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.
Goodnight My Love
Ben E. King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pleasant dreams, sleep tight, my love
May tomorrow be sunny and bright
And draw you closer to me
Before you go
There's just one thing I'd like to know
If your love is still warm for me
If you should awake in the still of the night
Please have no fear
For I'll be there, you know I care
Please give your love to me, dear, only
Goodnight, my love
Pleasant dreams, sleep tight, my love
May tomorrow be sunny and bright
And draw you closer to me
If you should awake in the still of the night
Please have no fear
For I'll be there, you know I care
Please give your love to me, dear, only
Goodnight, goodnight, my love
Pleasant dreams, sleep tight, my love
May tomorrow be sunny and bright
And draw you closer to me
Yeah, yeah!
I love you so, yeah, baby
Don't say goodnight
No, no, no, no baby, yeah
Don't say, don't say goodnight, baby
'Cause I love you
No, no, my baby, yeah baby
I gotta have your love
'Cause I love you, love you, baby
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, oh
I don't wanna, I don't wanna
Please don't, please don't go
I must have you, I must have you, baby
Please, please, baby
I want you to stay right by my side
I don't want you to go, I don't want you to go, no
But I will go, no baby, yeah, yeah
I love you, love you, baby
I need you, need you, baby
Goodnight my love
The song "Goodnight My Love" by Ben E. King is a heartfelt plea from a lover to their significant other to not leave them. The lyrics are full of emotion, expressing both the desire to keep their love close and the fear that it may have grown cold. The lover asks their partner if their love is still warm, indicating that doubts have crept into their mind. However, even if their partner wakes up in the still of the night, the lover promises to be there and care for them. The repeated refrain of "Goodnight, my love / Pleasant dreams, sleep tight, my love / May tomorrow be sunny and bright / And draw you closer to me" expresses the hope for a bright future together.
The lyrics suggest a sense of urgency and desperation, with the lover begging their partner not to leave them and declaring their love several times. They are willing to do whatever it takes to keep their love, saying "I gotta have your love / 'Cause I love you, love you, baby". The song ends on a hopeful note, with the lover declaring their love one last time, asking their partner not to go, and saying "I love you, love you, baby / I need you, need you, baby".
Overall, the lyrics to "Goodnight My Love" are a poignant expression of love, fear, and desperation, with a glimmer of hope for a bright future together.
Line by Line Meaning
Goodnight, my love
Wishing my beloved a good night
Pleasant dreams, sleep tight, my love
Expressing a desire for pleasant dreams and reassuring that everything is alright
May tomorrow be sunny and bright
Hoping for a good and happy tomorrow
And draw you closer to me
Wanting to be closer and more intimate with my beloved
Before you go
Before you leave or fall asleep
There's just one thing I'd like to know
Expressing a need to clarify something
If your love is still warm for me
Asking if my beloved's feelings for me are still strong
Or has it grown cold?
Questioning if my beloved's feelings have changed
If you should awake in the still of the night
If you wake up in the middle of the night
Please have no fear
Do not be afraid
For I'll be there, you know I care
Assuring my beloved that I care and will be there for them
Please give your love to me, dear, only
Asking for my beloved's love and commitment
Goodnight, goodnight, my love
Repeating the goodnight wishes
Yeah, yeah! I love you so, yeah, baby
Expressing deep and strong love for my beloved
Don't say goodnight
Asking my beloved not to say goodnight
No, no, no, no baby, yeah
Repeating the request in a playful and affectionate way
I gotta have your love
Expressing a deep need for my beloved's love
Cause I love you, love you, baby
Repeating and emphasizing my love
Please don't, please don't go
Pleading for my beloved not to leave or go away
I want you to stay right by my side
Expressing a desire to be close and not separated
But I will go, no baby, yeah, yeah
Acknowledging the possibility of leaving or going away
I need you, need you, baby
Repeating and emphasizing the need for my beloved
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN MARASCALCO, GEORGE MOTOLA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
David Harris
This song makes me cry, means so much in my life. Pure soul!!!!!
wendy caesar
Your comment spark a fire of my late husband....never thought I could love again ,but love has found me,it's beautiful.
Godfrey Perry
Good night Ben E, You have given me so much through your songs, your songs helped me to express my feelings when I didn't know what they meant. Love you forever man
Moonbeam Zapper
the thought of never hearing this voice again... :( Makes me thankful I still have it to cherish. You will be greatly missed #BenEKing
Jonah ❤️❤️
Sleep tight my dear Mr king you played your part well and brought joy and happiness to the world over with your mesmerizing voice and music may your music live on forever sleep tight in your father's arm. Rip
Beverley Scurrah
Goodnight Mr King R I P your music will live forever
riadinio13
Rest in peace , you will stand by us forever !!!
Terry Sanders
Been E King....What a beautiful voice..rip
Marcia brilhante
I had a record player and every night this was the record I put on when I went to bed. It is always in my mind....Goodnight My Love 💓
sandra kilgore
This is my first time hearing this version of "Goodnight My Love" my Ben E. King and I have to say, I like it. However, I love Jesse Belvin more.