Stand By Me
Kaiser/Mansfield/Howard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the moon is the only light you'll see
I won't be afraid, no I won't be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me
When the sky we look upon should tumble
Tumble and fall
And the mountains should rumble to the sea
No, I won't shed a tear
Just as long as you stand
Stand by me
Lord Jesus, stand by me
You stand by me yes stand now
Stand by me
You always been my doctor stand by me
My lawyer stand by me
In times of tribulation stand, yes
You stand by me
Whenever I'm in trouble
You just stand by me
Oh Lord, how you stand by me
Yes you stand Lord, stand by me
The song "Stand by Me" by Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber, and Mike Stoller was originally released in 1961, and since then has been covered by many artists, including the version by Kaiser/Mansfield/Howard. The song is a testament to the power of friendship and the comfort that we can find in others. The opening lyrics set the scene of a dark and scary night, but the singer declares that they won't be afraid as long as their friend is standing by their side. This shows the importance of having someone to rely on in tough times and the power of human connection to chase away fear.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "stand by me" and emphasizes the importance of having someone there for you, no matter what. The later verses bring in religious imagery, calling on Jesus to stand by the singer and be their doctor, lawyer, and support system in times of trouble. The song is an uplifting reminder that we are not alone in the world and that we can find comfort and strength in the connections we have with others.
Line by Line Meaning
When the night has come and the land is dark
In times of darkness and uncertainty, when things are unclear, and there is fear and doubt
And the moon is the only light you'll see
When everything else appears bleak, and hope is scarce
I won't be afraid, no I won't be afraid
Despite the fear and uncertainty, I will not succumb to it
Just as long as you stand, stand by me
As long as I have someone to rely on, to hold me up, and support me when things get tough
When the sky we look upon should tumble
When the things we once thought were certain begin to crumble before our very eyes
Tumble and fall
And all that used to be stable and secure becomes uncertain and shaky
And the mountains should rumble to the sea
Even when the greatest and most immovable of things - the mountains - disintegrate and dissolve
I won't cry
I won't break down and give up in the face of this chaos and confusion
No, I won't shed a tear
I won't let this get the best of me, or let it break me down
Just as long as you stand
I know that as long as I have someone standing next to me, who won't waver, who won't give in to fear or uncertainty, I can make it through anything
Lord Jesus, stand by me
No matter what happens, I can always turn to my faith to help me find my way
You stand by me yes stand now
Knowing that my faith will always be there to guide me, and provide me with the strength I need
You always been my doctor stand by me
God has always provided me with the healing I need, in times of illness or injury
My lawyer stand by me
God will always be there to protect me and defend me, in times of trouble or challenge
In times of tribulation stand, yes
Even in times of difficulty and challenge, when everything seems to be going wrong, God will always be there to help me persevere
You stand by me
God is always there, guiding me and supporting me, when I need it most
Whenever I'm in trouble
No matter how dire my circumstances may be, or how grave the challenge I face
You just stand by me
God will always be there for me, unwavering in His support and guidance
Oh Lord, how you stand by me
Reflecting on the unwavering support and love that God has shown me throughout my life, even in the toughest of times
Yes you stand Lord, stand by me
Affirming my belief that God will always be there for me, providing me with the strength and support I need to face any challenge.
Contributed by Julian L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.