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.
Why Is the Question
Ben E. King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Cash)
Ayy, we finna turn up in this bitch
Lean, swag, rock wit' it
Lean, swag, rock wit' it
Lean, swag, rock wit' it (Rod, it's not that serious)
(Everything is chrome in the future) (work)
I'm fuckin' your bitch, got dick in her throat (swag)
Nigga leanin', just poured up a four (work)
Run in your spot, takin' ya dough (work)
Hit 'em high, hit 'em low low
Woah (swag), woah (swag), woah (swag)
It's critical nigga (work)
Let me quit playin' and get on this beat (swag)
I don't wanna hear when you talkin' to me (swag)
Freestyle but the drip ain't free (swag)
Bust down and the bitch ain't cheap (swag)
She cuffed now, done hit her for weeks
Up now, got her sellin' my weed
I got the keys to the streets (swag)
I'm sendin' niggas, bring 'em to me (swag)
These diamonds dancin', quit lookin' at me (work)
Nigga be fans when they beefin' with me
You got guns, we got cannons
Hit 'em with drums, call 'em Nick Cannon (work)
A nigga be groovin', nigga be movin'
Call up my shooters and they come and do ya (work)
The young niggas shootin', the young niggas shootin'
Come to my city, won't see 'em again
Nigga on fuck shit, drinkin' that Henn', mixed with that Xan' (swag)
You know the recipe and I'm smokin' yo' man
Got a price on ya head, got niggas that work for me (swag)
Still from the hood but nobody know (swag)
Still got them racks, keep that on the low
I'm smokin' good, I got it from me
But get out yo' draws, get on yo' knees (ayy, ayy)
I'm on that pimp shit, I'm extra drippin'
Throw up the C's, I'm extra Crippin' (swag)
She don't want me to leave, she extra trippin'
Sprite codeine, I be extra lifted (work)
I get to the money, I get it and go
Run up them bands, still trap out the store
My dope real hot when it get off the stove
Bitch thought I was playin', I hit it and go
Nigga thought he was hard, send shots to his throat
Woah, woah (swag), woah (swag), woah (swag), woah (swag)
Woah (swag), woah (swag), woah (swag)
Woah (swag), woah (swag), woah (swag)
It's critical, nigga
Me and my flag stay matchin' together (work)
Done gave her a molly, put dick in her belly
I need a bitch like Miley Cyrus
He don't come outside, that nigga be hidin' (ayy)
We goin' dumb, we shoot for a hobby (ayy)
You a middleman, you can quit lyin'
I got good aim, we shoot for his linin'
She got good brain, she got A in science (work, work)
Look at the Rollie, that shit be shinin'
Bling blaow
Check out the freestyle, the shit be ridin'
Get to the money, I get it and go
Go, go (swag), go (swag), go (swag), go (swag), go (swag)
It's critical, nigga
(Swag)
The lyrics to this song by Ben E. King contain a mix of braggadocious and provocative language that revolves around themes of money, success, and sexual prowess. The use of phrases like "get to the money" and "run up them bands" emphasize the singer's focus on acquiring wealth and living a lavish lifestyle. There is also a mention of engaging in sexual activity with someone else's partner, portrayed with explicit language.
The lyrics also touch on themes of power and dominance, with lines like "I got the keys to the streets" and references to sending people to harm others. The singer presents themselves as someone to be feared and respected, boasting about their connections and ability to control situations. The repeated mentions of "swag" and "work" further reinforce this image of a confident and successful individual.
Line by Line Meaning
Why is everything chrome?
Why is everything flashy and shiny?
