Ben E. King (born Benjamin Earl Nelson in September 28, 1938 (died of natur… Read Full Bio ↴Ben E. King (born Benjamin Earl Nelson in September 28, 1938 (died of natural causes, aged 76 on April 30, 2015.) in Henderson, North Carolina) was an American soul and pop singer. He is best known as the singer and co-composer of "Stand by Me", a top ten hit in both 1961 and 1986.

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.

What Do You Want Me To Do
Ben E. King Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

One, two, three, let's go

넌 바라는게 많아 항상
이거해 달라 저거해 달라
난 할말이 많아
넌 네 기분에 따라 하는짓도 달라
어느 장단에 맞춰 춤을 춰야 좋아 할까
난 널 웃게 하는 너만의 광대가 되었다

What do you want from me
What do you want from me
What do you want from me (hey!)
Want from me (hey!) want from me baby (nanananananana)

What do you want from me (what do you want from me)
What do you want from me (what do you want from me)
What do you want from me (hey!)
Want from me (hey!) want from me baby (nanananananana)

Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh (nanananananana)
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh (nanananananana)

네 말마따나 더 이상
사랑하지않아 인정하잖아
우리 정이잖아 너 병이야
너랑 하루라도 싸우지않는다면
오히려 마음이 더 불안하잖아 이게 말이 돼?
지랄하지마 사랑하는게 어떻게 싸움이 돼

What do you want from me
What do you want from me
What do you want from me (hey!)
Want from me (hey!) want from me baby (nanananananana)

What do you want from me (what do you want from me)
What do you want from me (what do you want from me)
What do you want from me (hey!)
Want from me (hey!) want from me baby (nanananananana)

우리 이제 그만 제발 그만 제발
I say 그 you say 만
그만 그만

우리 이제 그만 제발 그만 제발
I say 그 you say 만
그만 그만

What do you want from me
What do you want from me
What do you want from me (hey!)
Want from me (hey!) want from me baby (nanananananana)

What do you want from me
What do you want from me
What do you want from me (hey)
Want from me (hey!) want from me baby (nanananananana)

Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh (nanananananana)

Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh

Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh (nanananananana)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Ben E. King's song "What Do You Want Me To Do" convey a sense of frustration and confusion in a relationship. The song starts by highlighting the demands and constant requests the other person has, leaving the singer feeling overwhelmed. They express their own desire to communicate and understand, but find it difficult because the other person's actions are constantly changing depending on their mood. The lyrics also imply that the singer has become a clown or jester in order to make the other person happy.

As the song progresses, the singer acknowledges that they no longer love the other person and accepts that they are no longer in love. They note that the constant fighting and not having any fights only increases their anxiety, questioning whether this situation is logical. The lyrics also reflect a frustration with the idea that love can turn into a battleground.

Overall, the lyrics of "What Do You Want Me To Do" depict the struggle of balancing the needs and desires of a partner while trying to maintain one's own sanity and happiness in a relationship.

Line by Line Meaning

One, two, three, let's go
Let's get started and dive into the meaning of this song

넌 바라는게 많아 항상
You always want so much

이거해 달라 저거해 달라
You ask me to do this and do that

난 할말이 많아
I have a lot to say

넌 네 기분에 따라 하는짓도 달라
You act differently depending on your mood

어느 장단에 맞춰 춤을 춰야 좋아 할까
I wonder which rhythm to dance to in order to please you

난 널 웃게 하는 너만의 광대가 되었다
I have become your personal jester who makes you laugh

What do you want from me
What do you expect from me

Want from me baby
What do you want from me, baby

네 말마따나 더 이상
I no longer love you

사랑하지않아 인정하잖아
I admit that I don't love you