Battle cry

“Warthog” drawn with colored pencil on paper by Sanford Ross Bender on January 23, 2026.
“Battle cry” composed and performed with guitar, concertina, and percussion on February 21, 2026.

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},

Soldier’s remorse

Coastal view from the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, New Harbor, Maine photographed by Sanford Ross Bender in July 6, 2024.
“Soldier’s remorse” composed and performed with guitar, clarinet, and concertina by Sanford Ross Bender on August 10, 2024.

Burning village

“Highway village” painted with watercolors by Sanford Ross Bender
“Burning village” music composed and played with banjo, dobro, and guitar by Sanford Ross Bender on October 7, 2023.