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.
tell it like it is
Ben E. King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can't keep his mind on nothing else
He'll trade the world
For the good thing he's found
If she's bad he can't see it
She can do no wrong
Turn his back on his best friend
If he put her down
When a man loves a woman
Spend his very last dime
Trying to hold on to what he needs
He'd give up all his comfort
Sleep out in the rain
If she said that's the way it ought to be
Well, this man loves a woman
I gave you everything I had
Trying to hold on to your precious love
Baby, please don't treat me bad
When a man loves a woman
Down deep in his soul
She can bring him such misery
If she plays him for a fool
He's the last one to know
Loving eyes can't ever see
When a man loves a woman
He can do no wrong
He can never own some other girl
Yes when a man loves a woman
I know exactly how he feels
'Cause baby, baby, baby, you're my world
When a man loves a woman
The lyrics of Ben E. King's song "Tell It Like It Is" talks about the extreme nature of love and the ways in which people behave when they fall in love. The song describes how a man feels towards a woman when he's in love with her; he is consumed entirely with thoughts of her and will prioritize her over everything else. The man will give his all to her, even if it means he is left with nothing. The song suggests that love is not just an emotion, but it is also a behavior that transforms people's lives.
Moreover, the passage speaks of how people who are in love can be blinded by the imperfections of their loved ones. No matter how awful they might act or what they might do, love will never allow you to see them for who they are truly. The love you feel for them muffles everything else. The song suggests that love is not necessarily rational, that love can sometimes be illogical and that loving someone can sometimes prove to be a great risk. When someone loves another person, they become vulnerable, and this vulnerability can lead to pain and anguish.
Line by Line Meaning
When a man loves a woman
The song is about the depth and intensity of the love that a man feels for a woman.
Can't keep his mind on nothing else
When in love, the man's thoughts become entirely focused on his woman, and he is unable to think of anything else.
He'll trade the world
The man is willing to give up everything in his life for the love of his woman.
For the good thing he's found
The man sees his woman as a precious treasure that he has discovered and doesn't want to lose.
If she's bad he can't see it
The man is blinded by his love and is unable to see any faults or flaws that his woman may have.
She can do no wrong
In his eyes, the woman is perfect, and he doesn't see any of her faults or mistakes.
Turn his back on his best friend
The man is willing to sacrifice his relationships with his friends and family for his woman.
When a man loves a woman
The chorus reiterates the intensity of the man's feelings for his woman.
Spend his very last dime
The man is willing to spend all of his money to make his woman happy, even if it means leaving him in a difficult financial situation.
Trying to hold on to what he needs
The man sees his woman as a necessity in his life and will do anything to keep her by his side.
He'd give up all his comfort
The man is willing to sacrifice his personal comfort and well-being for the woman he loves.
Sleep out in the rain
He is willing to endure physical discomfort for his woman, even if it means sleeping outside in the rain.
If she said that's the way it ought to be
The man will follow his woman's lead and do whatever she says, as her happiness is his top priority.
Well, this man loves a woman
The singer reiterates that he is the man who feels this immense love for his woman.
I gave you everything I had
The man has given his all to the woman he loves and has nothing more to give.
Trying to hold on to your precious love
The singer is trying to hold on to the love he has with his woman, as it is the most important thing in his life.
Baby, please don't treat me bad
The man is pleading with his woman to treat him with kindness and respect, as she holds his heart in her hands.
Down deep in his soul
The man's love for his woman goes beyond just his thoughts and feelings, it is a part of his very being.
She can bring him such misery
If the woman were to turn on him or betray him, it would bring the man great pain and misery.
If she plays him for a fool
If the woman were to deceive the man or treat him poorly, he would be the last one to know as he is so blinded by his love.
Loving eyes can't ever see
The man's love has blinded him to the woman's faults, and he is unable to see her deception or mistreatment.
He can never own some other girl
The man's love for his woman is so deep that he could never love another woman the same way.
Yes when a man loves a woman
The chorus is repeated, emphasizing the depth and intensity of the man's love for his woman.
I know exactly how he feels
The singer has experienced this intense love and understands the emotions that the man is feeling.
'Cause baby, baby, baby, you're my world
The man's love for his woman is all-encompassing, and she is the center of his world.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDREW JAMES WRIGHT, CALVIN HOUSTON LEWIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@JesusJimenez-jj9yy
If you want something to play with
Go and find yourself a toy
Baby, my time is too expensive
And I'm not a little boy
If you are serious
Don't play with my heart, it makes me furious
But if you want me to love you
Then, baby, I will, girl, you know I will
Tell it like it is
Don't be ashamed to let your conscience be your guide
But I know deep down inside of me
I believe you love me, forget your foolish pride
Life is too short to have sorrow
You may be here today and gone tomorrow
You might as well get what you want
So go on and live, baby, go on and live
Tell it like it is
I'm nothing to play with, go and find yourself a toy
But I
Tell it like it is
My time is too expensive
And I'm not your little boy
Mmm, tell it like it is
@user-ip9yu7lp1q
Tell It Like It Is
~ Aaron Neville
If you want something to play with
Go and find yourself a toy
Baby my time is too expensive
And I'm not a little boy
If you are serious
Don't play with my heart
It makes me furious
But if you want me to love you
Then a baby I will, girl you know that I will
Tell it like it is
Don't be ashamed to let your conscience be your guide
But I know deep down inside me
I believe you love me, forget your foolish pride
Life is too short to have sorrow
You may be here today and gone tomorrow
You might as well get what you want
So go on and live, baby go on and live
Tell it like it is
I'm nothing to play with
Go and find yourself a toy
But I... Tell it like it is
My time is too expensive and I'm not your little boy
@randomshit1645
Who listening in 2024?
@blackkat6797
Feb 14 2024 😊
@jeansalzman2.012
@@blackkat6797..... I listened in 1966 and I'm lisnin' now. I was a junior in high school. We were so lucky to have the music we had.
@kennethbrown5472
Yeah, I listened in 1966 and been listenin' ever since. What a great voice.
@atothetop3779
🫡
@SeunReacts
This is so beautiful
@arijbd
You know what's the best feeling? It's when you discover such a beautiful song!
@kellysmith8845
I have been listening to this particular song for years. Still to this very day. What a phenomenal artist 👍
@gangstarr0work
try California Stars by Wilco. another beautiful track
@jeancollins2009
Yes, a beautiful song sung perfectly.