‘Stand by Me’

A Reason To Smile

The song “Stand by Me” by Ben E. King was a huge hit when it was released in 1961. It found a second life in the late 1980s when it appeared on the soundtrack of “Stand by Me,” a film directed by Rob Reiner. Twenty-six years after the song was released, it topped the charts for a second time. And 39 years later, it is our reason to smile.

King, a rhythm and blues singer-songwriter, was the lead singer of The Drifters, one of the most prolific hit-makers in the early days of popular music. Their songs included, “Under the Boardwalk,” “Save the Last Dance for Me,” and “Up on the Roof.” But not “Stand by Me.” King recorded and released it as a solo hit after the Drifters passed on it.

The song isn’t just popular at weddings and graduation parties. It is numbered among the Recording Industry Association of America’s 25 Songs of the Century. The original recording was inducted into the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress, which called it “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” There are 400 known recordings of the song by a diverse set of singers from John Lennon to Tracy Chapman. Even Muhammad Ali recorded a version for the B-side of 45 he released.

The song is so beloved because its lyrics convey a comforting message of friendship and support. The melody is timeless and its iconic rhythmic bass line is instantly recognizable.

It may not surprise you that the song’s simple lyrics have biblical origins. “Stand by Me” was inspired by a gospel hymn of the same name, which in turn was based on Psalm 46: “Therefore, will not we fear, though the Earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.”

The song reminds us all of the importance of finding strength in others during hard times, that we are all in this together.

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Stay Steady,

Dan