Cassius Clay, Jhon Lennon, Led Zeppeling, Otis Redding, U2, Marvin Gaye, Tracy Chapman, Sting, Seal e incluso Lady Gaga... Todo un mundo de voces sobradamente conocidas ha interpretado en alguna ocasión este Stand by me que Ben E. King estuvo a punto de no grabar...
Se trata de una adaptación de un tema gospel del 75 que interpretaban entonces The Staples Singers y al que dieron traje de soul Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber y Mark Stoller.
King no escribió el tema para sí mismo pero, por avatares del destino o la casualidad, la canción estaba compuesta y sin dueño el día que su productor le pidió algún tema nuevo; se grabó pocos días después de aquella afortunada petición.
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
All the mountains 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
So 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, oh won't you stand now, stand
Stand by me
Stand by me