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.
Up on the Roof
Ben E. King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And people are just too much for me to face
I climb way up to the top of the stars
And all my cares just drift right into space
On the roof it's peaceful as can be
And there the world below can't bother me
Let me tell you now
When I come home feeling tired and beat
I go up where the air is fresh and sweet
I get away from the hustling crowds
And all that rat race noise down in the street
On the roof's the only place I know
Where you just have to wish to make it so
Up on the roof
At night the stars put on a show for free
And darling you can share it all with me
I keep-a tellin' you
Right smack dab in the middle of town
I found a Paradise that's trouble-proof
And if this world starts getting you down
There's room enough for two up on the roof
Up on the roof
Ben E. King's song "Up on the Roof" is an uplifting ballad about finding peace and solace from the world's pressures by escaping to a rooftop. The song's lyrics depict the singer's weariness with the world and the people in it, leading them to find solace in solitude. The singer describes the rooftop as a peaceful retreat where they can immerse themselves in the sky's vastness and forget their troubles. The imagery of stars and the night sky represents something bigger than our daily struggles and offers comfort to the singer. The song's chorus "Up on the roof" chants repeatedly, acting as an invitation to the listener to come up and join in the peaceful retreat that's found on the rooftop. The song's overall message is to encourage the listener to look beyond their immediate surroundings and channel inner peace.
One of the interesting facts about the song "Up on the Roof" is that it was written by the songwriting duo Carole King and Gerry Goffin, two of the foremost writers of the Brill Building era. "Up on the Roof" was originally recorded by The Drifters in 1962, with lead vocals by Rudy Lewis. The song became a hit, reaching number five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Another interesting fact is that the song has been covered by multiple artists, including Laura Nyro, James Taylor, and Neil Diamond. It has appeared in movies such as "Satisfaction" (1988) and "Sleepless in Seattle" (1993).
"Up on the Roof" has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999, recognizing it as a significant recording that has stood the test of time. In 2004, it was ranked number 113 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
The chords for "Up on the Roof" are G, Em, C, G/D, and D:
Verse:
G Em
When this old world starts getting me down
C G/D
And people are just too much for me to face
G Em
I climb way up to the top of the stars
C D
And all my cares just drift right into space
Chorus:
G Em
On the roof it's peaceful as can be
C G/D
And there the world below can't bother me
G Em
Let me tell you now
C D
When I come home feeling tired and beat
G Em
I go up where the air is fresh and sweet
C G/D
I get away from the hustling crowds
C D
And all that rat race noise down in the street
Chorus:
G Em
On the roof's the only place I know
C G/D
Where you just have to wish to make it so
G Em
Let's go up on the roof
C D
At night the stars put on a show for free
G Em
And darling, you can share it all with me
C G/D
I keep a-telling you
C D
Right smack dab in the middle of town
G Em
I found a paradise that's trouble-proof
C G/D
And if this old world starts getting you down
C D
There's room enough for two up on the roof
Line by Line Meaning
When this old world starts getting me down
When the struggles of life become too much to bear
And people are just too much for me to face
And the interactions with people become overwhelming
I climb way up to the top of the stars
I escape to a place of calm and beauty
And all my cares just drift right into space
Where my worries can be forgotten and abandoned
On the roof it's peaceful as can be
The rooftop offers a serene and relaxing environment
And there the world below can't bother me
A place where the chaos of the world below can't reach me
Let me tell you now
I must emphasize this point
When I come home feeling tired and beat
When I return home exhausted and defeated
I go up where the air is fresh and sweet
I ascend to a place of clean and refreshing air
I get away from the hustling crowds
I escape from the chaotic and tiring crowds
And all that rat race noise down in the street
And the sound of the competitive and exhausting city life
On the roof's the only place I know
The rooftop is the only place I am aware of
Where you just have to wish to make it so
A place where desires can be manifested with just a wish
Up on the roof
On the rooftop
At night the stars put on a show for free
At night, the rooftop becomes a free observatory of the stars
And darling you can share it all with me
And beloved, you can experience it all with me
I keep-a tellin' you
I repeatedly express to you
Right smack dab in the middle of town
In the center of the bustling urban environment
I found a Paradise that's trouble-proof
