Stand By Me – English Lyrics

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

Lyrics & Translation

Ben E. King's 'Stand By Me' is a monumental song that transcends generations and cultures, making it an excellent choice for language learners. Its clear, heartfelt lyrics and soulful delivery offer a relatable narrative of loyalty and support that is easy to follow. You can learn universal expressions of reassurance and commitment, and its simple yet powerful structure makes it memorable. Dive into this iconic track to experience the beauty of English words conveying deep human connection, and discover why it remains a global anthem of hope and unity.

[English]

When the night has come

And the land is dark

And the moon is the only light we'll see

And I, I won't be afraid

I won't be afraid

Just as long as you stand

Stand by me

And 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

And, darling, I won't cry, I won't cry

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, stand by me

Stand by me, my, my, my, my, my

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

So darling, darling

Stand by me, oh, stand by me

Oh, stand, 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, stand by me?

Stand by me

So darling, darling

Stand by me, oh, stand by me

Oh, stand, stand by me

Stand by me

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

Oh, stand by me

Oh, stand, stand by me

Stand by me

Thank you very much

Tony, ladies and gentlemen

Hvala

...

Key Vocabulary

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

Key Grammar Structures

• When the night has come

  ➔ Present Perfect Tense ('has come')

  ➔ The present perfect tense expresses an action that started in the past and continues to have relevance in the present. Here, it indicates the night has arrived and its effects are being felt now.

• And the land is dark

  ➔ Simple Present Tense ('is dark')

  ➔ Describes a current state or a general truth. Here, it describes the characteristic of the land at night.

• the moon is the only light we'll see

  ➔ Future Tense ('we'll see') using 'will'

  ➔ 'will' indicates a future action or event. In this case, it expresses what they anticipate seeing in the future.

• Just as long as you stand by me

  ➔ Subordinating conjunction 'as long as' introducing a conditional clause.

  ➔ 'As long as' introduces a condition that must be met for something else to happen or be true. The singer is stating they will not be afraid given the condition that the other person supports them.

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

  ➔ Subjunctive mood ('should tumble and fall') in an 'if' clause.

  ➔ The subjunctive mood is used to express hypothetical or unlikely situations. Using 'should' in the 'if' clause emphasizes the hypothetical nature of the event, making it less likely.

• I won't shed a tear

  ➔ Future Tense ('won't shed') using 'will not' (contraction).

  ➔ 'won't' (will not) indicates a future action that will not happen. Here, it expresses a determination not to cry.

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

  ➔ Tag question ('won't you?')

  ➔ A tag question is a short question added to the end of a statement, often to seek confirmation or agreement. 'Won't you?' is used when the statement is affirmative, expecting an affirmative response.