Stand By Me

• By: Ben E. King
• Album: Don't Play That Song!

Lyrics:

Vocabulary in this song:

Vocabulary	Meanings
night /naɪt/ A1	noun - the period of darkness between one day and the next
land /lænd/ A1	noun - the part of the earth's surface that is not permanently covered by water
dark /dɑːrk/ A1	adjective - with little or no light
moon /muːn/ A1	noun - the natural satellite of the earth
light /laɪt/ A1	noun - the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible
afraid /əˈfreɪd/ A2	adjective - feeling fear or anxiety; frightened
stand /stænd/ A1	verb - to be in or rise to an upright position, supported by one's feet
darling /ˈdɑːrlɪŋ/ A2	noun - a beloved person
sky /skaɪ/ A1	noun - the region of the atmosphere and outer space seen from the earth
look /lʊk/ A1	verb - to direct one's gaze toward someone or something or in a specified direction
tumble /ˈtʌmbəl/ B2	verb - fall suddenly, clumsily, or headlong
fall /fɔːl/ A1	verb - to move downward, typically rapidly and freely without control, from a higher to a lower level
mountain /ˈmaʊntən/ A1	noun - a large natural elevation of the earth's surface rising abruptly from the surrounding level
crumble /ˈkrʌmbəl/ B2	verb - break or fall apart into small fragments, especially as part of deterioration
sea /siː/ A1	noun - the expanse of salt water that covers most of the earth's surface and surrounds its landmasses
cry /kraɪ/ A1	verb - shed tears, typically as an expression of distress, pain, or sorrow
tear /tɪər/ A2	noun - a drop of clear salty liquid secreted from glands in the eye as a result of strong emotion
trouble /ˈtrʌbəl/ A2	noun - difficulty or problems

Grammar:

• When the night has come

  ➔ Present Perfect Tense

  ➔ The present perfect tense, "has come," indicates an action that started in the past and has relevance to the present. Here, it suggests that the night has arrived at the present moment.

• And the land is dark

  ➔ Simple Present Tense (descriptive)

  ➔ The simple present tense "is" is used to describe a state or condition. Here, it describes the land's current state as dark.

• I won't be afraid

  ➔ Future Simple Tense (using 'will')

  ➔ "won't" is a contraction of "will not," expressing a future intention or prediction. It indicates that the speaker is making a promise or declaration about their future state of not feeling fear.

• Just as long as you stand

  ➔ Subordinating Conjunction ('as long as')

  ➔ "As long as" introduces a condition upon which the main clause depends. The speaker's lack of fear is conditional upon the other person's standing by them.

• Stand by me

  ➔ Imperative Mood

  ➔ "Stand by me" is a direct command or request. The subject (you) is implied, and the verb is in its base form.

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

  ➔ Conditional Sentence (Type 1 or 2 variant using 'should')

  ➔ This is a conditional sentence using "should" to express a hypothetical or less probable situation. "Should tumble and fall" suggests a possible but unlikely event. It's a variation of the typical Type 1 or Type 2 conditional.

• Or the mountain should crumble to the sea

  ➔ Subjunctive mood (with 'should')

  ➔ The use of "should" before "crumble" indicates the subjunctive mood, expressing a hypothetical, unlikely, or imagined event. It emphasizes the unreal or improbable nature of the mountain collapsing into the sea.

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

  ➔ Future Simple with Interrogative and 'Whenever' Clause

  ➔ "Whenever you're in trouble" is an adverbial clause of time, indicating any time the condition is met. "Won't you stand by me?" is a question using the future simple tense in an interrogative form, implying a plea or expectation.