In 1958, Ben Nelson joined a doo wop group, The Five Crowns. Later that same year, The Drifters' manager fired the members of the group and replaced them with The Five Crowns, who had performed several engagements with The Drifters. He co-wrote the first hit by the new version of The Drifters, "There Goes My Baby" (1959). He also sang lead, using his birth name, on "Save the Last Dance for Me," a song written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, "Dance With Me," "This Magic Moment," "I Count the Tears," and other The Drifters hits.
In 1960 he left the group after failing to gain a salary increase and a fairer share of the group's royalties. At this point he assumed the more memorable stage name Ben E. King in preparation for a solo career. Remaining on Atlantic, King scored his first solo hit with the stylish, Latin-tinged ballad "Spanish Harlem" (1961). "Stand by Me" was his next recording. "Stand by Me", written by King along with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller was voted one of the Songs of the Century by the Recording Industry Association of America. "Stand by Me" and "Spanish Harlem" were named as two of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll and were both also given a Grammy Hall of Fame Award.
King's records continued to place well on the pop charts until 1963, when British pop bands began to dominate the popular music scene. His hits after 1963 were "What is Soul?" (1967), "Supernatural Thing, part 1" (1975), and the re-issue in 1986 of "Stand by Me" following the song's use as the theme music to the movie of the same name.
Come Together
Ben E. King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He got joo-joo eyeball, he one holy roller
He got hair down to his knee
Got to be a joker he just do what he please
He wear no shoeshine, he got toe-jam football
He got monkey finger, he shoot coca-cola
He say "I know you, you know me"
Come together right now over me
He bag production, he got walrus gumboot
He got Ono sideboard, he one spinal cracker
He got feet down below his knee
Hold you in his armchair you can feel his disease
Come together right now over me
[Right!
Come, oh, come, come, come.]
He roller-coaster, he got early warning
He got muddy water, he one mojo filter
He say "One and one and one is three"
Got to be good-looking cos he's so hard to see
Come together right now over me
Oh
Come together
Yeah come together
Yeah come together
Yeah come together
Yeah come together
Yeah come together
Yeah come together
Yeah oh
Come together
Yeah come together
The lyrics to "Come Together" by Ben E. King can be interpreted as a celebration of individuality, unity, and freedom.
The opening lines describe a person with a unique appearance and demeanor. The phrase "old flattop" suggests that this individual stands out from the crowd, and "he come grooving up slowly" indicates their confident and relaxed approach to life. The reference to "joo-joo eyeball" and "holy roller" suggests that this person possesses both spiritual insight and charisma. They have long hair, symbolizing their non-conformity to societal norms and expectations. The line "Got to be a joker he just do what he please" conveys the idea that this person embraces their individuality and lives life on their own terms, not allowing others to define them.
The next verse describes this person's unconventional style. They do not conform to societal standards by wearing shoeshine, emphasizing their disregard for superficial appearances. The reference to "toe-jam football" and "monkey finger" suggests a playful and eccentric nature. The line "I know you, you know me" indicates a sense of familiarity and understanding between this individual and others. The overall message is that true freedom comes from being yourself and accepting others for who they are.
The third verse introduces even more unique characteristics of this individual. The mention of "walrus gumboot" and "Ono sideboard" highlights their eclectic taste and perhaps their involvement in the arts. The phrase "spinal cracker" suggests a knack for breaking boundaries and pushing limits. The line "Hold you in his armchair you can feel his disease" speaks to their ability to captivate and influence others, possibly through their art or ideas. The invitation to "come together right now over me" signifies the call for collective unity and acceptance.
The final verse describes this person as a "roller-coaster," implying that they lead an exciting and unpredictable life. The reference to "muddy water" and "mojo filter" evokes a sense of mystery and enchantment. The line "One and one and one is three" suggests the concept of unity and the idea that when individuals come together, they create something greater than themselves. The mention of their appearance being "so hard to see" further emphasizes their elusive and enigmatic nature. The repeated chorus of "Come together" serves as a rallying cry for unity and understanding amongst diverse individuals.
Line by Line Meaning
Here come old flattop, he come grooving up slowly
Here comes a laid-back individual, moving in a relaxed and gradual manner
He got joo-joo eyeball, he one holy roller
He possesses a mystical aura, being a deeply religious person
He got hair down to his knee
His hair is exceptionally long, reaching up to his knees
Got to be a joker he just do what he pleases
It is essential for him to have a playful nature, freely doing as he wishes
He wear no shoeshine, he got toe-jam football
He doesn't bother with polishing his shoes, instead opting for a messy style
He got monkey finger, he shoot coca-cola
His fingers are nimble like a monkey's, and he is skilled at opening Coca-Cola bottles
He say 'I know you, you know me'
He claims to have a deep understanding of others, and believes they understand him too
One thing I can tell you is you got to be free
He imparts the wisdom that true freedom is essential
Come together right now over me
Unite with each other in this moment, finding common ground in his presence
He bag production, he got walrus gumboot
He controls the creative process and possesses unconventional fashion choices
He got Ono sideboard, he one spinal cracker
He owns a furniture item associated with Yoko Ono and is skilled at relieving back pain
He got feet down below his knee
His feet are positioned unusually low, below his knees
Hold you in his armchair you can feel his disease
When he comforts you in his chair, you can sense his troubles and afflictions
He roller-coaster, he got early warning
He experiences intense ups and downs, but has the ability to foresee them
He got muddy water, he one mojo filter
He possesses a mystical skill of purifying impure situations
He say 'One and one and one is three'
He claims that three separate entities can merge and become one
Got to be good-looking cos he's so hard to see
He must be visually attractive, as he tends to be elusive or difficult to perceive
Come together right now over me
Unite with each other in this moment, finding common ground in his presence once again
Oh, Come together
Oh, let's unite
Yeah come together
Indeed, let's unite
Yeah come together
Yes, let's unite
Yeah come together
Sure, let's unite
Yeah come together
Absolutely, let's unite
Yeah come together
Definitely, let's unite
Yeah come together
Without a doubt, let's unite
Yeah oh, Come together
Yes, oh let's unite
Yeah come together
Indeed, let's unite
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mirico225
A fascinating arrangement of a classic and Ben E King's rough voice works with strength. Glad you found this music appreciation hit! thx.