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.
Too Bad
Ben E. King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll be your fool again
Because I love you, yes, I do
You're now with someone new
While I wait in vain for you
It's too bad, too bad
My heart must pay
You know I've thought of you
Holding him tenderly
Telling him things you told to me
I know it was all wrong, my sweet
I wonder what's come over you
It's too bad, too bad
But I must pay
You didn't mind not seeing me
Every, every, every day
Oh, waiting weeks by the telephone
I'm sorry for the way
I mistreated you
You were all alone
It's sad, my dear, it's sad
I'm sure we're both to blame
Some day again our hearts will meet
Until that day comes
I'll leave you in his arms
And I'll say too bad
But I must pay
And I'll say too bad
But I must pay
Baby, baby, baby
It's bad but I must pay
And I know, I know that it's
Terrible, terrible, darling
But I've got to pay
Baby, and it's bad, bad...
The lyrics to Ben E. King's song "Too Bad" describe a situation of heartbreak and unrequited love. The singer is longing for someone who has moved on to someone else, but even though the singer knows it's not right, they are still willing to be a fool for love and love this person. They express that they have felt jealousy watching this person be tender with someone else, but also acknowledge that they were mistreated by the person they love. The singer believes that they are both to blame for the current situation, and that someday they may be able to reunite. Until then, the singer is willing to let the person they love be with someone else and pay the price for their own decisions.
The song "Too Bad" encapsulates the theme of heartbreak and unrequited love that is often present in soul and R&B music. The lyrics are relatable and emotionally charged, speaking to anyone who has ever loved someone who didn't love them back. All of the emotions described in the song are palpable in the vocal delivery, which is smooth and soulful. The melody also adds to the emotional depth of the lyrics, with its mournful, slow pace and bluesy notes.
Line by Line Meaning
Too bad for me, too bad
It's unfortunate for me that things turned out this way
I'll be your fool again
I'm willing to put myself through pain again because I love you
Because I love you, yes, I do
My feelings for you are true and strong
You're now with someone new
You have moved on and found someone else to love
While I wait in vain for you
I'm still hoping for you to come back to me
It's too bad, too bad
The situation is unfortunate and saddening
My heart must pay
My heart is suffering the consequences of my actions
You know I've thought of you
I can't help but think of you and miss you
Holding him tenderly
You're showing him the affection and care that I used to receive
Telling him things you told to me
You're sharing intimate details with him that you once shared with me
I know it was all wrong, my sweet
I regret the mistakes I made that led to our separation
I wonder what's come over you
I'm trying to understand why you moved on so quickly
You didn't mind not seeing me
You were okay with not spending time with me like you used to
Every, every, every day
I miss being with you every day
Oh, waiting weeks by the telephone
I waited anxiously for your call every day for weeks
I'm sorry for the way
I apologize for the things I did wrong
I mistreated you
I didn't treat you with the love and respect you deserved
You were all alone
You were left to deal with the pain and loneliness of our separation
It's sad, my dear, it's sad
The situation is heartbreaking and devastating
I'm sure we're both to blame
We are both responsible for the mistakes that led to our separation
Some day again our hearts will meet
We will get another chance to be together and love each other again
Until that day comes
Until we get another chance to be together
I'll leave you in his arms
I will accept that you are with someone else now
And I'll say too bad
The situation is unfortunate and saddening
But I must pay
I have to face the consequences of my mistakes
And I know, I know that it's
I realize that the situation is difficult
Terrible, terrible, darling
The situation is terrible and painful
But I've got to pay
I have to face the consequences of my actions
Baby, and it's bad, bad...
The situation is bad and difficult to deal with
Contributed by Lillian M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
ALAIN DEWAELE
very nice track thank for the sharing
Joe Sampson
Great
dundee520
great wee dance tune-- ktf---subed
kkb missy
mmmmm nice