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.
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Ben E. King Lyrics
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Na, na, na, na, na, na late at night
I have counted everyday that she's been away
It seemed like a thousand years
And at na, na, na, na, na, na, late at night
Na, na, na, na, na, na late at night
I'll sit and count the tears (na, na, na, na late at night)
I have counted all your lies all your alibis
I'm a guy believes just what he hears
And at na, na, na, na, na, na, late at night
Na, na, na, na, na, na,late at night
I'll sit and count the tears
She's gone and found somebody new
She may be happy now but soon
He'll be counting everyday that she's been away
It will seem like a thousand years
And at na, na, na, na, na, na, late at night
Na, na, na, na, na, na, late at night
He'll sit and count his tears (na, na, na, na late at night)
He'll sit and count his tears (na, na, na, na late at night)
He'll sit and count his tears (na, na, na, na late at night)
He'll sit, and count his tears
The lyrics to Ben E. King's song "Late at Night" speak about the pain of heartbreak and the endless cycle of counting the days and tears since a loved one has left. The singer of the song admits to counting every day that his significant other has been gone, which has felt like a thousand years. He also confesses to having counted all of her lies and alibis, which has led him to believe that she has found someone new. The song suggests that while the new partner may be happy now, he too will eventually find himself counting the days and tears.
The refrain of "na, na, na, na, na, na, late at night" is a repetitive, almost obsessive, way of conveying the singer's pain and the endlessness of his suffering. The melody and the repetition of the "na's" and "late at night" creates a melancholic mood that contributes to the song's overall message about the pain of heartbreak.
Overall, "Late at Night" is a poignant and relatable song that speaks to the human experience of heartbreak and the emotions that come along with it. It captures the feeling of being trapped in an endless cycle of pain and the difficulty of moving on from a past love.
Line by Line Meaning
Na, na, na, na, na, na late at night
The singer is expressing the loneliness he feels during nights without his lover.
I have counted everyday that she's been away
The singer has been keeping track of the days since his lover left him.
It seemed like a thousand years
The singer feels like a very long time has passed without his lover by his side.
And at na, na, na, na, na, na, late at night
The singer repeats his feelings of loneliness.
I'll sit and count the tears (na, na, na, na late at night)
The singer will spend his nights crying and thinking about his lost love.
I have counted all your lies all your alibis
The singer has been keeping track of his lover's dishonesty and excuses for leaving him.
I'm a guy believes just what he hears
The singer trusts what he is told and takes things at face value.
She's gone and found somebody new
The singer's lover has moved on and found a new partner.
She may be happy now but soon
The singer believes that his lover's new relationship will not last and she will soon be unhappy.
He'll be counting everyday that she's been away
The new partner will also be keeping track of how long it has been since the singer's lover left him.
And at na, na, na, na, na, na, late at night
The singer repeats his earlier sentiment about feeling lonely.
He'll sit and count his tears (na, na, na, na late at night)
The new partner will also spend his nights crying and thinking about the loss of the singer's lover.
He'll sit, and count his tears
The new partner will be just as devastated by the loss of the singer's lover as the singer himself.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DOC POMUS, MORT SHUMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@trixoan1502
When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we'll see
No, I won't be afraid
Oh, I won't be afraid
Just as long as you stand
Stand by me
So darlin', darlin', stand by me
Oh, stand by me
Oh, stand
Stand by me, stand by me
If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
Or the mountain should crumble to the sea
I won't cry, I won't cry
No, I won't shed a tear
Just as long as you stand
Stand by me
And darlin', darlin', stand by me
Oh, stand by me
Oh, stand now
Stand by me, stand by me
And darlin', darlin', stand by me
Oh, stand by me
Oh, stand now
Stand by me, stand by me
Whenever you're in trouble won't you stand by me
Oh, stand by me
Won't you stand by
@jesserowbotham
I was adopted by my father who was African American I was a Caucasian boy. I was bullied all the time because my father and I looked so different but he would always tell me, we may look a little different on the outside but we are all the same it’s not what counts on The outside but what’s inside you as a person that’s where your real worth is .my father was an amazing man I worked hard In all aspects whether it would be school training martial arts self defence.
This man was truly my real father no one could make me feel otherwise.
Unfortunately 2 years ago he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer very low life expectancy he battled on as he does he did everything he could to fight the cancer but slowly he deteriorated and
Then it was all of a sudden he was in his death bed.
He passed and we played
This song at his funerals which was one of his favourite as.
Everyone I hear this song I hurt so much just all the emotion coming bag from
Dad, but I also love
It because it make m e feel so close to him once
Again even though I know he’s not with us…
@JianKaruro0048
🎶 So darlin', darlin', stand by me
Oh, stand by me........
Lumalabas, lumalabas
Banyo Queen 🎶
😅😅😅😅😅
I'm from the Philippines 🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭
Merry Christmas, everyone ❄️☃️🎅🎄
Maligayang Pasko sa ating lahat ❄️☃️🎅🎄
MABUHAY!!!!! 🙌🙌🙌
@harleyatkins2008
In 1968 I head Ben E. King sing this song at a small club on the coast of SC. King had a small band of 3 or 4 guys and I can still remember the single violin. The venue was not air conditioned. I was 18. The girl I was with was 17. 52 years later we are still a couple. And I still love the song.
@paxi4165
Harley Atkins awwwwwwww
@mandrew296
That's so sweet. Very cool to see a fellow South Carolinian in the comments!
@aviralmittal89
May you guys have a long and happy life ❤️
@adrianrubionavarro4256
Wow
@toprock1301
Much respect sir. I tip my hat
@atlui415
When the boys are gone and you can listen to real music
@narfazlee5162
Be proud of your music taste bro
@tonov451
FAXXXXX
@frostysugartits1725
@@tonov451 “YOU’RE FIRED” back to the future reference...