Ben E. King (born Benjamin Earl Nelson in September 28, 1938 (died of natur… Read Full Bio ↴Ben E. King (born Benjamin Earl Nelson in September 28, 1938 (died of natural causes, aged 76 on April 30, 2015.) in Henderson, North Carolina) was an American soul and pop singer. He is best known as the singer and co-composer of "Stand by Me", a top ten hit in both 1961 and 1986.

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.

On The Street Where You Live
Ben E. King Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I have often walked down this street before
But the pavement always stayed beneath my feet before
All at once am I several stories high
Knowing I'm on the street where you live

Are there lilac trees in the heart of town?
Can you hear a lark in any other part of town?
Does enchantment pour out of every door?

No, it's just on the street where you live

And oh, the towering feeling just to know somehow you are near
The overpowering feeling that any second you may suddenly appear

People stop and stare, they don't bother me
For there's nowhere else on earth that I would rather be

Let the time go by, I won't care if I
Can be here on the street where you live

Overall Meaning

In his classic song "On the Street Where You Live," Ben E. King muses about the mesmerizing impact of love on his spirits. The first verse describes the setting where the love of his life takes place. King has walked down the street before, but it's as though he views it with fresh eyes now that his muse resides there. The once unremarkable pavement now feels as if it's suspended in the air; he's so high off his affection for her that everything feels different.

In the second verse, King extols the virtues of his lover's location. Is there enchantment in every door? Are there larks singing and lilac trees blooming? Despite his rhetorical questions, it's apparent that the answer is "yes," but just for him, on the street where his love resides.

The final verse speaks volumes about King's fervent love. People stop and look as he walks down the street. Still, he doesn't care because he knows that there's nowhere else on the planet he'd rather be because his beloved is there, and that's all that matters. King's enthusiasm and ardor for his beloved are undeniable, and this classic song continues to capture the obsession and enchantment of affection.

Line by Line Meaning

I have often walked down this street before
I have taken this path many times before

But the pavement always stayed beneath my feet before
The ground has always been solid and predictable under my feet

All at once am I several stories high
I feel elevated and elated all of a sudden

Knowing I'm on the street where you live
Just being on the same street as you is enough to make me happy

Are there lilac trees in the heart of town?
Is there natural beauty in the city center?

Can you hear a lark in any other part of town?
Is there sweet melody to be found in other places on earth?

Does enchantment pour out of every door?
Is there magic and wonder at every turn?

No, it's just on the street where you live
It's all because of you that this place has any semblance of enchantment

And oh, the towering feeling just to know somehow you are near
The mere thought of your presence fills me with immense emotions

The overpowering feeling that any second you may suddenly appear
The anxiety and excitement of the possibility of seeing you can be overwhelming

People stop and stare, they don't bother me
I don't care about the attention from strangers because being close to you is worth it

For there's nowhere else on earth that I would rather be
This is the only place I want to be as long as you are here

Let the time go by, I won't care if I
The passage of time does not matter as long as I can be here with you

Can be here on the street where you live
Being here with you on this street is all I need to be content

Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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