Benjamin Dakota Rogers, "John Came Home," // GemsOnVHS™

We took this Canadian boy on a little stroll through the best nature the south has to offer, in this humble local's opinion, Fall Creek Falls state park in Tennessee. Our good friend Crispin, who also works with the esteemed and always smilin' Jeremie Albino ( • Jeremie Albino, "Hard ... ), came down with him. Over some good ole southern cuisine, Ben told of stories of growing up next to Fred Eaglesmith, of his little farm and musical adventure. Benjamin came to my attention in a funny, new, 21st century fashion. Probably the same way he came to any of y'all's attention, if you already heard some of his raucous storytelling tunes; ye ole TikTok. With every century, every decade, the medium changes. The spirit of it all stays the same. The essence, the real thing.
I'm actually writing this from Dublin, Ireland, where i've been struck by how funny it is i'm having the exact same conversation I have with artists in America all the time; they're so very TIRED of the industry, the games and the business. The intersection of capitalism and art. I don't have any answers, and I don't know there is one. I do know this though; playing music is spiritual. Listening to it is healing. The real part of it is the using of it to connect with yourself and with others. Just play! That's why it is called play, it is for the fun of it. Nothing more fun than playing in the presence of nature's most impressive features; in this case, the south's longest waterfall. Hope y'all dig it.
You can stream Benjamin's tunes on all streaming platforms at www.benjamindakotarogers.com/.... Stay up to date on what he's up to on Instagram / benjamindakotarogers .
Our undying love and gratitude go to our executive producers for making this project possible: Brad Sirois, Mitchell Davis, Keith McQuillan, David Jameson, Lisa Galvan, Irvin Maddox, Josh Collins, Brady Jones, Julie Nestoroff, VJ Arizpe.
Consider becoming a Patreon contributor to help sustain this project. For the price of a cup of coffee every month, you let us continue finding and filming amazing artists.
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GemsOnVHS is a long running series of intimate, off-stage performances by songwriters we love.
We're on instagram (@gemsonvhs or @anthonysimpkins)
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www.gemsonvhs.com

[@GemsOnVHS]

Benjamin has some great things in the work right now! If you wanna know what he's up to, go find him on Instagram at instagram.com/benjamindakotarogers/. If you're new to GemsOnVHS be sure to subscribe & follow us at instagram.com/gemsonvhs for more authentic artists.

[@Emmetgriffin9]

❤❤❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉😮😮😮😮😮😮

[@vnote644]

Indeed ❤

[@WanderIust_]

"He took out his knife and he carved out the light of a future in the eyes of the Lord" Straight chills, so morbidly poetic. I can't get over this song.

[@jackmac2217]

Up there with the greatest lines ever written. Right in the heart...much line John's brother.

[@AlaskaJiuJitsu]

Seriously!

[@aap71]

yeah it's a badass line but why would he burst in with his gun blazing, but THEN pull a knife?

[@MontgomeryHall-tw5gh]

@@AlaskaJiuJitsu😊

[@Ryan-ff2db]

I knew in about 12 seconds this was going in my playlist. Love this.

[@Arauge1981]

Had the exact same reaction. As soon as he started singing I knew I was going to love it.

[@GemsOnVHS]

Cheers, thank you, give it a share!

[@Columbian.sand.blasted.nostril]

12 seconds in there was no music . That’s pretty cool of you

[@Ryan-ff2db]

@@Columbian.sand.blasted.nostril lol, 12 seconds into the song obviously but I do like the Gems intro's and scenery. Adds to the atmosphere.

[@Columbian.sand.blasted.nostril]

@@Ryan-ff2db if you like waterfalls that much, wait till you hear TLC “waterfalls” It’s a little different beat tho 😂🤙

[@Arauge1981]

Dark, storytelling country/folk music has long been my favorite form of music. Love this song, thank you for posting it.

[@justinbarr7907]

I discovered Benjamin on Tiktok when he was in the middle of writing this amazing tune, glad to see him on this channel!

[@jess.listenttm]

YAY! I'm so glad he made it into Gems!!!

[@LordofEregrion]

I can’t stop listening to this instant classic truly an amazing and talented gentleman

[@Joogsy4560]

You can’t understand how happy I was to see Benjamin on your channel!! What a legend

[@lanceadams3552]

Good god damn! Thats some mighty fine pickin' and a lickin', brilliant emotion on all acounts

[@ChunkyWhale]

Saw this guy on tiktok and loved him ever since. Amazing songwriter.

[@80s_karate]

I could tell this slapped before i even clicked on it

[@Rthomas176]

“Till the oak trees are so tall the mountains feel small; they’ll remember the wrath of my storm” 🫡

[@elenif4237]

I clicked because I thought he was handsome. I stayed because of his absolutely incredible voice and songwriting skills. Definitely going into my playlists.

[@chantaleleblanc4278]

Same here!!!!

[@cedarriver]

Interesting one. Didn't like it at first, but grew on my after listening a couple times while tabbing! Chords and lyrics below folks Standard tuning, Capo on 3 (on 4 for studio version) It's hard to replicate the sound on a 6 string guitar. Be sure to just play the 4 middle strings on all those chords Em7 x2003x Intro Am G Am G Am / Am G Em7 C C/B Am Verses Am G / Em7 C C/B (x4) Interlude 1&2 Am G Am G Am Interlude 3 Am G Am G Am / Am G Em7 C C/B Am Outro Am G Am G Am / C D Am / C D Am / Am G Am G Am / Am G Em7 C C/B Am [Verse 1] John came home from war this morning He found his wife, she wasn't there And a cold cold feeling crept through his bones When he found a note at the bottom of the stairs Said I'm in love with your brother, I've found a preacher I'm in love and I'm heading to the south Boy you were fine but I've changed my mind I'm boarding the next train out of town [Interlude] [Verse 2] John flew into a rage like thunder He brought his fist down and he cracked the floor He thought he broke bone the way he screamed and he roared And he headed right back out the door Said I'm going to find my brother God damn this preached And I'm going to put him underneath a stone When the oak trees are so tall the mountains feels small They'll remember the wrath of my storm [Interlude] [Verse 3] John crashed in with his pistol crying In the morning just before the dawn He took out his knife and he carved out the light Of a future in the eyes of the lord Strung him up high silhouetted in the sky Let the ravens pick him to the bone When the law man came by he turned down his eyes Not to gaze upon the brother of John [Interlude] [Verse 4] The station platform was empty and quiet She waited for a man who'd never show When the noon day sun was high and cracking the ground She felt a lump rise in her throat John swept from behind put a gun on her side Said baby you were why I came home I won't take your life but I want to look into your eyes When you see I killed the man that you love [Outro]

[@GemsOnVHS]

Thanks as always Nico.

[@cedarriver]

@@GemsOnVHS my pleasure!

[@anapm2927]

@@cedarriver Thank you kindly!

[@ismaygale]

Gave me full body chills with the first verse alone

[@LordofEregrion]

GemsOnVHS has shown me so many artists that I now listen to daily. Thank you so much for another gem!!

[@bryanschnicke9518]

This souldh've been wildly more popular.

[@seanmcguire9405]

Couldn't pick a better place. God love Tennessee

[@Taskmaster1568]

Love the tune, and love the Sakuraba shirt. Pride never die! Great work as always!

[@GemsOnVHS]

Finally someone noticed the best part of the video

[@erniegutierrez1942]

Dudes passionate and the Real Deal!!!

[@williamburris9662]

Gems does it again! Keep it up, all of you, all of us. Music almost died

[@aaronhutlet2177]

Much like all the other comments here, im so happy to see Benjamin getting a shout out on GemsOnVHS. Found this exact song on Tiktok weeks ago, so happy to finally have the full song on KZbin 🤟

[@emcc126]

This song is mesmerizing!

[@zachgreenough6103]

Cant dtop listening to this song

[@jakemartin9775]

Refreshing!

[@zackthomas7244]

Man what a masterfully told story. This is wonderful. The sound out of that guitar is extraordinary

[@jcroc5899]

That pick'n had me hooked!

[@DK-sj8xw]

About time we got some BDR on GVHS!

[@niko.k.9882]

Awesome song!

[@garretthale2827]

that’s my home Fall Creek Falls, grew up and raised by these mountains, it’s molded the man i am today is my life and my music so glad to see it on gems!!! my song Pine tree Poetry wrote about the woods you see here, one hell of a place to be!! i can show you places around there that would blow you mind at how beautiful. 🎉

[@GemsOnVHS]

I live in Smithville, been in these mountains a long time 👍 a great place to play songs

[@garretthale2827]

@@GemsOnVHS give this a try it’s what your looking for!!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5WcoJejnNmSmM0

[@d.brooks3858]

Fantastic! Gems never disappoints !!

[@rorystromberg3239]

This is a dope ass song. Unbelievably well written, with powerful lyrics. But the most powerful statement made by this video is made by whoever the dude in the Sakuraba shirt is. Fuck yeah, buddy! Pride Never Die!

[@GemsOnVHS]

thats the director, Anthony Simpkins! Sakuraba, the Gracie Killer!

[@theclown3967]

Hell yeah. Only thing I'm missing is the fiddle player with those accents.

[@spartakick300]

Love love murder ballads. Maybe I'm part Irish

[@dancom3207]

Love that tenor guitar!

[@The3LetterAgency]

Great work as always. Love to see it.

