Doesn't exactly fit here but, Was the song "stand by me" a christian theme?

Taylor614ce · #1 03-28-2009, 07:37 PM

Hello, I have been preparing a line up for my open mic night and I have always loved the song "stand by me" by Ben E King.

I was curious if this song is in reference to the book of Revelation and Daniel, end times stuff?

Or am I just looking to much into it...

martind gibsona · #2 03-28-2009, 08:16 PM

Well, since the entire line in the song is, "Darlin' darlin', stand by me" ... I'd say the answer to your first question is no.

Don Smith
Raleigh, NC

Bob Womack · #3 03-29-2009, 05:20 AM

Though I recently saw it advertised on Ronny Milsap's "gospel" album, it has never had that connotation to me. Of course, the movie didn't do anything to help either.

Bob

Taylor614ce · #4 03-29-2009, 08:21 AM

Well it just seems it must have been influenced by the bible.

I mean doesn't this sound familiar to anyone,

" 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."

Personally I see this song as a love song, standing by at end time with the one you love and being perfectly content.
I guess it really doesn't matter what it is about as we all interpret and take different things from songs.

Thanks.

Brent Hutto · #5 03-29-2009, 09:08 AM

If that song was intended to have a religious theme it's awfully well disguised. It's a song about romantic love repeating a theme that's been used in songs and poems thousands of times over the centuries.

But that doesn't mean a given performance can't make it something entirely different...

jalbert · #6 03-29-2009, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brent Hutto

But that doesn't mean a given performance can't make it something entirely different...

Exactly. If you've ever seen Darrell Mansfield perform it live (about a 10-minute jam), he does put a "end-times" touch on it, replacing the word "darling" with "Jesus". Quite electrifying, in my experience.

Philly5834 · #7 04-03-2009, 08:23 PM

Hi:
It was originally a hymn and you can find the lyrics. Just do a google search for Reverend Charles A. Tindley, a Methodist Philadelphia preacher who wrote the hymn many back in the twenties or thirties.

kydave · #8 04-03-2009, 08:45 PM

" Doesn't exactly fit here but, Was the song "stand by me" a christian theme? "

No way, Jose!

The song "Stand by Me" by the good Reverend is NOT the drifters song.

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/s/t/standbym.htm

I really like this Drifters song and would hate to have it messed up by thinking of Revelations in the same thought!

David Hilyard · #9 04-03-2009, 09:05 PM

I think it's a sweet love song, a professing one's love. It's a stretch to make it religious, I think.

http://www.jacquedee63.com/standbyme.html

jalbert · #10 04-18-2009, 07:12 PM

This was forwarded to me by a friend. I think you'll enjoy it.

Quote:

Below is a link to one of the best pieces of sound engineering work I think I have ever seen. It is a composite audio/video of the song, where additional tracks were laid in by different singers and musicians from different places around the world. The finished product is tremendous!

The song itself is that classic standard "Stand By Me" originally released in 1955 by The Staple Singers and released again in 1961 by Ben E. King who had been the lead singer for the Drifters. This composite version is a real toe tapper, so turn up the speakers

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2539741

henry b · #11 04-19-2009, 02:53 PM

Stand by Everybody.

franchelB · #12 04-19-2009, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taylor614ce

Hello...

I was curious if this song is in reference to the book of Revelation and Daniel, end times stuff?

Or am I just looking to much into it...

It's a good song with good uplifting lyrics. But anything with references to the bible is purely coincidental, IMO.
I think some people, myself included, tend to "make mountains out of a molehill".

flaggerphil · #13 04-20-2009, 01:25 AM

"Doesn't exactly fit here but, Was the song "stand by me" a christian theme?"

Hmm. I'd say...nope.

konavet · #14 04-20-2009, 01:27 AM

Not to be too picky, but "Stand By Me" was done by Ben E. King, who was with the Drifters prior to his solo career. He also co-wrote the song with Lieber and Stoller.

jimmorgan · #15 04-20-2009, 09:04 AM

"Stand by Me" = an awesome song, but not exactly Christian. You have to take into account that a huge portion of American Culture derives from some kind of response to Protestantism. Half of our cliches come from Christian themes in some form or another.

So I would say "Stand by Me" is about as Christian as the movie "Tombstone" is.

-Jim