This article revisits Mickey Gilley's 1980 recording of "Stand By Me", the only song of his lengthy country career to achieve success on both country and pop radio. Although Gilley was a consistent hitmaker at country radio across six decades and never chased crossover appeal, this cover of Ben E. King's 1961 classic reached the Top 5 on the Adult Contemporary chart, marking his highest placement on any chart outside country music.

Gilley's version featured on the soundtrack to the hit film Urban Cowboy, starring John Travolta and Debra Winger, alongside another of his tracks, "Here Comes The Hurt Again", with his band also contributing "Orange Blossom Special" and "Hoedown". The article also recounts the origins of "Stand By Me", which King co-wrote with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, inspired by a hymn by Charles Albert Tindley. Originally offered to King's group The Drifters, who passed on it, the song has since been recorded by numerous artists including Otis Redding, John Lennon and Tracy Chapman.