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.
Only You And I Know
Ben E. King Lyrics
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I can't see anyone but you
Sha bop sha bop
Are the stars out tonight
I don't know if it's cloudy or bright
I only have eyes for you dear
But I can't see a thing in the sky
I only have eyes for you
I don't know if we're in a garden
Or on a crowded avenue
You are here and so am I
Maybe millions of people go by
But they all disappear from view
And I only have eyes for you
In these lyrics, Ben E. King expresses a deep and overwhelming love for someone. He starts by saying that his love for this person is so intense that it almost blinds him to anyone else. In this state of love, he can only see the object of his affection and no one else matters.
He then uses metaphors involving the night sky to further emphasize his singular focus on this person. He wonders if the stars are shining bright or if it's cloudy outside, but it doesn't really matter to him because his attention is solely fixed on his beloved. He declares that he only has eyes for them, and nothing else in the world captures his attention.
Continuing with the celestial imagery, King tells us that even though the moon may be high in the sky, it fails to grab his attention. He is completely absorbed in his love that he can't see anything beyond them. This emphasizes his devotion and implies that nothing else in the world holds his interest or matters to him as much as this person.
In the final verse, King suggests that he is so consumed by love that he is oblivious to his surroundings. He's unsure whether they are in a serene garden or a bustling city street because all that matters to him is that they are together. Even though there may be millions of people passing by, they become insignificant in his eyes as they all disappear from his view. His focus remains solely on the person he loves, emphasizing the depth and exclusivity of his feelings for them.
Line by Line Meaning
My love must be a kind of blind love
The love I feel for you is so intense that it blinds me to everything else
I can't see anyone but you
You are the only person that captures my attention and affection
Sha bop sha bop
Syllables that add rhythm and melody to the song
Are the stars out tonight
I wonder if the stars are shining in the sky
I don't know if it's cloudy or bright
I have no knowledge of the weather conditions
I only have eyes for you dear
All my attention and focus is solely on you, my beloved
The moon may be high
The moon could be in a high position in the sky
But I can't see a thing in the sky
Despite the moon's position, I am so engrossed in you that I fail to notice anything else in the sky
I only have eyes for you
My gaze and affection are directed solely towards you
I don't know if we're in a garden
I'm uncertain of our surroundings, whether it is a garden or a crowded avenue
Or on a crowded avenue
It's possible that we are in the midst of a busy street
You are here and so am I
Both of us are present together in this moment
Maybe millions of people go by
There could be countless individuals passing by
But they all disappear from view
Despite the multitude of people, they fade into insignificance because my focus is solely on you
And I only have eyes for you
My attention, love, and devotion are exclusively reserved for you
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Al Dubin, Harry Warren
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind