Stand By You by Rachel Platten

Album: Wildfire (2015)

Charted: 37

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Rachel Platten followed up her breakthrough hit "Fight Song" with this similarly themed song, but this time she's reaching out to her fellow underdog:

Even if we can't find heaven, I'll walk through Hell with you.
Love, you're not alone, cause I'm gonna stand by you

Platten is promising to be there for a loved one through the good and the bad.
Platten wrote the track with fun.'s Jack Antonoff, Joy Williams (formerly of The Civil Wars), and Matt Morris (Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson), who is Williams' songwriting partner.
The song also served as the opening track of Rachel Platten's Wildfire album. She commented: "I love that the first line of the song is 'Hands, put your empty hands in mine.' I think that's at the core of who I am as an artist. Put your empty hands in mine, let me help you, let me guide you, let me show you and empower you and help you find your own voice and help you find your own strength... It felt like the perfect words to start the album with."

Comments: 3

Marc Sandy Block from CtRachel's "Stand by You" touches a chord. A relationship we all want but that most never know, as giver or receiver. The song is about one person supporting another even if the times are hell, and even if the other is having trouble flying or seeing or standing. The supporter is there but, interestingly, asks for nothing in return. No reciprocity. The supporter is not there for better or worse. He or she senses there might NOT be Heaven here (the better), but will walk through Hell with the other (for the worse). There is no concern for himself or herself but only for the other. In this era of widespread selfishness and self-centeredness and dishonor and dishonesty [heck we had a president divorced twice and a poster child for one-way loyalty (from others) and cultish control of a rudderless party] the song swims upstream. Many hear it and hope it, but won't experience it. It's a song of a lover, a parent, a patriot who values another more than him/herself and is there to go through the loss, the hurt, and the destruction until the other recovers. They'll go through it together. They'll share and overcome the burdens. "Tears make kaleidoscopes in your eyes" is so positive, like drops of sadness becoming beautiful changing images. The message, music, and manner fit together so nicely in this song, to drill through the heart to the head. The puzzle here, for the sake of stereotyping and offending, is that I think many guys can muster the loyalty while many gals can muster the love depicted in the song. "I'll be There" by Jess Glynne is along the same line but the song here by Joy Williams, Jack A, Matt Morris, and Rachel reaches a rare level of empathy and potency that holds a special place (in my opinion).
Rachel Platten Fan from UsaDear Rachel Platten,
If you are reading this then I want to encourage you not to give in to all the haters who say your songs are trash. There are tons of people out there, including me, who love you and your songs. Please do not ever give up and please keep writing more songs to encourage people like me. I just wanted to give you a shout out because I love you and I think what you do is really great. Thanks for always being there. I love you so much.
Sincerely, Your #1 fan
Lily from UsaI love Rachel Platten's 'Stand by You' song so much.

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