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 a Diff'rence a Day Made
Ben E. King Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

What a difference a day made
Twenty-four little hours
Brought the sun and the flowers
Where there used to be rain

My yesterday was blue, dear
Today I'm part of you, dear
My lonely nights are through, dear

Since you said you were mine

What a difference a day makes
There's a rainbow before me
Skies above can't be stormy
Since that moment of bliss, that thrilling kiss

It's heaven when you find romance on your menu

What a difference a day made
And the difference is you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song "What a Diff'rence a Day Made" by Ben E. King describe the transformative power of love in one's life. The first verse talks about how just 24 hours can change everything, bringing sunshine and joy where there used to be sadness and rain. The second verse talks about the personal impact of love, with the singer's lonely nights coming to an end since their beloved confessed their feelings. The chorus repeats the idea that love can cause a radical transformation in one's life, like a rainbow appearing after a storm, and that it's an incredible feeling to find romance in one's life. The final line states that the difference a day makes is the beloved, referring to how just one person can make all the difference in one's life.

The lyrics of this song are a great example of how love can change everything, emphasizing how even the smallest moments can have a profound impact. The song was originally written in Spanish by Mexican songwriter María Grever in 1934, titled "Cuando Vuelva A Tu Lado" ("When I Return to Your Side"). The English version was adapted and recorded by Dinah Washington in 1959, with Ben E. King's version released in 1963. It was a successful hit, reaching number 28 on the US Billboard chart.

Line by Line Meaning

What a difference a day made
It's amazing how much things can change in just one day

Twenty-four little hours
In such a short amount of time

Brought the sun and the flowers
Things have turned around for the better

Where there used to be rain
Things were once gloomy and sad

My yesterday was blue, dear
I was feeling down yesterday

Today I'm part of you, dear
Today I feel a strong connection to you

My lonely nights are through, dear
I used to feel lonely at night but not anymore

Since you said you were mine
Since you committed yourself to me

There's a rainbow before me
I see the world in a new, more positive light

Skies above can't be stormy
There's nothing that can bring me down now

Since that moment of bliss, that thrilling kiss
Ever since we shared that amazing moment together