Stand By My Woman – English Lyrics

• By: Lenny Kravitz
• Album: Blue Electric Light

Lyrics & Translation

Explore themes of love, regret, and commitment in Lenny Kravitz's "Stand By My Woman." This soulful ballad, with its blend of rock and gospel influences, offers a chance to reflect on relationship dynamics and the importance of emotional support. Discover how Kravitz uses heartfelt lyrics and a vulnerable vocal performance to convey a message of redemption and enduring love.

[English]

There were times I wasn't kind

And there were times I wasn't even around

And there were times I made you cry

So many times I had to say goodbye

When you want to talk

I'm on the phone

But now baby I am here for you alone

I'm gonna stand by my woman now

I'm gonna stand by my woman now

'Cause I can't live my life alone

Without a home

There were times I didn't understand

And there were times I wouldn't hold your hand

But baby now I'm here for you

'Cause baby I am so in love with you

I'm gonna stand by my woman now

I'm gonna stand by my woman now

'Cause I can't live my life alone

Without a home

I'm gonna stand by my woman now

I'm gonna stand by my woman now

'Cause I can't live my life alone

Without a home

I'm gonna stand (stand) by my woman now

I'm gonna stand by my woman now

'Cause I can't live my life alone

Without a home

Stand by my woman now

I'm gonna stand by my woman now

'Cause I can't live my life alone

Without a home

Without a home

Key Grammar Structures

• There were times I wasn't kind

  ➔ Past Simple Negative (wasn't)

  ➔ The verb "wasn't" is the past simple of "be" in the negative form, used to describe a past state that was not true.

• And there were times I made you cry

  ➔ Past Simple with a transitive verb (made)

  ➔ "made" is the past simple of the transitive verb "make" followed by an object "you" and a bare infinitive "cry".

• So many times I had to say goodbye

  ➔ Modal verb for past obligation (had to)

  ➔ "had to" is the past form of the modal "have to", expressing a necessity or obligation in the past.

• When you want to talk, I'm on the phone

  ➔ Zero conditional / present simple for habitual actions

  ➔ "When" introduces a zero conditional clause using the present simple "want" to talk, showing a regular situation; the main clause also uses present simple "am".

• But now baby I am here for you alone

  ➔ Present simple of "to be" with a prepositional phrase

  ➔ "I am here" uses the present simple of "be" to state a current location; "for you alone" is a prepositional phrase indicating purpose or dedication.

• I'm gonna stand by my woman now

  ➔ "Going to" future (colloquial "gonna")

  ➔ "gonna" is the informal contraction of "going to", used to talk about a planned future action: "I am going to stand" → "I'm gonna stand".

• Cause I can't live my life alone

  ➔ Modal verb for ability/possibility (can't)

  ➔ "can't" is the contraction of "cannot"; it is a modal verb expressing inability or impossibility: "I cannot live...".

• There were times I wouldn't hold your hand

  ➔ Conditional modal "wouldn't" (past habitual refusal)

  ➔ "wouldn't" is the negative form of "would" used here to describe a repeated refusal in the past: "I would not hold your hand".

• I'm so in love with you

  ➔ Intensifier "so" with an adjective phrase

  ➔ "so" intensifies the adjective "in love", expressing a high degree of feeling: "I am very much in love".