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.
You're Stepping on My Heart
Ben E. King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The clothes that I wear are shabby and old but I'll never spend your silver and gold
Each night I'm alone we're drifting apart
You're treating me wrong you're breaking my heart
You've shattered my hopes my dreams are all gone my life is so bare how can I go on
You never will change it's too late to start
You're treating me wrong you're breaking my heart
[ piano ]
But now that I'm yours you forgot me it seems
The things you have done have torn us apart
You're treating me wrong you're breaking my heart
The lyrics to Ben E. King's song "You're Stepping on My Heart" depict a person who is feeling mistreated and heartbroken in a relationship. The singer feels as though they are being wronged by their partner, stating "You're treating me wrong, you're breaking my heart." This line emphasizes the emotional pain caused by the partner's actions.
The singer also expresses feelings of abandonment and loneliness. They mention that the clothes they wear are "shabby and old," indicating a lack of care for their appearance. However, despite their partner's lack of support, they declare that they will never chase after material wealth or their partner's "silver and gold." This emphasizes the singer's desire for emotional fulfillment rather than material gain.
The lyrics convey a sense of resignation and hopelessness. The singer mentions that their hopes and dreams have been shattered and their life feels empty. They doubt the possibility of their partner changing their behavior, stating "You never will change, it's too late to start." The repetition of the phrase "you're treating me wrong, you're breaking my heart" throughout the song reinforces the singer's pain and establishes the central theme of mistreatment in the relationship.
Overall, "You're Stepping on My Heart" portrays a person who is facing emotional turmoil due to an unhealthy relationship. The lyrics capture their feelings of mistreatment, loneliness, and despair, highlighting the impact of their partner's actions on their well-being.
Line by Line Meaning
The clothes that I wear are shabby and old but I'll never spend your silver and gold
I may not have much material wealth, but I refuse to sacrifice my dignity for your money.
Each night I'm alone we're drifting apart
With every passing night, our relationship is falling further into emptiness and distance.
You've shattered my hopes my dreams are all gone my life is so bare how can I go on
You have completely destroyed my aspirations and now my life feels empty and devoid of hope. I struggle to find a reason to continue.
You never will change it's too late to start
I have come to accept that you will never change your ways, and any hope for improvement is now long gone.
[ piano ]
Instrumental break
Once I was free the one in your dreams
There was a time when I was the person who fulfilled all your desires and fantasies, unrestricted and unbound.
But now that I'm yours you forgot me it seems
But now that I am in a committed relationship with you, it appears that you have forgotten the person I used to be and disregard my importance.
The things you have done have torn us apart
Your actions and behaviors have caused a deep rift in our relationship, leading to its current state of disconnection and separation.
You're treating me wrong you're breaking my heart
The way you mistreat me and disregard my emotions is causing immense pain and distress, breaking my heart in the process.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: HARRIET H. MELKA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind