About the song
Stand By Me is a song written by Ben E. King and Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. It was first recorded by King in 1961 and released as a single. The song reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States and number one on the UK Singles Chart. It has been covered by many artists, including John Lennon, Otis Redding, and Florence + The Machine.
The song is a soul ballad about the power of friendship and love. The singer tells his friend that he will always be there for him, no matter what. He promises to stand by him through thick and thin, and to never let him down.
The song’s lyrics are simple but powerful. They speak to the universal human need for connection and support. The melody is also catchy and easy to sing along to.
“Stand By Me” is a classic song that has stood the test of time. It is a song that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a song about friendship, love, and the power of music.
Ben E. King was an American singer-songwriter. He was born Benjamin Earl Nelson in Henderson, North Carolina, in 1938. King began his singing career in the early 1950s as a member of the doo-wop group The Five Crowns. He left the group in 1958 to pursue a solo career.
King’s first solo single, “Spanish Harlem”, was a hit in 1960. The following year, he released “Stand By Me”, which became his biggest hit. The song was a critical and commercial success, and it has since become one of the most popular and enduring songs of all time.
King continued to record and release music throughout the 1960s and 1970s. He had several more hits, including “Don’t Play That Song (You Lied)”, “I (Who Have Nothing)”, and “Supernatural Thing”. He also toured extensively during this period.
In the 1980s, King’s career slowed down somewhat. However, he continued to record and perform, and he released several albums, including “Don’t Give Up on Love” (1981) and “What’s the Use of Breaking Up” (1983).
King was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. He continued to perform until his death in 2015 at the age of 76.
“Stand By Me” is a beautiful and timeless song that has been enjoyed by generations of music lovers. It is a song that will continue to be sung and played for many years to come.
Here are some additional details about the song and its impact:
- The song was inspired by a spiritual called “Stand by Me Father”.
- It has been used in numerous films and television shows, including “The Body” (1986), “Stand By Me” (1986), and “The Shawshank Redemption” (1994).
- It was voted the number one song of all time by Rolling Stone magazine in 2004.
- The song has been covered by hundreds of artists, including John Lennon, Otis Redding, and Florence + The Machine.
“Stand By Me” is a classic song that has stood the test of time. It is a song that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a song about friendship, love, and the power of music.