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.
The Way You Shake It
Ben E. King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But it's not me that keeps you up at night
The lights escaping from your eyes
A part of me always knew why
So don't complicate it
Can you take it lie in your bed
The way you made it
It's your style to shut people out
You don't care enough to change
You'll keep me in your safe space
So don't complicate it
Can you take it don't complain
The bed is how you made it
So don't complicate it can you take it
Lie in your bed the way you made it
Cotton sheets and paper hearts
Unsaid words and picture frames
An engagement ring still in that box
You couldn't figure out
Why it hurt me so much
I'll drink the silence that you left
You burnt the candle at both ends
Why don't you complicate it
I don't think you can take it
Go ahead lie in your bed the way you made it
I don't think you can make it
I don't think you can take it
The lyrics of Ben E. King's "The Way You Shake It" are about a troubled relationship. The singer is dealing with a partner who has a tendency towards self-destructive behavior and a pattern of shutting people out. Despite this, the singer remains loyal and invested in the relationship, even though they are often left behind and hurt as a result. The chorus of the song emphasizes that the partner needs to take responsibility for their actions and face the consequences of their choices, even if it's painful.
The second verse of the song delves deeper into the issues at play in the relationship. The cotton sheets and paper hearts allude to the superficiality and fragility of the bond between the couple, while the engagement ring in the box hints at a missed opportunity for a deeper commitment. Ultimately, the singer feels that their partner has caused too much hurt and that it's too late for them to change. The line, "I'll drink the silence that you left" suggests that the singer is resigned to the end of the relationship and the empty space that their partner has left behind.
Overall, the lyrics paint a picture of a relationship that is plagued by dysfunction and a lack of communication. The singer is grappling with the pain of loving someone who is unable or unwilling to reciprocate fully, and is ultimately forced to accept the reality of the situation in spite of their own feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
It's your style to self-destruct
You have a tendency to do things that will ultimately harm yourself.
But it's not me that keeps you up at night
My actions or presence don't affect you as much as you may have led me to believe.
The lights escaping from your eyes
You're not as happy or fulfilled as you try to appear.
A part of me always knew why
Deep down, I had a feeling that something was off or not quite right.
So don't complicate it
Let's not make this more difficult than it needs to be.
Can you take it lie in your bed
Can you accept the consequences of your choices and deal with them?
The way you made it
You're responsible for the situation you're currently in.
It's your style to shut people out
You have a tendency to isolate yourself from others and keep them at a distance.
But I'm the one that gets left behind
I'm the person who's most impacted by your decision to shut people out.
You don't care enough to change
You're not motivated to alter your behavior or address the issue at hand.
You'll keep me in your safe space
You'll continue to rely on me despite your attempts to push me away.
Can you take it don't complain
I need you to accept the situation without complaining or making excuses.
The bed is how you made it
You're responsible for the state of your relationships and the impact they have on you.
Cotton sheets and paper hearts
We had something real that has now become just material objects.
Unsaid words and picture frames
We didn't communicate effectively and now all that's left are memories.
An engagement ring still in that box
We had plans and dreams for our future together that will never come to fruition.
You couldn't figure out
You were unable to see or acknowledge the impact of your actions on me.
Why it hurt me so much
The situation has caused me a lot of pain and distress.
I'll drink the silence that you left
I'll deal with the aftermath of our relationship on my own.
You burnt the candle at both ends
You were trying to do too much and ultimately wore yourself out.
Why don't you complicate it
Why don't you stop trying to make this more difficult or dramatic than it needs to be?
I don't think you can take it
I don't believe you're emotionally prepared to handle the aftermath of our relationship.
Go ahead lie in your bed the way you made it
You're responsible for the situation you're in, so you need to accept it and deal with the consequences.
I don't think you can make it
I don't believe you're capable of moving on and finding a healthier, more fulfilling relationship.
I don't think you can take it
I don't think you're emotionally capable of handling the situation and being accountable for your actions.
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Jess King
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Malc F
Saw him live, very good.
Joe Sampson
One of Ben E. Kinng's best.
Jonah ❤️❤️
I am just addicted, just love ben e kings songs rip
Jennifer Rose
Agreed, I play them day in, day out. Fabulous voice !
Jennifer Rose
Wicked piece of music !
John Clemente
The female voice sounds like La La Brooks of The Crystals!
Gerda
❤❤❤ love ❤❤❤
Gerda
❤❤❤ trilll 😂❤❤❤❤
Gerda
❤❤❤❤ love soooo❤❤❤
Gerda
❤❤ dushi kus ❤❤❤❤❤❤