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.
It's All Over
Ben E. King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's where I am
Every night and every day
And outside her window
I cry my life away
There's a jukebox playing
Just a half a block down
Gonna jump right in and drown
But I ain't gonna do that, girl
No, no, I'll just on hanging around
Even though it's (all over)
Can't you hear me (all over)
Don't you leave me (it's all over)
(Now, now, now, now, now, now)
(Now, now, now, now, now, now)
Outside her window
A pretty bird come to play
And I know I cried, I cried a tear
I must have scared that pretty little thing
That pretty little thing away, yes, I did
When I see two young lovers
Walking down the street, yes, indeed
Whoa, how it kills me
When I see their two lips meet
Then I pass my hand right over
Where my heart once used to be
And you know it's (all over)
I wonder, do you believe me (all over)
I don't think you understand me
(It's all over) oh, yes, it is
(Now, now, now, now, now, now)
(Now, now, now, now, now, now)
I've got to say it
Just one more time now
(Yes, it's all over)
Soembody help me tell myself
(All over) yes, it is
(It's all over)
(Now, now, now, now, now, now)
(Now, now, now, now, now, now)
The song "It's All Over" by Ben E. King is a heart-wrenching ballad about losing love and the pain that comes with it. The singer is lamenting the loss of his love, who he watches from outside her window every night and every day while crying his life away. The lyrics imply that the relationship is beyond repair, as the singer says "even though it's all over" and begs his love not to leave him.
The singer is clearly in a state of despair, with thoughts of jumping into the river to drown himself. However, he ultimately decides to keep on hanging around, even though he knows the relationship is over. The lyrics convey a sense of hopelessness and resignation that is deeply moving.
The song also features a poignant image of a pretty bird that comes to play outside the singer's window, only to be scared away by his tears. This detail adds to the sense of loss and sadness that pervades the song.
Overall, "It's All Over" is a powerful and emotional song that captures the pain of lost love in a raw and honest way.
Line by Line Meaning
Outside her window
I constantly lurk outside her window
That's where I am
I spend all of my time waiting outside her window
Every night and every day
I am always there, no matter the time of day or night
And outside her window
I never leave her side
I cry my life away
I can't help but cry because I know it's all over between us
There's a jukebox playing
There's a jukebox nearby playing a sad tune
Just a half a block down
It's very close but I can still hear it
Saying I'm going to the river
The song talks about suicide by jumping into the river
Gonna jump right in and drown
The artist of the song is contemplating taking their own life
But I ain't gonna do that, girl
The artist decides not to take their own life
No, no, I'll just on hanging around
They will stick around even though they know it's all over
Even though it's (all over)
Despite the relationship being over
Can't you hear me (all over)
The singer pleads for the other person to hear their cries
Don't you leave me (it's all over)
They beg their partner to not leave them
(Now, now, now, now, now, now)
Expressing the desperation and urgency of their plea
Outside her window
Still constantly outside her window
A pretty bird come to play
A bird comes to visit but is scared away by the artist's crying
And I know I cried, I cried a tear
The singer is aware of how much they are crying
I must have scared that pretty little thing
The bird must have been startled by the singer's tears
That pretty little thing away, yes, I did
The artist regrets scaring off the bird
When I see two young lovers
When they see other happy couples
Walking down the street, yes, indeed
Just walking along the street
Whoa, how it kills me
The singer is deeply hurt by these happy couples
When I see their two lips meet
Being reminded of the physical intimacy they used to share is painful
Then I pass my hand right over
The singer places their hand over their heart
Where my heart once used to be
They no longer feel the love they once did
And you know it's (all over)
Reiterating that the relationship is over
I wonder, do you believe me (all over)
The artist questions if their partner understands that it's over
I don't think you understand me
The artist doesn't think their partner fully comprehends that the relationship is over
(It's all over) oh, yes, it is
Continuing to emphasize that the relationship is finished
(Now, now, now, now, now, now)
Expressing the same sense of urgency as before
I've got to say it
The artist needs to reiterate that it's over
Just one more time now
They need to say it one last time
(Yes, it's all over)
Affirming that it's truly the end of the relationship
Soembody help me tell myself
The singer needs someone to help them accept that it's over
(All over) yes, it is
Reiterating that it's all over
(Now, now, now, now, now, now)
Reinforcing the sense of urgency and desperation throughout the song
Contributed by Parker B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@wiennanda7023
when i see two young lovers walking down the street ,ooh it kills me, what a great singer ,he sing his heart out. rip mr ben e king.your music are here for ever,thank you.
@normaj.3305
One of the most tear jerking songs ever made, Ben E. King sang his heart out on this one.
@jonah7292
Just can't stop listening to mr king, so beautiful, father bless his soul where ever he is.thank you for sharing this wonderful person,his voice and his music with the world. Rip.
@JurgenKrace
When a re-discoverd this old Deep Purple's tune, I've noticed instantly that this song does sound entirely different, not quite like Purple's song. Then i thought, probably it was a cover, they did that a lot at those days, 2-3 Beatles covers too. So that's how I ended up here.
Although I like Ben King's singing more, I prefer Purple's version. Maybe i simply kinda "got stuck" with arrangement of Purple?!
@Elsupermayan8870
I prefer Deep Purple's version.