Stand by Me – English Lyrics

• By: Ben E. King
• Album: 60s Greatest Hits

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the enduring beauty of Ben E. King's 'Stand by Me,' a soulful masterpiece that beautifully encapsulates the power of support and connection. Learning the lyrics of this iconic song offers a wonderful opportunity to grasp English phrases related to unwavering loyalty and emotional resilience. Its simple yet profound message, coupled with its memorable melody, makes it a special song for understanding heartfelt expression in English.

[English]

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

Oh, I won't be afraid

Just as long as you stand

Stand by me

So darling, darling

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 mountain 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 darling, darling

Stand by me

Oh, stand by me

Oh, stand now, stand by me

Stand by me

...

Darling, darling

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...

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
night /naɪt/ A1	noun - the period of darkness between sunset and sunrise
land /lænd/ A1	noun - the solid part of the Earth's surface
dark /dɑːrk/ A1	adjective - having little or no light
moon /muːn/ A1	noun - the natural satellite of the Earth
light /laɪt/ A1	noun - visible illumination
afraid /əˈfreɪd/ A2	adjective - feeling fear or anxiety
stand /stænd/ A1	verb - to be in an upright position on the feet
darling /ˈdɑːrlɪŋ/ B1	noun - a person loved dearly
sky /skaɪ/ A1	noun - the region of the atmosphere seen from Earth
look /lʊk/ A1	verb - to direct one's eyes toward something
tumble /ˈtʌmbl/ B2	verb - to fall or roll suddenly
fall /fɔːl/ A1	verb - to move downward, typically rapidly and freely
mountain /ˈmaʊntən/ A1	noun - a large natural elevation of the earth's surface
crumble /ˈkrʌmbəl/ B2	verb - to break or fall apart into small fragments
sea /siː/ A1	noun - a large body of salt water that covers most of the earth's surface
cry /kraɪ/ A1	verb - to produce tears from the eyes, often due to emotion
shed /ʃed/ B2	verb - to lose or discard (something) as a result of natural or abrupt processes
tear /tɪər/ A1	noun - a drop of clear liquid secreted by the eye
trouble /ˈtrʌbl/ A2	noun - difficulty or problems

Key Grammar Structures

• When the night has come

  ➔ Present Perfect Simple

  ➔ The verb "has come" shows an action that is completed at the moment of speaking.

• And the moon is the only light we'll see

  ➔ Future Simple with "will"

  ➔ "will see" expresses a prediction or certainty about a future event.

• No, I won't be afraid

  ➔ Negative Future with modal "will"

  ➔ "won't" is the contracted form of "will not", used to deny a future action or state.

• Just as long as you stand

  ➔ Concessive clause with "as long as"

  ➔ "as long as" introduces a condition that must be met for the main clause to hold true.

• If the sky that we look upon should tumble and fall

  ➔ Modal "should" in a subjunctive conditional

  ➔ "should" expresses a low‑probability or hypothetical situation in the future.

• Or the mountain should crumble to the sea

  ➔ Modal "should" for prediction or suggestion

  ➔ Here "should" indicates a possible future event, often used in literary or poetic style.

• I won't cry, I won't cry

  ➔ Parallel structure and repetition for emphasis

  ➔ The clause "I won't cry" is repeated, creating a parallel pattern that adds emotional weight.

• Whenever you're in trouble won't you stand by me

  ➔ Tag question with "won't you" for polite request

  ➔ "won't you" turns the statement into a polite invitation or request.

• Whenever you're in trouble

  ➔ Adverbial clause of time with "whenever"

  ➔ "whenever" introduces a condition that can occur at any time, linking it to the main clause.