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.
My Foolish Heart
Ben E. King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Beware my foolish heart
How white the ever constant moon
Take care my foolish heart
There's a line between love and fascination
That's hard to see, how many names such as this
For they both have the very same sensation
Her lips are much too close to mine
Beware my foolish heart
But should our eager lips combine
Then let the fire start
For this time it isn't fascination
Or a dream that will fade and fall apart
It's love, this time it's love
My foolish heart
In My Foolish Heart, Ben E. King sings about the thin line between love and fascination. He warns the listener to beware of their foolish heart because this line can be hard to see. The night is like a lovely tune, and the ever-present moon is so white that it seems unreal. But he cautions that one must take care and be cautious of giving in to love or fascination blindly, as they can both feel the same when lost in the magic of a kiss.
The lyrics also describe the fear of being hurt, as the singer warns his heart that her lips are too close to his. He is afraid of the consequences of their lips combining because it could cause a fire to ignite. However, he eventually gives in to his feelings and admits that this time, it's not fascination or a dream. It's love, and he can't help but surrender to it.
Overall, the lyrics of My Foolish Heart are a warning to be cautious with matters of the heart, but also a celebration of the power of love that can be too overwhelming to resist.
Line by Line Meaning
The night is like a lovely tune
The peaceful night feels beautiful and pleasant like a beautiful melody, a tune that is deeply relaxing.
Beware my foolish heart
Be careful with your heart and don't let it be foolish. Be aware to protect your heart against any harm.
How white the ever constant moon
The constant moon shines with a radiant white light, creating a charming and lovely backdrop.
Take care my foolish heart
Take good care of your heart and protect it from being foolish. Let it be smart and logical.
There's a line between love and fascination
Love and fascination are different but similar feelings. It is hard to distinguish between their fine lines.
That's hard to see, how many names such as this
It is difficult to separate the different feelings and emotions that people have with varying intensity towards each other.
For they both have the very same sensation
Both love and fascination have similar sensations, marking it hard to differentiate between them.
When you're locked in the magic of a kiss
The magic of a kiss can enchant you and make you helpless to realize which emotion you feel.
Her lips are much too close to mine
The proximity of her lips to mine can create turbulence in my mind and heart. It's difficult to discern between fascination and love.
But should our eager lips combine
If our lips come together with enthusiasm, it can initiate feelings that lead to an intense outcome.
Then let the fire start
Let the passion flare up and ignite desire and create a strong feeling of love that can make the heart skip a beat.
For this time it isn't fascination
This time, it's not just fascination so that it's essential to be cautious. It's not just an allure but more than that.
Or a dream that will fade and fall apart
It's something real that will last and not a delusion or fantasy that will perish eventually.
It's love, this time it's love
This time it's the true feeling of love that has engrossed the heart and will persist, unlike any other emotion.
My foolish heart
My heart that was once foolish has now fallen in love, and there's no turning back from it. The heart has surrendered utterly to love unequivocally.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ned Washington, Victor Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind