Darin was a very special and talented entertainer. He was a Grammy award winning singer ('Mack The Knife'), a respected member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ('Dream Lover', 'Splish Splash', 'If I Were A Carpenter') a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, a successful record producer, an Oscar nominated actor and a strong supporter of the American Heart Association. Bobby was married to actress Sandra Dee from 1960-1967. They had one son, Dodd, born in December 1961. As a result of complications from a rheumatic heart, Bobby's life was tragically cut short in 1973.
Darin's mother, Vanina Cassotto, had given birth to him when she was 16, and as a result, her parents raised Darin as though he were their son while Vanina was presented off as his elder sister. Darin did not learn the truth about his parentage until he was 32.
For more on Bobby Darin, watch "Beyond the Sea," in which Kevin Spacey portrays the entertainer.
Girl Who Stood Beside Me
Bobby Darin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you were a lady
Would you marry me anyway
Would you have my baby
If a tinker were my trade
Would you still find me
Carrying the pots I'd made
Save my love through loneliness
Save my love for sorrows
I've given you my loneliness
Come give me your tomorrows
If I worked my hands in wood
Would you still love me
Answer me babe yes I would
I'll put you above me
If I were a miller
At a mill wheel grinding
Would you miss your colored blouse
Your soft shoe shinning
If I were a carpenter
And you were a lady
Would you marry me anyway
Would you have my baby
Would you marry me anyway
And have my babyyyyyyyyyyyyy
Bobby Darin’s “The Girl Who Stood Beside Me” is a beautiful love song in which the singer seeks reassurance from his beloved that she would still love him if he were a humble carpenter or a tinker instead of a music star. As the song progresses, he proposes hypothetical trade options to her and asks if she would still be with him. He asks if, as a carpenter or a tinker, whether she would still love him, still be with him if he worked with wood, still marry him if he couldn’t provide for her the way he could as a musician.
The song is all about the power of love to overcome life's challenges and the importance of standing by your partner, no matter what. The singer is essentially asking his lover to assure him that their love is unconditional and that they will stay by each other's sides regardless of the changing circumstances of their lives. The song made its debut in 1972, posthumously released after Bobby Darin's untimely death in December 1973.
Line by Line Meaning
If I were a carpenter
I'm not a carpenter, but if I were one
And you were a lady
If you, the person I'm asking this question to, were a lady
Would you marry me anyway
Would you be willing to marry me, even if my profession is not that of a typical provider
Would you have my baby
Would you still want to start a family with me
If a tinker were my trade
If my job was to travel around fixing things
Would you still find me
Would you still be attracted to me
Carrying the pots I'd made
Even if all I had to offer were the pots and pans I've repaired
Following behind me
Would you follow me on my journey, wherever it may take us
Save my love through loneliness
Can you appreciate the love I have for you, despite the fact that being a tinker may lead to loneliness for both of us
Save my love for sorrows
Will you cherish our love even during the hard times
I've given you my loneliness
I'm opening up to you and showing you the vulnerable parts of myself
Come give me your tomorrows
Will you make a commitment to me, and give me hope for our future together
If I worked my hands in wood
If I pursued carpentry as a trade
Would you still love me
Would your feelings towards me remain intact if our situation was different
Answer me babe yes I would
If you say that you will still love me, I will be grateful and honored
I'll put you above me
I will always make sure you are happy and cared for, even if it means sacrificing my own needs and desires
If I were a miller
If I worked at a flour mill
At a mill wheel grinding
Operating the machinery used to make flour
Would you miss your colored blouse
If you had to wear plain clothing and we didn't have the money for things like colorful shirts
Your soft shoe shinning
If we couldn't afford expensive shoes
Would you marry me anyway
Would you still be with me despite these changes in our lifestyle
Would you have my babyyyyyyyyyyyyy
Would you still want to start a family with me, despite any hardships we may face
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: GEOFFREY (USA) STEVENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Relic Hunter
Sung from the heart! No showing off, just pure heart. And then he thanks his musicians. Humility in action! Thanks for the memories Bobby.
Agata F
Well said!
Janet Coombes
This is one of my top fave Bobby songs,just beautiful ! ! !
Jeff Sartain
This song is great. I wished that it had been a bigger hit. Someone needs to cover it now days.
Susan Cote
This is such a beautiful song!
ohwhatelse
W O W! Never heard this before. So-o beautiful. thanks so much.
ABSOLUTLEY LOVE this song. He was an expert at showing just the right emotion with a song. if he's acting he's doin a great job. but he sure looks & sounds like he's telling us about a real experience. what a talent. perhaps the perspective from a short life expectancy brings out deeper meaning in all things....
IF HE ONLY KNEW HOW MUCH WE STILL APPRECIATE HIM. I HOPE DODD KNOWS.
Patricia Winch
“Very moving!” “So Romantic!” “Beautiful!” ❤️(do I need to say more!”)
EDITH SYMMANS
No one does it like Bobby Darin, man has his own distinctive style that well and truly set him far apart from all other in the music business.... Bobby was always called the greatest young singer / entertainer of all time by the greats in the business and was so highly respected for his dedication to his chosen profession and his tireless hard work...
Man, Oh, Man if only they knew just how short time was for Bobby and it was fast running out.... Bobby never let it get to him, nor was he ever going to be cheated, he must achieve what Bobby set out to do.... Gosh, Bobby achieved it all and then some to top it all off.... Bobby was brilliant, a total master genius who mastered his own destiny.
Bobby could do it all and did so with awesome flare, exquisite style, make no mistake it was well and truly his own, BOBBY DARIN STYLE ALL THE WAY, THANK GOODNESS....
Thanks for the precious memories Bobby you made the greatest difference of them all...
BOBBY YOU SURE SHOWED US ALL HOW IT SHOULD BE DONE EACH AND EVERY TIME,
ALWAYS WITH SO MUCH PASSION AND GRACE.......
REMEMBERED FOREVER, MISSED DEARLY AND ALWAYS EVER SO LOVED !!!!
RIP BOBBY DARIN LOVED FOREVER MORE AND FAR BEYOND THE MOON & STARS !!!!
Joanna Kopf
What a truly awesome guy Bobby Darin was!
Janet Wilhelm
You said it all, Edith.