Benjamin Tod, 'I Will Rise,' // GemsOnVHS™

It has been a wild ride for Benjamin Tod of Lost Dog Street band in 2017. When we last met him he was singing Using Again, a downtrodden song about the harsh realities of using again. Here we find him on a more uplifting note with I Will Rise. The song has flavors of a gospel hymn, and ranks among his happiest, even with lines like "they're placing bets all over town, on how i'll die."

Big thanks to our executive producers, Brad Sirois, Mitchell Davis, Keith McQuillan, David Jameson, Lisa Galvan, Irvin Maddox, Josh Collins, Brady Jones, Julie Nestoroff, and VJ Arizpe for making this thing possible.

Instagram @benjamintodmusic
and instagram for more! @gemsonvhs
shot/edited by Anthony Simpkins

[GemsOnVHS]

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[Tunnelslug]

This dude has very quickly become one of my favorite singer songwriters

[willypotts]

"Country music is three chords and the truth." - Harlan Howard

[reperioinsula]

i’m not okay right now, i’m suicidal, but hearing this makes me want to believe that maybe i can turn my pain into something better, something that might help someone. thanks ben

[clayklooster]

almost 60 days sober from heroin today and this song gave me chills. much love y’all

[mayiplantthishere]

Tomorrow will be 4 years clean, and still rising! Love to all!

[addiechim]

“I wear shame like a crown, ” I really felt that within my whole heart

[larrywilder]

I don't know what's made me tear up harder, the song or the comments I've read... so many struggling souls like mine... let us all rise up

[codyd]

Just lost my wife, the mother of my child to an overdose two weeks ago.. each day that passes is undescribably different than the last, grief seems to run in circles. The closer her funeral gets, the harder I'm hit with reality. Tomorrow's the day we stand at the chapel to say goodbye. This song's the most accurate and beautiful depiction of what it feels like to be an addict trying to overcome thier personal struggle. I'm trying to recover myself, and since this happened I've just been losing my shit. This song now hits a part of my soul that's mixed with beauty and despair, grief, yet hope. Recognition of adversity, the gravity of our problem; the will and strength to push on. Idk if you read these comments Ben, but you truly might have the power to change the wrold with music. You've added some hope to mine. Thanks for the beautiful music brother.

[marcellowilkinson]

"And I'm scared to death of my own mind"

[ErinJanus]

I have never heard my neighbors downstairs play music before.. but they played this very loud all of a sudden and I stopped and placed my phone on the ground to record it. I felt like there may be hope in a situation where I was losing hope, for little Mikey Cadena who I am trying to help. I listened back to some of the lyrics and found it online here. Beautiful song

[ŽỌỌŽṢ̌Z]

We played this song at my brother's Memorial. Forgiveness & Love always Benny. Rest In Power ❤

[Impossible]

This fucking guy man. Blows me away. Every time.

[fattymcfatterson]

I let my daddy hear 'Using again' and ever since he's asked for something new. So I gave him Benjamin's take on Earle. I can't wait for him to get home and hear this. He's 62, southern to his core, and a hard man to impress. I'm not sure how we've found this man to bond over, but I'm not one to question things that shine like store bought gifts at Trade Day.

You've made my Sunday splendid.

[erictheredsnicklfritz]

you know I can honestly say this music saved my life. I lost my whole family last year. my mother then my twin girls two weeks later then my brother six months after them. I didn't really see any point in going on and then one day this music popped up on my recommendations. I turned it on and it spoke to me. It told me giving up is not a option. that my family wouldn't want that. After all that's happened I'm five years clean and sober and still alive. thanks Ben. no bullshit your music really did save me. I know probably don't read these but I figured I might get lucky for a change.

[leftylaylow]

"I walked through hell and liked the view." Damn, hit me hard.

[mellowmel]

I sent this song to my bf when he relapsed. Sadly I lost him almost a year ago but this song still makes me think of him.

[marksutton]

This song took me to a time... When a man was just a boy inside. Afraid of doing things right. Abused and abandoned by his junk riddled parents. Led blindly by the self destruction of what the image was he was trying to accomplish. Mistakes have brought me to this song. Life long mistakes. I lost myself in this song for a moment and became that boy again. Just yesterday I was pre approved for a 200k home loan. It's important to remember who you are and what you came from to realize the magnitude of little miracles in life.

[beaumcquillin]

I suffer from a psychotic and affective disorder and your music has deeply touched me. From drug abuse to self abuse you really capture everything

[j.byrdoliver]

Nothing more therapeutic than that first listen to a new Benjamin Tod song.