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.
Fever
Ben E. King Lyrics
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'Cause you had too much fun
With someone who now is gone
And can't take care of you
Fever, you got fever
Driving around on your scooter
In Christmas time, with funky clothes
That don't take care of you
Now, you feel warm and cold
And warm and cold and warm
Warm and cold and warm
And cold and warm
Fever, you got fever
In return, for taking care
Of that same one who now is gone
And can't take care of you
Fever, I got fever too
Of a different kind, it makes me wild
It makes me crave to be with you
most every second of the day
And I feel warm and cold
And warm and cold and warm
Warm and cold and warm
And cold and warm
The song "Fever" by Ben E. King is a soulful and emotional ballad about heartbreak and longing. It describes a situation where two people have indulged in too much fun and passion, but are now left alone, with one person unable to take care of the other due to their absence. This has caused the person left behind to experience "fever", both literally and figuratively. They are driving around in their scooter, in funky clothes during Christmas time, but none of these can offer any comfort to their aching heart.
The lyrics depict the feverish state of mind of the singer, who is feeling warm and cold alternatively, as they come to terms with their situation. The song later reveals that the singer is not alone in their longing, as the other person has also caught the "fever" of a different kind. They are wild and crave to be with each other all the time.
The song is a meditative reflection on the complexities of emotions, especially that of heartbreak. The lyrics are simple yet powerful and offer insight into the feelings of those who have lost a loved one. The use of the word "fever" as a metaphor for the emotional state of mind adds to the intensity and depth of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Fever, you got fever
You've caught some sort of ailment
'Cause you had too much fun
It may have resulted from too much enjoyment
With someone who now is gone
Perhaps it was someone you were close with, but they're not around anymore
And can't take care of you
They're not able to provide any assistance now
Driving around on your scooter
Despite the sickness, you're still going about your daily activities
In Christmas time, with funky clothes
It's likely the holiday season, and you're dressed up in unconventional attire
That don't take care of you
But those clothes certainly aren't helping the situation
Now, you feel warm and cold
You're experiencing alternating sensations of being hot and cold
And warm and cold and warm
And those feelings keep coming in waves
Warm and cold and warm
And it's just a back-and-forth cycle
And cold and warm
Sometimes it's cold, sometimes it's warm
Fever, you got fever
The chorus reminds us that, yes, you're still dealing with an illness
In return, for taking care
This time, the fever is due to taking care of someone else
Of that same one who now is gone
Like before, they're no longer in the picture
And can't take care of you
And unfortunately, they can't reciprocate your kindness now
Fever, I got fever too
The singer chimes in and admits they've got a fever as well
Of a different kind, it makes me wild
However, their fever is different and perhaps a bit more intense
It makes me crave to be with you
It's making them want to be near the person who's sick
most every second of the day
Almost obsessively so
And I feel warm and cold
They're also experiencing those alternating sensations
And warm and cold and warm
Just like the sick person in the first half of the song
Warm and cold and warm
And that cycle continues
And cold and warm
Hot and cold and hot and cold
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Erlend Oye, Eirik Glambek Boe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind