Born in Valdosta, Georgia, and raised in Marietta, Georgia, Royal became a local star at the Bamboo Ranch in Savannah in the 1950s and 1960s. He is best known for the 1965 US Top 10 pop hit "Down in the Boondocks", which, along with the singles "I Knew You When" (Top 20, 1965) and "Hush" (1967), were written and produced by Joe South. Another South composition, "Yo-Yo," just missed the top 40 in Canada and charted poorly in the U.S. when Royal released it in 1967, but a later remake by The Osmonds was a much greater success. His 1969 single, "Cherry Hill Park", peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100. In the 1970s his recording of "Heart's Desire" gained popularity among Northern soul enthusiasts and was regularly played in Northern soul nightclubs.
During the 1980s, Royal had a successful comeback with several Top 10 country hits, including "Tell It Like It Is", "Burned Like a Rocket", and "I'll Pin a Note on Your Pillow".
Royal's career experienced a second major period during the 2000s due to regular airplay on "oldies" radio stations. His music was further exposed to younger generations through a movement known as The Beat Army, an online music forum based on Facebook which is operated by author and music producer Paul Collins. Royal continued to tour regularly, performing concerts at casinos, music festivals and clubs in Canada, the United States, Japan and throughout Europe. His set lists include a mixture of songs representing multiple genres from the 1960s to the present.
Royal played Robert Ally in the indie Western film Billy the Kid (2013), co-starring country singer Cody McCarver.
Royal died in his sleep on October 6, 2015 in Morehead City, North Carolina.
Stand By Me
Billy Joe Royal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Look at those hearty out on the avenue
You're out there on your own
Spending all your time alone
So come, girl, tonight I wanna be with you
This world has let you down
Nearly broke your heart
We'll leave this world behind
When we're walking on down the line
So come, girl, let's make one dream come true
So meet me out on the boardwalk tonight
Meet me down by the sea
We can dance beneath the carnival lights
Oh, just you and me
We'll fall in love on a carousal
Little boardwalk angel
So meet me out on the boardwalk tonight
Meet me down by the sea
We can dance beneath the carnival lights
Oh, just you and me
We'll fall in love on a carousal
Little boardwalk angel
Mmm
Boardwalk angel
I want you to stand by me (stand by me)
My little boardwalk angel
Life is fine, yeah (boardwalk angel)
Ah, huh
I want you to stand by me (stand by me)
My little boardwalk angel
Life is fine, yeah (boardwalk angel)
Ah, huh
The lyrics to Billy Joe Royal's "Stand By Me" are an invitation to a young woman who is feeling lonely and downtrodden. He assures her that he wants to be with her and make her feel happy, in contrast to the rough and heartless world outside. The imagery of the boardwalk and the carnival lights suggests a playful and carefree atmosphere, and the idea of falling in love on a carousel reinforces this sense of youthful innocence and pleasure.
The song's theme of finding comfort and love in the midst of a difficult world is a common one in popular music, but Royal's easygoing, folksy style gives these lyrics a particular charm. The repetition of the refrain "Stand by me" emphasizes the emotional connection between the two characters, while the use of the word "angel" suggests that the woman is a source of beauty and goodness in an otherwise harsh environment.
Line by Line Meaning
Little girl, tonight, baby don't feel blue
Hey there, young lady. Don't be sad tonight.
Look at those hearty out on the avenue
See all those happy people outside.
You're out there on your own
You're alone and feeling lonely.
Spending all your time alone
You spend your time by yourself.
So come, girl, tonight I wanna be with you
Come, spend tonight with me.
This world has let you down
The world has disappointed you.
Nearly broke your heart
It has almost shattered your heart.
But tonight's the night for a brand new start
But tonight marks a fresh beginning.
We'll leave this world behind
We will escape and forget about this world.
When we're walking on down the line
As we stroll down the boardwalk.
So come, girl, let's make one dream come true
Let's make a dream come true together.
Meet me out on the boardwalk tonight
Meet me outside by the boardwalk later.
Meet me down by the sea
Be with me by the ocean.
We can dance beneath the carnival lights
We'll dance under the colorful lights of the carnival.
Oh, just you and me
Only the two of us together.
We'll fall in love on a carousal
We'll fall in love as we ride the carousel.
Little boardwalk angel
My sweet angel of the boardwalk.
I want you to stand by me (stand by me)
I want you to be by my side always.
My little boardwalk angel
My darling angel of the boardwalk.
Life is fine, yeah (boardwalk angel)
Life is good when you're with me, my boardwalk angel.
Ah, huh
Mm-hmm.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Ben King, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind