Nothing you confess could make me love you less/
I’ll stand by you…

The Pretenders’ “I’ll Stand By You” is an emotional song. I love the thought of a bad-ass woman saying nothing you can say or do will make me love you less. What a song! When the song came out it had this weird quality: it seemed like it was a cover of a song I had heard before. It seemed like it belonged in another era- not 1994.

It was instant classic. In fact, I assumed it was a cover for many years. I can’t remember having this feeling many times in my life. Perhaps you’ve felt the same before? Like, how could this not have been written before? “Timelessness”.

The highlight of the song is the lyrics and Chrissie Hynde’s unique delivery of the vocal. If you can feel love in someone’s voice, this is something close to what it sounds like. She sounds so sure of herself, yet her voice wobbles a bit: perhaps at the intensity of the words she is expressing. That’s what I like to think.

This song takes quite a journey—musically—from the beginning to the end of the song. In the beginning it is a tender love song. At the end it has become a full-out rock jam (listen to the drums). The background singing and lead guitar are especially worth noting.

I’ll Stand By You Lyrics

Oh, why you look so sad, the tears are in your eyes,
Come on and come to me now, and don’t be ashamed to cry,
Let me see you through, ’cause I’ve seen the dark side too.
When the night falls on you, you don’t know what to do,
Nothing you confess could make me love you less,

I’ll stand by you,
I’ll stand by you, won’t let nobody hurt you,
I’ll stand by you

So if you’re mad, get mad, don’t hold it all inside,
Come on and talk to me now.
Hey there, what you got to hide?
I get angry too, well, I’m alive like you.
When you’re standing at the cross roads,
And don’t know which path to choose,
Let me come along, ’cause even if you’re wrong

I’ll stand by you,
I’ll stand by you, won’t let nobody hurt you,
I’ll stand by you.
Baby, even to your darkest hour, and I’ll never desert you,
I’ll stand by you.
And when, when the night falls on you baby,
You’re feeling all a lone, you’re wandering on your own,
I’ll stand by you.

I’ll stand by you, won’t let nobody hurt you,
I’ll stand by you, baby even to your darkest hour,
And I’ll never desert you,
I’ll stand by you,

I’ll stand by you.
I’ll stand by you, won’t let nobody hurt you,
I’ll stand by you, baby even to your darkest hour,
And I’ll never desert you
I’ll stand by you

Songwriters: Thomas Kelly / Christine Hynde / Billy Steinberg