits a-weeping on my grave

A twelvemonth and a day,

A twelvemonth and a day?”

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

“My lips are cold as coldest clay,

My breath is earthy strong,

Now you have kissed me once again,

Your days will not be long,

Your days will not be long.”

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

*Traditional ballad compiled by John Jacob Niles (Niles No. 32 C).

Posted on

Lovers’ Farewell

“Leaning toward the river” photographed by Sandy Ross Bender at Washington Crossing State Park, Pennsylvania on November 15, 2025.
Lovers’ Farewell” music composed, arranged,* and performed with vocals, guitar, and concertina by Sandy Ross Bender on November 15, 2025.

My lover did come ere evensong,

And he give me farewell,

But the wars that took him to the Low Country

He never a war did tell,

But the wars that took him to the Low Country

He never a war did tell.

Oh, he did go to the bloody wars,

His lance and his shield a-glisten,

While his lady did weep in her bowing-room,

And none was there to listen.

While his lady did weep in her bowing-room,

And none was there to listen.

Down fell he there, and there to die,

In the wet of the Low Country,

And no man knows that he lies there

But his horse and his hound and his lady Mary.

And no man knows that he lies there

But his horse and his hound and his lady Mary,

Oh, he may sleep in an open grave,

Where raven fly and flutter,

But I will wake on my pallet of grief,

And many a cry will utter.

But I will wake on my pallet of grief,

And many a cry will utter.

*Note: Ballad lyrics documented by John Jacob Niles (No. 17 A -traditional form of “The Three Ravens” (Francis James Child No. 26},

Posted on

Don’t give up the fight, mates!

“Red goblin” painted and drawn with mixed media by Sanford Ross Bender some time ago.
“Don’t give up the fight, mates!” composed and performed with mandolin and guitar by Sanford Ross Bender on July 6, 2025.