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.
Lonely Winds
Ben E. King Lyrics
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Lonely wind, lonely wind
Lonely wind (lonely winds)
Keep right on blowing, whoa
Lonely wind (Lonely winds)
You know where my baby's going
I want you to blow (blow)
Yeah I asked you to blow (blow)
Whoa uh uh blow
Yeah, I want you to blow my, my
My little, little, my little, little girly on home to me
(Lonely wind, lonely wind)
(Lonely wind, lonely wind)
I'm all alone sighing, whoa
Lonely winds (lonely winds)
Oh so lonely I want you to blow (blow)
Yeah blow (blow)
Yeah I asked you to blow (blow)
Whoa uh uh blow
Yeah, I want you to blow my
My my little, little, my little, little girly on home to me
(Lonely wind, lonely wind)
Blow, blow
(Lonely wind, lonely wind)
I'm all alone, lonely wind
(Lonely wind, lonely wind)
Oh so lonely, I want you to blow (blow)
Yeah blow (blow)
Yeah I asked you to blow now (blow)
Whoa uh uh blow
Yeah, I want you to blow my
My my little, little, my little, little girly on home to me
(Lonely wind, lonely wind)
Come on and blow now (lonely wind)
Come on and blow lonely wind)
Come on and blow now (lonely wind)
Come on and blow (lonely wind)
It's alright (lonely wind)
It's alright now (lonely wind)
It's alright now (lonely wind)
Got to blow (lonely wind)
Come on and blow yeah (lonely wind)
Yeah blow (lonely wind)
Yeah blow (lonely wind)
In this song, Ben E. King is using the metaphor of the lonely wind blowing to express the sentiments of a person who is alone and missing their loved one. The singer is pleading with the wind to blow his girlfriend or significant other back into his arms. He is asking the wind to blow hard enough to push her back to him, so he can feel whole again. He is telling the wind that he is "all alone sighing" and that the winds he is singing to know where his love has gone. Furthermore, he is expressing how lonely he is without his love and that he needs the wind to bring them back together.
The song's structure is basic soul-music with a heavy R&B influence. The horns and the drums are bright and punchy, while the bass is deep and groovy. The refrain is catchy and simple, with a sing-along-friendly melody that becomes an earworm that sticks in your head. The lyrics are not deep or complicated a straightforward expression of a person's need to be reunited with their loved one. This simplicity is why the song became so popular, as it is relatable to anyone who has ever felt the pain of separation.
Line by Line Meaning
Lonely wind, lonely wind
The singer is addressing the wind and personifying it as being lonely and isolated.
Lonely wind (lonely winds)
Repeating the opening line, he emphasizes on how the wind itself seems inconsequential and isolated, wandering around without purpose or meaning.
Keep right on blowing, whoa
The singer is urging the wind to keep blowing and not to stop or let up.
You know where my baby's going
The singer believes that the wind has knowledge of his lover's whereabouts, as it moves all around and would be able to trace her movements.
I want you to blow (blow)
The singer is begging the wind to keep moving as he desperately wants to know where his love interest is.
Yeah I asked you to blow (blow)
Repeating the previous line, the singer is further emphasizing the importance of the wind to him and his search.
Whoa uh uh blow
Yeah, I want you to blow my, my
My little, little, my little, little girly on home to me
The singer is asking the wind to blow his lover back towards him, back to his arms and into his embrace. He is using an affectionate nickname, 'girly', to refer to his lover.
I'm all alone sighing, whoa
The singer is lamenting how he is on his own and feeling pained. He lets out a cry of 'whoa' to express his sorrow.
Oh so lonely I want you to blow (blow)
The singer repeats his desperation for the wind to keep moving and find his lover, as he feels so very alone.
My my little, little, my little, little girly on home to me
The singer reiterates his plea that the wind will blow his lover to him, repeating the same nickname he gave her before.
Blow, blow
The singer is urging the wind to continue blowing with a sense of urgency.
Come on and blow now (lonely wind)
The singer repeats his call for the wind to blow, addressing it as lonely once again.
It's alright (lonely wind)
It's alright now (lonely wind)
It's alright now (lonely wind)
The singer is reassuring the wind that it's okay and they're grateful for its help in finding the lost love.
Got to blow (lonely wind)
Come on and blow yeah (lonely wind)
Yeah blow (lonely wind)
Yeah blow (lonely wind)
The singer is repeating his desperation for the wind to keep moving and finding his lover, using various phrases that express the same idea.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DOC POMUS, MORT SHUMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
James Prevard
Remember this as a kid. Stuck on Driffters sense.And everything they had made before & after hit the charts. Monster Doo Wop.
mistery-ed
Haven't heard this one in some years.