[@alanroperjr]

Absolutely incredible

[@AlaskaJiuJitsu]

A real gem right here!!!

[@alexgray8804]

Dope

[@personalninja86]

Amazing song man!! Thank you gems on vhs!!!!

[@BobbyFireRadio]

This is great 😊

[@nathantravis710]

Found this guy on Tik Tok a while back!!! Been listening ever since! I believe he’s a Benjamin Tod fan as well

[@superkool7]

Whaaaaaat. That’s great great music

[@kpsmith4241]

That handy cam ♥

[@e.forbes4729]

Been waiting for this ever since I saw his version of blackjack county chain. Great video as always.

[@AxeMoose]

Dang that was epic.

[@DerKaiserBrazil]

Great video my friend, congratulations!!🇩🇪🇧🇷🙋🏻‍♂️

[@michaelsmith8836]

This is phenomenal

[@eugene8910]

I love this man! I already have all his songs saved in a playlist! Awesome talent!

[@GemsOnVHS]

Add it to ya playlist!

[@sweatbeef]

Boom!

[@BabySwiss92]

Love this bro!

[@Edited6]

Ooo what a fun new voice! Beautiful song and lyrics, can't wait to explore more and attempt singing along. Edit: This song is helping me through some serious shit. The goofy ass smiles before the song. The child-like conversation about his guitar. And swimming under a waterfall.. Oh what a fun day that must have been! This channel is seriously something else...

[@CamBoone]

That tenor guitar sounds great

[@POVwithCOOK]

Amazing! I love your platform showing us people I would never of heard of 🙏🏼 with true talent

[@GemsOnVHS]

Thank YOU for supporting our mission.

[@DTA-me3kv]

Great song.

[@GemsOnVHS]

Agreed. Harkens back to the classics.

[@joshtheplow]

Get some big Willie Tea Taylor vibes from this dude! Sorta reminds me of “Molly Rose”, good stuff 🍻

[@jacobmantzke1482]

Let’s go!!!

[@eljungo902]

Amazing

[@danielscott1881]

when unteachable talent meets uncanny creativity

[@colincampbell274]

Use to live right by fall creek falls

[@tobyharrison7460]

Superb performance

[@tobeygun]

good lord, i fucking love this man

[@GemsOnVHS]

Cheers, give the recording a share, prove thy love.

[@smallworldz7241]

Gotta get him to perform "Charlie Boy" on here

[@SolomonTheBard]

10/10

[@chantaleleblanc4278]

I need to see Benjamin and Fred Eaglesmith together!!!

[@GemsOnVHS]

Now that would be worth the price of admission.

[@graydendunham8152]

@@GemsOnVHS they're friends. Benjamin grew up down the road from him

[@weaslemin7728]

Damn didn't expect yall to cover this one

[@Emmetgriffin9]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@jeremyray4714]

This mfn song is so dope.

[@Flying90]

This is what should be breaking Spotify

[@jessestraight]

Reminds me of Tyler Childer a bit

[@abbytueller3168]

This is what it’s all about

[@daviddunkin7454]

Holy shiiightballs this guy is amazing, funny he’s playing a 4 string, but sounds like a 12 string lol

[@raymondwalker8458]

Yes u know it

[@SabrinaAngel]

🙂👏

[@patcreilly]

What’s good with that 4-string guitar

[@therrealsupersayian9737]

What genre of music. I guess it’s considered country but what is this specific style of storytelling and playing called?

[@oisinmcilveen]

Murder ballad

[@andrewthomasson1233]

Americana I do believe

[@liamsludge2659]

....what is he playing? Is it a bass ukulele or whats going on here.

[@GemsOnVHS]

It's a tenor guitar

[@SawyerDarrell]

what state is he from?

[@The3LetterAgency]

He's from Canada I believe.

[@GemsOnVHS]

Ontario, up north!

[@SawyerDarrell]

@@GemsOnVHS oh haha, don’t know why i assumed he was from the states

[@badlabs1]

Charlie Boy is another amazing song by him! I really like this guy.

[@bayoubilly6971]

Well I’ll be

[@JeffinBville]

And there's no relation to Garnet Rogers?

[@GemsOnVHS]

Don't think so... Maybe if we spread the rumor, more folks will listen 👀👀

[@JeffinBville]

@@GemsOnVHS He's built like a Rogers and he's got their talent. That's for sure.

[@liamsludge2659]

I'm assuming thats downstream for goddamn motherfucking STAN ROGERS, the goddamn king of Canadian folk

[@JeffinBville]

@@liamsludge2659 Same family.

[@alpheus983]

Stan?

[@GemsOnVHS]

THE LEGEND

[@prkn3692]

意表をつく桜庭T

[@GemsOnVHS]

Hahahaha