"Stand By Me"

This classic song by Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber, and Mark Stoller, became the anthem of the Playing for Change group. So here's the version that they created, with the help of musicians from nine countries (including Russia). See below for other versions and the words. It has been seen over 110 million times on the Playing for Change Web site, YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, and Myspace.


Stand By Me | Playing For Change | Song Around The World from Concord Music on Vimeo.

Ben E. King's original song (on YouTube).

Otis Redding's cover:


The words: (Ben E. King's version)

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 darlin', darlin', 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
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 darlin', darlin', stand by me, oh stand by me
Oh, stand, now stand by me, stand by me, stand by me

[instrumental]

Darlin', darlin', 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 stand now, oh, stand, stand by me
... [to fade]