Stand By Me Lyrics—why The Music Industry Has Always Stood By Ben E. King

The “Stand By Me” lyrics are practically immortalized today, and not just thanks to the Rob Reiner movie of the same name. The song was originally released in 1961 and is forever associated with Ben E. King, though numerous other artists have covered the single. The song was written by Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber, and Mike Stoller.

The record was well received by the industry and went to #1 on the R&B charts and into the Top 10 on the U.S. Charts, first in 1961 and then upon a rerelease in 1986. Why 1986? Why of course, Rob Reiner’s “Stand By Me” film, an iconic 80s film that used the song as its main theme. The song also reached the #1 spot on the UK Singles Chart in 1987. In addition to the movie, and the timeless quality of the Stand By Me lyrics, the song was also featured on a wildly popular Levi jeans commercial.

You might think such a great song would be affiliated with an album right from the get-go. However, it wasn’t until 1963 that the song was actually included on an album, and that was Ben E. King's” Don't Play That Song.” Even in 2010, when a lot of the 1960s culture has been forgotten, Stand By Me continues to be a memorable melody with baby boomers and Generation Yers alike.

The song was ranked #122 on the 500 Greatest Songs sponsored by Rolling Stone. BMI called Stand By Me the fourth “most performed song of the 20th century.” How many times has Stand By Me been sung? (Not counting your own singing-in-the-shower moments?) On record, over seven million times! This should surprise no one, considering how many artists have covered the song and how many montages use Ben E. King’s work to convey feelings of warmth and inspiration.

The soulful Stand By Me lyrics are one of the reasons for the catchy song’s success. The verses tell the story of unconditional love, friendship and courage. The music itself is another reason why the song has continued to hold onto the public consciousness. The song uses a unique cord progression called the 50s progression. In fact, the song’s style was so innovative that the “Stand By Me changes” became a common expression used when discussing chord progression theory.

Why not download Stand By Me right now or watch it along with the movie of the same name? It is at once, a generational song and universal song that transcends culture.

By: Jayme Jones

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