Cash
Money
Ayy, we finna turn up in this bitch
Hey, we're about to have a great time in this place
Lean, swag, rock wit' it
Adopt a cool, confident, and stylish attitude
Rod, it's not that serious
Rod, don't take things too seriously
Everything is chrome in the future
In the future, everything will be flashy and shiny
I get to the money, I get it and go
I quickly acquire money and then move on
I'm fuckin' your bitch, got dick in her throat
I am having sexual relations with your partner
Nigga leanin', just poured up a four
I am intoxicated, just poured a drink containing a cough syrup mixture
Run in your spot, takin' ya dough
Enter your place and steal your money
Hit 'em high, hit 'em low low
Attack aggressively from all angles
It's critical nigga
It's extremely urgent and important
Let me quit playin' and get on this beat
Stop fooling around and start rapping on this instrumental
I don't wanna hear when you talkin' to me
I don't want to listen to what you're saying
Freestyle but the drip ain't free
Create spontaneous rhymes without effort
Bust down and the bitch ain't cheap
Expensive jewelry and it's not affordable
She cuffed now, done hit her for weeks
She's in a committed relationship now, after being involved with me for weeks
Up now, got her sellin' my weed
She is now involved in selling the marijuana I possess
I got the keys to the streets
I have control and influence over the neighborhood
I'm sendin' niggas, bring 'em to me
I am instructing people to come to me
These diamonds dancin', quit lookin' at me
These expensive diamonds sparkle, stop staring at them
Nigga be fans when they beefin' with me
People become admirers when they have conflicts with me
You got guns, we got cannons
You may have firearms, but we have large weapons
Hit 'em with drums, call 'em Nick Cannon
Attack them with intense firepower, a reference to Nick Cannon's involvement with drums as a musician
A nigga be groovin', nigga be movin'
I have a smooth style, I am always on the move
Call up my shooters and they come and do ya
Summon my armed associates who will take care of you
The young niggas shootin', the young niggas shootin'
The young individuals are firing their guns
Come to my city, won't see 'em again
If they come to my hometown, they won't leave alive
Nigga on fuck shit, drinkin' that Henn', mixed with that Xan'
Engaged in foolish activities, consuming a mixture of Hennessy and Xanax
You know the recipe and I'm smokin' yo' man
You are aware of the method and I am having sexual encounters with your partner
Got a price on ya head, got niggas that work for me
There is a reward for harming you, and I have individuals under my command
Still from the hood but nobody know
I am still from the neighborhood, but nobody is aware
Still got them racks, keep that on the low
I still have a lot of money, but I keep it a secret
I'm smokin' good, I got it from me
I am enjoying good-quality marijuana that I obtained
But get out yo' draws, get on yo' knees
Take off your clothes, get in a submissive position
I'm on that pimp shit, I'm extra drippin'
I am engaged in a pimp lifestyle, exuding excessive style
Throw up the C's, I'm extra Crippin'
Display gang signs associated with the Crips gang
She don't want me to leave, she extra trippin'
She doesn't want me to depart, she overreacts
Sprite codeine, I be extra lifted
Consuming Sprite mixed with codeine, causing a heightened state of intoxication
Run up them bands, still trap out the store
Acquire a large sum of money, while still selling drugs in the store
My dope real hot when it get off the stove
The drugs I produce are potent when they are prepared
Bitch thought I was playin', I hit it and go
The woman thought I was joking, but I had sexual intercourse with her and left
Nigga thought he was hard, send shots to his throat
The individual believed he was tough, so I harm him by shooting at his neck
Woah, woah, woah, woah
Expressing surprise or disbelief
It's critical, nigga
It's extremely urgent and important
Me and my flag stay matchin' together
My affiliation with my flag remains united
Done gave her a molly, put dick in her belly
I have provided her with the drug MDMA and engaged her sexually
I need a bitch like Miley Cyrus
I desire a woman who exemplifies a promiscuous lifestyle like Miley Cyrus
He don't come outside, that nigga be hidin'
He avoids going outside, he hides
We goin' dumb, we shoot for a hobby
We act foolishly and engage in shootings as a pastime
You a middleman, you can quit lyin'
You are an intermediary, you should stop lying
I got good aim, we shoot for his linin'
I have excellent accuracy, we shoot to hit his clothing lining
She got good brain, she got A in science
She is intelligent, she received an A grade in science
Look at the Rollie, that shit be shinin'
Observe the Rolex watch, it shines brightly
Bling blaow
Sound effect representing the sparkle and impact of jewelry
Check out the freestyle, the shit be ridin'
Listen to the improvised rap, it is impressive
Go, go, go, go, go
Expressing an urging to move quickly and swiftly
It's critical, nigga
It's extremely urgent and important
Swag
A fashionable and confident style
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Andrew Rogers, Devante Pirtle, Jack Troy, Matt Miller, Ra Gordon, Raymond Gonzales
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind