According to the documentary History of Rock 'n' Roll, Ben E. King had no intention of recording the song himself when he wrote it.[1] King had written the song for The Drifters, who passed on the chance to record it. It was not until after the "Spanish Harlem" recording session that he had some studio time left over. The session's producers, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, asked if he had any more songs and King played "Stand by Me" on the piano for them. They liked it and called all the studio musicians back in to record it.
Mike Stoller recalls it differently: "I remember arriving at our office as Jerry and Ben were working on lyrics for a new song. King had the beginnings of a melody that he was singing a capella. I went to the piano and worked up the harmonies, developing a bass pattern that became the signature of the song. Ben and Jerry quickly finished the lyricsโฆ" The fact that arranger Stan Applebaum couldn't possibly have dashed off an entire string chart at the end of a session, much less copied and distributed all the parts, supports this less dramatic version of the events.
Either way, King's record went to number one on the R&B charts and was a Top Ten hit on the U.S. charts twiceโin its original release in 1961, when it peaked at #4, and a 1986 rerelease coinciding with its use as the theme song for the movie of the same name following its appearance in the film, when it peaked at #9, and also in an advertisement for Levi Jeans. It also reached #1 on the UK Singles Chart in 1987 after its re-release, mostly due to the jeans spot, originally reaching #27 on its first release.
The song was not released on an album until it had been out as a single for two years. After those two years the song appeared as track seven on King's Don't Play That Song.
"Stand by Me" was ranked number 122 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In 1999, BMI named it as the fourth most-performed song of the 20th century, with about 7 million performances.
"Stand by Me"
Single by Ben E. King
from the album Don't Play That Song
Released May 8, 1961
Format 7", 12"
Recorded October 27, 1960
Genre ; Soul, R&B
Length - 2:57
Label; Atco
Writer(s) Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
Producer Ben E. King
Stand By Me
Ben E. King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we'll see
No, I won't be afraid
Oh, I won't be afraid
Just as long as you stand
Stand by me
Oh, stand by me
Oh, stand
Stand by me, stand by me
If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
Or the mountain should crumble to the sea
I won't cry, I won't cry
No, I won't shed a tear
Just as long as you stand
Stand by me
And darlin', darlin', stand by me
Oh, stand by me
Oh, stand now
Stand by me, stand by me
And darlin', darlin', stand by me
Oh, stand by me
Oh, stand now
Stand by me, stand by me
Whenever you're in trouble won't you stand by me
Oh, stand by me
Won't you stand by
me
Stand by me
"Stand By Me" by Ben E. King is a beautiful song about friendship, unity, and support. The first verse sets the scene for a dark and lonely night, where the only source of light is the moon. However, the singer reassures his friend that he won't be afraid as long as they stand by his side. The chorus reinforces this sentiment, imploring his friend to stand by him.
The second verse imagines a catastrophic event where the world as they know it crumbles and falls apart. The singer declares that he won't cry or shed a tear as long as his friend stays with him. The final chorus repeats the message of the first, saying that whenever the singer is in trouble, he hopes his friend will stand by him.
Overall, the song emphasizes the power of companionship and how reassuring it is to know that someone is always there for you, no matter how bleak the situation may seem.
Line by Line Meaning
When the night has come
When everything seems dark and the future is uncertain
And the land is dark
When everything around us is uncertain and uncharted
And the moon is the only light we'll see
When even the small strips of light bring us hope
No, I won't be afraid
I won't let fear be in control of my emotions
No, I won't be afraid
I can face anything that comes my way without fear, with you by my side
Just as long as you stand
As long as you're there, I know I can face anything
Stand by me
Just be there with me
So darlin', darlin', stand by me
My love, I need you to be there for me
Oh, stand by me
Just stay beside me
Oh, stand
Don't leave me now
Stand by me, stand by me
Just stay close to me, always
If the sky that we look upon
Even if everything we thought was solid and unchanging become unstable
Should tumble and fall
Should crumble and disappear, never to come back
Or the mountains should crumble to the sea
The impossible event, the mountains sinking in the sea, an uncontrollable, unimaginable change
I won't cry, I won't cry
I won't break down and cry when I'm with you
No I won't shed a tear
I won't allow myself to feel helpless or despair
Just as long as you stand
As long as you're there, I know I can face anything
Stand by me
Just be there with me
And darlin', darlin', stand by me
I need you to be there for me, always
Oh, stand by me
Just stay beside me
Oh, stand now
Don't leave me now
Stand by me, stand by me
Just stay close to me, always
And darlin', darlin', stand by me
My love, I need you to always be there for me
Oh, stand by me
Just stay beside me
Oh, stand now
Don't leave me now
Stand by me, stand by me
Just stay close to me, always
Whenever you're in trouble won't you stand by me
When you need help, I'll always be here to support you
Oh, stand by me
Just stay beside me
Won't you stand by me
Just be there for me, always
Lyrics ยฉ Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ben King, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kenyaL93
When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we'll see
No, I won't be afraid
Oh, I won't be afraid
Just as long as you stand
Stand by me
So darlin', darlin', stand by me
Oh, stand by me
Oh, stand
Stand by me, stand by me
If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
Or the mountain should crumble to the sea
I won't cry, I won't cry
No, I won't shed a tear
Just as long as you stand
Stand by me
And darlin', darlin', stand by me
Oh, stand by me
Oh, stand now
Stand by me, stand by me
And darlin', darlin', stand by me
Oh, stand by me
Oh, stand now
Stand by me, stand by me
Whenever you're in trouble won't you stand by me
Oh, stand by me
Won't you stand by
@macabazan
LYRICS:
When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we'll see
No, I won't be afraid
Oh, I won't be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me
So darling, darling
Stand by me, oh, stand by me
Oh stand, stand by me
Stand by me
If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
Or the mountain should crumble to the sea
I won't cry, I won't cry
No, I won't shed a tear
Just as long as you stand, stand by me
And darling, darling
Stand by me, oh, stand by me
Oh stand now, stand by me
Stand by me
(bis)
Whenever you're in trouble
Would you stand by me?
Oh, stand by me
Oh, just stand now, oh stand
Stand by me
Ben E King - Stand by me
@malakib1998
I remember hearing this song in the ER waiting room while doctors worked to resuscitate my brother. I remember just crying so much. Never felt so numb in my life. It's been tough to lose him. As much as I was in pain, hearing this song at that precise moment; gave me the strength to know God/Jesus was there for us.
Always loved oldies. Grew up listening to these classics in our family's Chevrolet Bel Air.
Love the lyrics. I honestly can feel the meaning of the lyrics. "I won't shed a tear just as long as you Stand By Me."
"When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light
we'll see
No, I won't be afraid...
If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
Or the mountain should crumble to the sea
I won't cry, I won't cry
No, I won't shed a tear
JUST AS LONG AS YOU STAND
STAND BY ME
AND DARLIN', DARLIN'
STAND BY ME, oh, STAND BY ME"
(Songwriters: Ben E. King / Jerry Leiber / Mike Stoller)
@bignb8776
2024 ? People?
@bumbleybumbleton9382
Reporting
@user-eh2vj6qh2e
Sup
@Not-him-14
โ@user-eh2vj6qh2e not to far just 38 minutes ago
@eliseoreh
๐๐ปโโ๏ธ
@II11lIIIl1ll1IIIlIl
no
@yashashvibagdwal2009
If you are listening to this song in 2020 or any time in future -your taste in music is amazing.๐
@kazimabdul1431
You're so right.
@evelynford713
thank you โค๏ธ๐ so is yours its an amazing song ๐
@hainguyenquang495
Thanks