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Dear Ben Lyrics by Loyle Carner

Not Waving, But Drowning

2019

[Spoken: Jean Coyle-Larner]
I've watched you grow, from first kick, to first kiss
Shoulder rides to sleepless nights
Felt-tip crows to scoring goals, and bedtime Katamino
Watched you hold your own from boy to man
As you stand firm, bare and bold, not afraid to walk alone
Reveal your pain. Unique. Defiant. Uncompromising
And with our compass lost, we talked long into the darkest hours
Until we saw the burnished sky, and our eyes stung as our words blurred and became thoughts
As we were silenced by the dawn
We clung to each other like sailors in a storm as our world pitched and bucked, our breath stolen by grief
But you stood strong, filled such big boots
Gripped to the helm and steered us on into the calm
Abandoned your lifetime ambition, to hold us down
Took on a different mission, while we were turned inside out, raw and gaping
But you wrapped us up in your dream, realised your vision and fed us with your words of pearl
Like buccaneers, we sailed the seven seas and drank in the wonders of your world, and returned giddy with the heady smell of your success
And when that time came, oh did we weep, but the tears that streaked our cheeks were stained with glee because we knew that this was not goodbye, that you'd be back, that you'd never really left
Because love does not lessen by miles it's not locked out by doors or walls, but reinforced in thought and heart
It cannot be lost like a key or a sock, or left behind in a box, it is present in each and every breath and flows deep with every beat and deed
It may not be your presence but it's your essence that remains. Forever dancing like glitter in our air
And now it's as clear to me my beautiful boy, as naked as the joy that caresses the creases of your eye, that you've finally found your one, your golden snitch, and my task is done
For I've gained a daughter
I've not lost a son

[Spoken: Loyle Carner & Jean Carner-Loyle]
[Loyle]
Ma, [sigh] you wait till Emily hears that, you wait till the world hears that, fuuuuuu-
[Jean]
Do you like it?
[Loyle]
It's even better than the first one
[Jean]
Oh my days
Credits
Loyle Carner

Loyle Carner

About “Dear Ben” by Loyle Carner

Read the complete lyrics to "Dear Ben" by Loyle Carner from the album "Not Waving, But Drowning" in 2019. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under UK Rap, UK, Jazz Rap.

"Dear Ben" is performed by Loyle Carner. from the album "Not Waving, But Drowning" in 2019 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Dear Ben", explore more songs by Loyle Carner using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

View all songs and biography for Loyle Carner · Trending lyrics · Billboard Hot 100

Frequently asked questions

"Dear Ben" is credited to Loyle Carner. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Dear Ben" appears on "Not Waving, But Drowning" in 2019.

Visit the Loyle Carner artist page at /artist/loyle-carner for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.

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