I discovered a trouble-free paradise
And if this world starts getting you down
And if the world becomes too burdensome for you
There's room enough for two up on the roof
There is enough space for two in the rooftop paradise
Up on the roof
On the rooftop
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CAROLE KING, GERRY GOFFIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@loveslela
Up on the Roof
The Drifters
When this old world starts getting me down
And people are just too much for me to face
I climb way up to the top of the stairs
And all my cares just drift right into space
On the roof, it's peaceful as can be
And there the world below can't bother me
Let me tell you now
When I come home feelin' tired and beat
I go up where the air is fresh and sweet (up on the roof)
I get away from the hustling crowd
And all that rat-race noise down in the street (up on the roof)
On the roof, the only place I know
Where you just have to wish to make it so
Let's go up on the roof (up on the roof)
At night the stars put on a show for free
And, darling, you can share it all with me
I keep a-tellin' you
Right smack dab in the middle of town
I've found a paradise that's trouble proof (up on the roof)
And if this world starts getting you down
There's room enough for two
Up on the roof (up on the roof)
Up on the roo-oo-oof (up on the roof)
Oh, come on, baby (up on the roof)
Oh, come on, honey (up on the roof)
Everything is all right (up on the roof)
Songwriters: Goffin Gerald, King Carole
@bigbluemsp
When this old world starts getting me down
And people are just too much for me to face
I climb way up to the top of the stars
And all my cares just drift right into space
On the roof it's peaceful as can be
And there the world below can't bother me
Let me tell you now
When I come home feeling tired and beat
I go up where the air is fresh and sweet
I get away from the hustling crowds
And all that rat race noise down in the street
On the roof's the only place I know
Where you just have to wish to make it so
Up on the roof
At night the stars put on a show for free
And darling you can share it all with me
I keep-a tellin' you
Right smack dab in the middle of town
I found a Paradise that's trouble-proof
And if this world starts getting you down
There's room enough for two up on the roof
Up on the roof
@singingway
Lyrics Up On The Roof Song by The Drifters
LyricsListenOther recordings
When this old world starts getting me down
And people are just too much for me to face
I climb way up to the top of the stairs
And all my cares just drift right into space
On the roof, it's peaceful as can be
And there the world below can't bother me
Let me tell you now
When I come home feelin' tired and beat
I go up where the air is fresh and sweet (up on the roof)
I get away from the hustling crowd
And all that rat race noise down in the street (up on the roof)
On the roof, the only place I know
Where you just have to wish to make it so
Let's go up on the roof (up on the roof)
At night the stars put on a show for free
And darling, you can share it all with me
I keep a-tellin' you
Right smack dab in the middle of town
I've found a paradise that's trouble proof (up on the roof)
And if this world starts getting you down
There's room enough for two
Up on the roof (up on the roof)
Up on the roof (up on the roof)
Oh, come on, baby (up on the roof)
Oh, come on, honey (up on the roof)
Everything is all right (up on the roof)
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Carole King / Gerry Goffin
Up on the Roof lyrics © DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
@Lahteehdah
I was deathly ill for over a year in the hospital and out
My sister played this song to get me motivated to get up and even shower I was in so much pain. I will FOREVER love this song 🎵 ❤
@mariontl6764
Glad you recovered, and that this great song your sister played helped you through.
@ceciliahurst7867
God bless your Sister and you!
@blessedchica
Yes indeed! Music can move & heal us in ways that nothing else can.
@morningafternoonheadshot6741
That’s funny, I’m sorta going through something similar, played it for me and my dog just now and gonna play it for my daughter later.
@Lahteehdah
@Mariontl Thank you! My dad played it for me as a little girl. My sis knew exactly what I needed 😌 🙌
@josephmay9709
The Drifters, indeed, are the most underrated group of all time. Truly a wonderful sound of a much more innocent and carefree time, just prior to the great tragedy of the now, long-forgotten, Vietnam War. I ,personally, would like to dedicate this wonderful song to all the all the outstanding men and women of the US Armed Forces, that tragically did not return home from the Vietnam War. R.I.P, Rudy Lewis.
@rosebrown9265
I'm a Scottish person and I totally agree 😊
@pauleohl
a much more innocent and carefree time, just prior to the great tragedy of the now, long-forgotten, Vietnam War.
Have you totally forgotten WWII, Korea, Cold War, Cuban Missile Crisis, China-India Crisis just after Cuban missile?
@10colintaylor
@Paul Ohlstein Every POTUS since the end of WWII is a war criminal...even Carter.