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 Know and I Know
Ben E. King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Talking bout God, we checking they fruits and they out of touch touch touch
Can't let everybody put hands on me and touch touch, ooooooo
God said He gone guide my ways, He got a plan for me
Let man put his hands on God's plans he ruin the plans for me
I made plans with many brothers who didn't walk plans with me
Now I know where to go that double minded stage is off of me
I know, not everybody who say they love gonna lead you right
You know, I know, ooo when you really walk with God
They really hate you it get evil now
I know, man hands can't touch the plans of God cause it will ruin them evil ooooo
Difference between you and me is that I walk with legs you walk with eyes
Different between you and me is that I walk by faith you walk 'round blind
Told God if it was me I'd probably give up on me long by now
Turn up different degrees these people greasy why I'd trust you now
I know it's one of them thangs that we can't change He took the blame away
Life ain't gonna be easy, gonna be hard til He take the pain away
My focus get distorted, I'm paying that later like it's lay-away
Don't make no truce with demons, you stop shooting Kobe fade away
Aye Aye
I got too much on my plate
Mistakes mistakes
I make those like everyday
Okay okay
He said His Grace gone be okay
Aye Aye
I learn these lessons way too late
They touch me, I'll meet them at their wake
I can't act like everything's okay
I cannot trust these people they fake
You give yourself you get betrayed
You give your body, that's a mistake
Forgive my brother and that's okay
But you ain't fam, so dig your grave
Better read your Word Jesus ain't play
Aye, aye
I said what I said that's word to Aldre
On fonem grave I shoot when I pray
I been too laxed turn up my ways
My flesh gone die send flowers to the grave
I wake y'all up get smacked in the face
These Christians chilling like we okay
Don't know their Bible don't know their way
Don't be surprised when you see those flames
Aye, aye
I said what I said that's word to Aldre
Aye
Ooo I know, when it get down and it get iffy dawgs will leave yo side
You know, I know, ooo when you really walk with God
They really hate you it get evil now
I know, man's hands can't touch the plans of God cause it will ruin them evil oooo
The lyrics to Only You Know and I Know by Ben E. King suggest a deep connection with God and a sense of disillusionment with people. The song begins with a warning to those who are talking tough but deep down, are bluffing. The singer says that they are checking on these people's fruits, insinuating that these people aren't bearing good fruit that is expected of them. The singer then goes on to emphasize that not everyone who says they love you will lead you to the right path. He notes that when situations get tough or uncertain, true intentions are often revealed, with some people leaving your side.
The most notable lines indicate the distrust for people, with the singer highlighting that while many people may claim to love you, they have selfish intentions that they are trying to advance. He points out that man's hands cannot touch the plans that God has for us because such interference would ruin it in an evil way. The song's message appears to be one of a warning and a call to maintain faith in God despite the actions of fellow human beings.
Line by Line Meaning
They playing tough, boy it's a bluff, they better hush hush hush
Those who act tough and make noise are just pretending, they should keep quiet.
Talking bout God, we checking they fruits and they out of touch touch touch
If someone talks about God, we should examine their actions rather than just their words, since many of them do not have any idea about God's teachings.
Can't let everybody put hands on me and touch touch, ooooooo
We cannot allow everyone to touch or influence us because some might lead us astray from our beliefs.
God said He gone guide my ways, He got a plan for me
God has a plan and will guide us towards that path in life.
Let man put his hands on God's plans he ruin the plans for me
If someone tries to interfere with God's plan for us, it will only end up ruining it.
I made plans with many brothers who didn't walk plans with me
I've made plans with many people who ended up not fulfilling those plans with me.
Now I know where to go that double minded stage is off of me
I now know where to go and have left behind the stage of being indecisive and uncertain.
I know, not everybody who say they love gonna lead you right
Just because someone says they love you, it doesn't mean they will lead you down the right path in life.
Ooo I know, when it get down and it get iffy dawgs will leave yo side
When things get tough, some people will leave and abandon you.
You know, I know, ooo when you really walk with God
When you truly have faith and walk with God, people will hate and try to destroy you.
They really hate you it get evil now
People will hate you and it may even become dangerous.
I know, man hands can't touch the plans of God cause it will ruin them evil ooooo
Human beings cannot interfere with God's plans since their involvement may bring destruction and chaos.
Difference between you and me is that I walk with legs you walk with eyes
The difference between the singer and others is that he walks in faith while others rely only on their sight and observations.
Different between you and me is that I walk by faith you walk 'round blind
The singer has faith in God, while others go through life blindly without faith.
Told God if it was me I'd probably give up on me long by now
The singer acknowledges that God has been patient despite his shortcomings and mistakes.
Turn up different degrees these people greasy why I'd trust you now
Because people often disappoint and have ulterior motives, the artist questions why he should trust someone.
I know it's one of them thangs that we can't change He took the blame away
The artist knows some things in life cannot be changed, but God forgives us and takes away our guilt.
Life ain't gonna be easy, gonna be hard til He take the pain away
Life is difficult, but the singer believes that God will eventually take away the pain.
My focus get distorted, I'm paying that later like it's lay-away
If the singer loses his focus, it will cause problems later on, like a layaway payment.
Don't make no truce with demons, you stop shooting Kobe fade away
The artist warns against making deals with demonic forces, using basketball as an analogy.
I got too much on my plate
The artist has a lot of responsibilities to deal with.
Mistakes mistakes
The artist has made mistakes in the past.
I make those like everyday
The singer continues to make mistakes frequently.
He said His Grace gone be okay
The artist trusts that God's grace will make everything okay in the end.
I learn these lessons way too late
The singer has learned important life lessons too late in life.
They touch me, I'll meet them at their wake
If someone harms the singer, he will seek revenge upon them at their funeral.
I can't act like everything's okay
The singer cannot pretend that everything is okay when it is not.
I cannot trust these people they fake
The artist does not trust people who are fake and insincere.
You give yourself you get betrayed
If you give your trust to someone, they may still betray you.
You give your body, that's a mistake
The singer believes that engaging in sexual activity outside of marriage is a mistake.
Forgive my brother and that's okay
The singer believes in forgiving others, even if they are not family.
But you ain't fam, so dig your grave
If someone is not family, the artist believes they should not be trusted and should be prepared to face the consequences.
Better read your Word Jesus ain't play
The artist believes it is important to read and understand the Bible, as Jesus does not mess around.
I said what I said that's word to Aldre
The artist firmly believes in what he said, and refers to the rapper Aldre who shares similar beliefs.
On fonem grave I shoot when I pray
The singer emphasizes the importance and seriousness of his prayers.
I been too laxed turn up my ways
The artist has been too lenient and aims to become stricter in his beliefs and actions.
My flesh gone die send flowers to the grave
The singer recognizes that his body will not live forever, and he plans to honor it properly when the time comes.
I wake y'all up get smacked in the face
The singer tries to awaken others to God's teachings, even if it means facing opposition.
These Christians chilling like we okay
The singer criticizes those who claim to be Christian but do not take their faith seriously.
Don't know their Bible don't know their way
The artist believes that if someone does not know the Bible, they cannot possibly know the right path in life.
Don't be surprised when you see those flames
The artist warns that those who do not follow God's teachings will face consequences in the afterlife, referencing flames of hell.
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Aldre Chisolm, Michai Wharton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind