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.
Supernatural Thing Pt. 1
Ben E. King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your love, your love - supernatural thing, oh babe
Your love - supernatural thing, oh babe
Your love, your love - supernatural, mmh babe
When we touch, give me such a funny feeling in my brain
I′m so possessed by your love, sometimes i don't even know my name
When we kiss, you know you make me hot
I break out sometimes in little bitty green spots
Don′t stop it, baby, 'cause i need a lot
Your love - love's a supernatural thing, oh woman
Your love, your love - supernatural thing, mmh
Say, interplanetary, extraordinary love
Interplanetary - what you say - extraordinary
Hey - supernatural - i like it - supernatural
Listen, interplanetary, oh, extraordinary love
Interplanetary - i like it - extraordinary
Now when you love me - supernatural - oh baby - supernatural
You give me cosmic feeling, every time that i squeeze you
Your love′s so electrifying, so satisfying, lord knows i ain′t lyin'
Your love - supernatural thing, oh woman
Your love - lord, it′s a supernatural thing, what you say
Say, interplanetary, extraordinary love
Interplanetary - what you say - extraordinary
Hey - supernatural - i like it - supernatural
Listen, interplanetary, oh, extraordinary love
Interplanetary - i like it - extraordinary
Now when you love me - supernatural - oh babe - supernatural
Listen, interplanetary, oh extraordinary, ooh
Interplanetary - i like it - extraordinary
Surely i like it - supernatural - baby - supernatural
One more time, doo doo doo ...
The song "Supernatural Thing" by Ben E. King is a love song that compares the feeling of being in love to something supernatural and otherworldly. The repetition of "your love - supernatural thing" emphasizes the intensity and significance of the love in the lyrics. The lyrics describe the physical sensations of being in love, such as the "funny feeling" in the brain and the "cosmic feeling" when squeezed.
The song also uses imagery from science fiction and outer space, with the mention of "interplanetary" and "electrifying" love. This further emphasizes the idea that this love is something beyond this world and beyond explanation. The repetition of the phrase "interplanetary - what you say - extraordinary" adds extra weight to the idea of a love that transcends boundaries.
Overall, the lyrics of "Supernatural Thing" convey the idea that love is something powerful and inexplicable, something that can make us feel like we are under a spell or experiencing something out of this world.
Line by Line Meaning
Your love, your love - supernatural thing
The love I receive from you is inexplicable and beyond the ordinary.
Your love - supernatural thing, oh babe
Your love makes me feel out of this world, in a good way.
Your love, your love - supernatural, mmh babe
The love you show me is extraordinary and Beyond human.
When we touch, give me such a funny feeling in my brain
The feeling I get when we are close is quite remarkable.
I′m so possessed by your love, sometimes I don't even know my name
Your love takes over me, making me forget myself.
When we kiss, you know you make me hot
Every time we kiss, I feel extremely excited and aroused by your affection.
I break out sometimes in little bitty green spots
Your affection makes me feel so thrilled that sometimes it's like a breakout of tiny green spots.
You give me, give me all you got
You love me with all of your heart, holding nothing back.
Don′t stop it, baby, 'cause I need a lot
Please keep loving me like you do, it is all I desire and want.
Your love - love's a supernatural thing, oh woman
The love you show me is a mystical and otherworldly experience.
Say, interplanetary, extraordinary love
The love we share is nothing like anyone else’s, it is unique and phenomenal.
Interplanetary - what you say - extraordinary
Our love can only compare to something from outer space and beyond the usual.
Hey - supernatural - I like it - supernatural
Our love is so extraordinary that it is inexplicable, but I enjoy it and would not want it any other way.
Listen, interplanetary, oh extraordinary love
Please pay attention to the fact that our love is remarkable and cannot be compared to anything else.
Now when you love me - supernatural - oh baby - supernatural
When you show me affection, it is like an inexplicable force from another realm, so amazing.
You give me cosmic feeling, every time that I squeeze you
Every time I hold you in my arms, I feel a connection from deep down that I cannot exhaust.
Your love′s so electrifying, so satisfying, lord knows I ain′t lyin'
Your affection is so satisfying and electrifying that even God himself knows that I am not exaggerating.
Your love - lord, it′s a supernatural thing, what you say
Your love is beyond anything of this world. It's more like a force that cannot be seen, described or explained.
Listen, interplanetary, oh extraordinary love
Again, let's acknowledge and appreciate the exceptional love we share.
Surely I like it - supernatural - baby - supernatural
I love that our love is other-worldly, beyond human comprehension.
One more time, doo doo doo ...
Let's bask in the awesomeness of our love one more time.
Writer(s): Patrick Grant, Gwen Guthrie
Contributed by Sadie C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.