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.
He Will Break Your Heart
Ben E. King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If he did, he wouldn't break your heart
He don't love you like I love you
He's try-in' to tear us apart
Fare thee well, I know you're leavin'
(I know you're leavin')
For the new love that you've found
I got a feelin' he's gonna put you down 'cause
He don't love you like I love you
If he did, he wouldn't break your heart
He don't love you like I love you
He's try-in' to tear us apart
He uses all the great quotations
Says the things I wish I could say
Whoa, but he's has so many rehearsals
Girl, to him it's just another play but wait
When the final act is over
And you're left standing all alone
When he takes his bow and makes his exit
Girl, I'll be there to take you home
He don't love you (and he never will) like I love you
If he did, he wouldn't break your heart
Oh, he don't love you, girl, like I love you
He's try-in' to tear us apart
Whoa, he don't love you
like I love you is a classic love song that is sung from the perspective of someone who is convinced that his ex-girlfriend's new love interest is not going to love her as much as he does. The first verse starts out by stating that the new guy is not as loving as he is and that if he truly loved her, he would not be breaking her heart. The second verse tells the girl goodbye and that her new love interest is going to leave her. The singer then assures her that he will be there for her when she is alone.
The chorus repeats the message that new guy does not love her like the original singer does and that he is just trying to come between them. The third verse describes how the new guy uses all the great quotations and says all the right things, yet deep down he is not sincere, and his feelings are not genuine. The singer waits for this new guy's act to be over and will take the girl home when she is left standing alone.
The song's message is that true love is a rarity and precious. Love that is real and true never fades and that the person you truly love will not do things to intentionally hurt you.
Line by Line Meaning
He don't love you like I love you
He doesn't love you in the same way that I do
If he did, he wouldn't break your heart
If he truly loved you, he wouldn't hurt you
He's try-in' to tear us apart
He's attempting to destroy our relationship
Fare thee well, I know you're leavin'
Goodbye, I know you're moving on
(I know you're leavin')For the new love that you've found
You're leaving me for someone new
The handsome guy that you've been dating, whoa
You've been seeing a charming man
I got a feelin' he's gonna put you down 'cause
I have a hunch he's going to disappoint you
He uses all the great quotations
He quotes famous sayings and phrases
Says the things I wish I could say
He expresses the words that I desire to speak
Whoa, but he's has so many rehearsals
However, he has had a lot of chances to practice
Girl, to him it's just another play but wait
To him, it's just another performance, but wait
When the final act is over
Once the show is finished
And you're left standing all alone
When you're left by yourself
When he takes his bow and makes his exit
When he bows and leaves the stage
Girl, I'll be there to take you home
I'll be there to comfort you
He don't love you (and he never will) like I love you
He doesn't love you and never will in the way that I do
Oh, he don't love you, girl, like I love you
He doesn't love you, girl, like I do
He's try-in' to tear us apart
He's attempting to destroy our relationship
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Jerry Butler, Calvin Carter, Curtis L. Mayfield
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
mark neff
The Drifters and his solo work will live forever.
Joe Sampson
Ben E King is the king of soul.
Mickey B
OH OH MUCH LOVING YES YES❤️
goneoverboard2
Why am I the only one to comment so far?.....Come on now...this is Ben E King for goodness sake...What a fantastic song.....Sounds like Johnny Moor is the second singer..He was the longest lead singer with the Drifters,,R.I.P. J.M.,B.E.K. also all the other fine lead and backing singers that were the "Drifters"
Glenoria Pratt
These people are gone but never will be forgotten by people who know good music
David Chernofsky
I agree on the 60s great singers highly underrated