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.
Te Quiero Dijiste
Ben E. King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Taking my hands
Into your little hands
Of white ivory
And I felt in my chest
A heavy pang
Then a sigh
And next the spark
Pretty little doll
Of golden hair
Your teeth of pearls
Ruby lips
Tell me if you love me
As I love you
If you remember me
As I do you
Sometimes I hear
A divine echo
Enveloped in the wind
It seems to say
Yes, I really love you
So very much
As much as then
Until I die
In Ben E. King's song Te Quiero Dijiste, the singer describes the experience of falling in love with someone they have just met. The lyrics begin with the other person saying "I love you" to the singer, which creates an immediate and intense connection between them. The singer describes the physical sensation of the other person taking their hands and holding them, which is depicted as a moment of great significance. The use of the words "little hands of white ivory" suggests a certain delicacy and fragility that is associated with the other person, and the singer's heart is described as experiencing a "heavy pang" and a sigh in response to this contact.
The rest of the song explores the complex feelings of the singer as they try to ascertain whether the other person reciprocates their feelings. The other person is described as a "pretty little doll of golden hair" who has "teeth of pearls" and "ruby lips," which emphasizes their beauty and allure. However, the singer also expresses a sense of uncertainty about whether the other person loves them in return, as they ask them to "tell me if you love me as I love you." The mention of memory ("if you remember me as I do you") suggests a fear that this moment of connection might be fleeting and easily forgotten.
Line by Line Meaning
"I love you" you said
You claimed to have love for me
Taking my hands
You held my hands in yours
Into your little hands
You held my hands in your small hands
Of white ivory
Your hands were as white as ivory
And I felt in my chest
I experienced a sensation in my chest
A heavy pang
It was a heavy and uncomfortable feeling
Then a sigh
I let out a sigh
And next the spark
Following the sigh, I felt an intense emotion
Of a feverish kiss
That intense emotion led to a passionate kiss
Pretty little doll
You were a pretty little doll-like figure
Of golden hair
You had golden hair
Your teeth of pearls
Your teeth were as white as pearls
Ruby lips
Your lips were red like rubies
Tell me if you love me
Inform me if you return my love
As I love you
Tell me if you feel the same way about me
If you remember me
Have you kept me in your thoughts?
As I do you
In the same way I have been thinking about you
Sometimes I hear
Occasionally I listen out for
A divine echo
An unexplained and mystical sound
Enveloped in the wind
Seemingly carried by the wind
It seems to say
It appears to be conveying
Yes, I really love you
An affirmation of love
So very much
Emphasizing the intensity of the love felt
As much as then
As strong as the love felt before
Until I die
Until my life comes to an end
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Maria Grever
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind