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.
Love Is
Ben E. King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You make me feel like I am the one
Me and my old-fashioned ways
I'm gonna love you always
So don't you worry 'bout what they say
Est-ce que tu m'attendras au bout de mon tunnel
Si j'ai le blues est-ce-que tu m'aides?
Est-ce-que ta bouche se souviendra de mon name
Est-ce-que l'amour est une erreur puisqu'on dit que l'erreur est humaine
Question, est-ce-que nos douleurs nous réparent?
Question, est-ce-que nos couleurs nous séparent?
All this things in your mind you haffi let go (c'est ça, mec)
Negativity have to go
(Ba-da-da-da) ba-ba-ba-ba-pa, take it easy and keep smiling
Ba-ba-ba-ba-pa, everything's all right
Love is in the air, ba-ba-ba-ba-pa, take it easy and keep smiling
Ba-ba-ba-ba-pa, ba-ba-pa, love is in the air
There gon' be haters, them go show up in your yard
Wanna fill your head with trash when them see me ridin' hard, and
What we built, boy a really what them grudge
But me a goody-goody and me want you feel know
What you need from me, I can be for you always
It's hard to ignore all the noise them gon' make
Hear me clearly, my love is strong
Just hold my hand, make me keep going on
J'te parle de nos parcours, j'te parle de nos luttes
Comment parler d'amour sans te parler de nos rues?
Je cherchais de l'oseille, puis j'ai décroché ma plume
J'suis un enfant du soleil mais j'vais décrocher la lune
Fiers de nos allures mais on en parle à peine
Les rageux gardent la pêche, mes Sénégalais te passent le nanga def
All this things in your mind you haffi let go
Negativity have to go
(Ba-da-da-da) ba-ba-ba-ba-pa, take it easy and keep smiling
Ba-ba-ba-ba-pa, everything's all right
Love is in the air, ba-ba-ba-ba-pa, take it easy and keep smiling
Ba-ba-ba-ba-pa, ba-ba-pa, love is in the air
Love, je donne du love, donne du love, donne du love
Je donne du love, donne du love, donne-moi du love, donne du love
Je donne du love, donne du love, donne du love, donne du love
J'donne du love, donne du love, donne du love, je donne du love
(Ba-da-da-da) ba-ba-ba-ba-pa, take it easy and keep smiling (j'donne du love)
Ba-ba-ba-ba-pa, everything's all right (j'donne du love)
Love is in the air, ba-ba-ba-ba-pa, take it easy and keep smiling (j'donne du love)
Ba-ba-ba-ba-pa, ba-ba-pa, love is in the air (j'donne du love)
Ba-ba-ba-ba-pa (j'donne du love)
Ba-ba-ba-ba-pa, ba-ba-pa, love is in the air (j'donne du love)
Ba-ba-ba-ba-pa (j'donne du love)
Ba-ba-ba-ba-pa, ba-ba-pa, love is in the air (j'donne du love)
The lyrics to Ben E. King's song "Love Is" explore the complexities of love and the emotions associated with it. The opening lines express a hesitancy and skepticism towards the words of love, suggesting that the singer doubts the sincerity of their partner's affection at times. However, despite these doubts, the singer still feels a deep connection with their partner and believes in the power of love. They emphasize their commitment to love unconditionally and reassure their partner not to worry about what others say.
The lyrics also touch on various themes and questions about love. The inclusion of French lines adds a layer of sophistication and cultural diversity to the song. The lines ask thought-provoking questions about love and mortality, contemplating if love can heal our pain and if our differences divide us. These questions highlight the complexity of relationships and the search for answers within the context of love.
The song continues with an empowering message, urging the listener to let go of negativity and focus on the positive aspects of love. The lyrics encourage ignoring the critics and staying strong in the face of adversity. There is a sense of resilience and determination to overcome obstacles and keep moving forward.
Overall, "Love Is" explores the highs and lows of love, emphasizing the importance of commitment, positivity, and perseverance in relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
You say you love me but I think you just lying sometimes
You claim to love me, but I suspect that you are sometimes being dishonest
You make me feel like I am the one
You give me a sense of importance and make me feel special
Me and my old-fashioned ways
Me and my traditional values
I'm gonna love you always
I will love you forever
So don't you worry 'bout what they say
Therefore, you should not be concerned about the opinions of others
There gon' be haters, them go show up in your yard
There will always be people who dislike you and make their presence known
Wanna fill your head with trash when them see me ridin' hard, and
They want to fill your mind with negativity when they witness my success and determination
What we built, boy a really what them grudge
They envy what we have created together
But me a goody-goody and me want you feel know
However, I am a good-hearted person and I want you to be aware
What you need from me, I can be for you always
I am willing to fulfill your needs and be there for you at all times
It's hard to ignore all the noise them gon' make
It is challenging to disregard the negative remarks they will make
Hear me clearly, my love is strong
Listen attentively, my love for you is powerful
Just hold my hand, make me keep going on
Simply hold my hand and give me the strength to continue
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: MARCIA ODESSA DUNCAN, MATETA NKOMI CEDRIC, MATTHIEU HOUBE, ROGER CONSTANTINE GREENAWAY, TY BRODIE, YOUSSOUPHA MABIKI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind