About the Song
Ben E. King’s 1959 single, “There Goes My Baby”, isn’t your typical love song. It’s a heart-wrenching tale of loss and longing, disguised as an uptempo, doo-wop infused ballad. The song marked a pivotal moment in King’s career, becoming his debut single as the lead singer of The Drifters, a group he joined after the original lineup departed.
The opening line, “Hey! Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me” immediately sets the stage for a fantastical encounter, though some argue it’s a playful misheard lyric. King pleads with a metaphorical figure, perhaps representing fate or heartbreak itself, to acknowledge his pain. “Wonder where she’s bound? What can I do, what can I do? Did she really love me?” These lyrics paint a picture of a love lost, leaving the narrator bewildered and heartbroken.
The driving rhythm section and catchy doo-wop harmonies belie the song’s melancholic core. King’s powerful vocals, laced with a touch of desperation, deliver the lyrics with a raw vulnerability. The repeated “There goes my baby” acts as a constant reminder of his loss, a refrain echoing the pain of a love that’s slipped away.
The true beauty of “There Goes My Baby” lies in its ambiguity. Is the narrator truly watching his lover walk away, or is it a metaphor for a lost dream or a fading relationship? The song offers no definitive answers, allowing listeners to project their own experiences and emotions onto the narrative. This quality has helped the song resonate with audiences for over six decades.
“There Goes My Baby” became a cornerstone of the early rock and roll era, influencing countless musicians with its innovative blend of soulful vocals and catchy melodies. The song remains a beloved classic, a testament to Ben E. King’s ability to convey raw emotion through powerful singing and evocative storytelling. So, the next time you hear the opening line, remember, it may not be a request for a joyous song, but a plea for solace in the face of heartbreak, a universally relatable sentiment that “There Goes My Baby” captures perfectly.
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Lyrics: “There Goes My Baby”
(Bo-bo) (doo-doot-doo-doo-doo-doo)
(There she goes) (doo-doot-doo-doo-doo-doo)
(There she goes) (doo-doot-doo-doo-doo-doo)
(Bo-bo) (doo-doot-doo-doo)
(Bo-bo) (doo-doo-doo-doo)There goes my baby
Movin’ on down the line
Wonder where, wonder where
Wonder where she is bound?I broke her heart
And made her cry
Now I’m alone, so all alone
What can I do, what can I do?(There goes my baby) Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh
(There goes my baby) Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
(There goes my baby) Whoa-oh-oh-oh
(There she goes) Yeah! (There she goes)I wanna know if she loved me
Did she really love me?
Was she just playing
Me for a fool?I wonder why she left me
Why did she leave me
So all alone
So all aloneI was gonna tell her that I loved her
And that I need her
Beside my side
To be my guideI wanna know where is my (doo-doot-doo-doo-doo-doo)
Where is my baby? (doo-doot-doo-doo-doo-doo)
I want my baby (doo-doot-doo-doo-doo-doo)
I need my babyYeah, whoa-oh-oh
(There goes my baby)
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh
(There goes my baby)
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh