Stand by Me Lyrics Ben E. King

January 1, 2025

Stand by Me is that rare kind of song that’s as much a friendship anthem as a love tune. Originally released in 1961, the Ben E. King hit urges whoever’s lucky enough to be your partner to stick with you through thick and thin. Its opening lines.

“When the night has come/And the land is dark” paired with its unforgettable chorus make for a power ballad type of single that’ll resonate for generations on end. Think about how often it gets invoked in pop culture! It was already famous well before appearing on the 1986 soundtrack and again sealing its immortality movie.

Stand by Me Lyrics by Ben E. King

Category	Details
Song Title	Stand by Me
Artist	Ben E. King
Release Date	1961
Lyricists	Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller
Composer	Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller
Genre	R&B, Soul
Language	English
Theme	Love, Loyalty, Support, Unconditional Friendship
Music Style	Soulful Melody, Emotional Anthem
Notable Aspects	Timeless Appeal, Anthem for Hope and Solidarity, Iconic Chorus
Impact	No. 1 hit, Featured in Stand by Me movie, Widely Covered
Related Works	Featured in movies, TV shows, and various covers over decades

Stand by Me Lyrics by Ben E. King

Stand by Me Lyrics by Ben E. King

When the night
Has come
And the land is dark
And the moon
Is the only
Light we’ll see

No I won’t
Be afraid
No I won’t
Be afraid
Just as long
As you stand
Stand by me

So darlin’, darlin’
Stand by me
Oh stand by me
Oh stand
Stand by me
Stand by me

If the sky
That we look upon
Should tumble and fall
Or the mountains
Should crumble to the sea
I won’t cry
I won’t cry
No I won’t shed a tear
Just as long
As you stand
Stand by me

And darlin’, darlin’
Stand by me
Oh stand by me
Oh stand now
Stand by me
Stand by me

Whenever you’re in trouble, won’t you stand by me
Oh stand by me
Won’t you stand now
Oh stand