Lean On Me Lyrics - Bill Withers
Lean On Me Lyrics
This great song written by Bill Withers hit number one on both the soul singles and Billboard Hot 100. It is ranked number 205 on the Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
The lyrics are listed below along with some fun facts about the song and songwriter.
Lean On Me Lyrics
Songwriter: Bill Withers
Sometimes in our lives
We all have pain
We all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there's always tommorow
Lean on me, when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on
Please swallow your pride
If I have things you need to borrow
For no one can fill those of your needs
That you won't let show
You just call on me brother, when you need a hand (Chorus)
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you'd understand
We all need somebody to lean on
Second Verse
Lean on me, when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on
You just call on me brother, when you need a hand (Chorus)
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you'd understand
We all need somebody to lean on
If there is a load you need to bear
That you can't carry
I'm right up the road
I'll share your load
If you just call me
Call me (if you need a friend)
Call me (Call me)
Call me (if you need a friend)
Call me (if you ever need a friend)
Call me (Call me)
Call me
Call me (if you need a friend)
Lean On Me Lyrics © Interior Music Corp
Here's a You Tube version which includes the lyrics.
An amazing amount of cover versions have been recorded of this song. This is one of only nine songs
to have scored #1 with versions recorded by two different artists.
Club Nouveau, an R&B group covered the song in 1987 and brought it to the #1 spot for both R&B and Dance.
The Club Nouveau version remained at number one for three weeks.
Here's the Club Nouveau version of the song.
In addition to Club Nouveau, scores of other bands have covered Lean On Me.
Artists such as Mud in 1976, Al Jarreau (1985), The Winans (1989), DC Talk (1992), Michael Bolton (1994), Bonnie Tyler (1999), Anne Murray (1999) and 2-4 Family (1999) all recorded versions of this song.
Kid Rock, Sheryl Crow and Keith Urban performed an awesome version at the 2010 Hope For Haiti Now Telethon. Here's a clip of the performance.
Facts about Bill Withers
Bill Withers, born July 4, 1938 is a singer-songwriter who performed and recorded between 1970 and 1985. His biggest hits include "Lean On Me", "Use Me", "Lovely Day", "Ain't No Sunshine", "Just the Two of Us", and "Grandma's Hands".
In early 1970, Withers' was first signed to Sussex Records, and his first album "Just as I Am" released in 1971 was successful with the release of tracks "Ain't No Sunshine" and "Grandma's Hands" as singles.
His earliest touring band consisted of the former members of the "Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band" with guitarist Benorce Blackmon, keyboardist Ray Jackson, drummer James Gadson, and bass player Melvin Dunlap.
Withers won a Grammy Award for Best Rhythm and Blues Song for "Ain't No Sunshine" at the 14th annual Grammy Awards (1972). The track went gold selling over one million copies in 1971.
Withers' second gold disc was awarded in 1972 for "Lean On Me" on the Still Bill album. Over three million copies of the song were sold and the track went to number one the week of July 8th, 1972.
Withers signed with Columbia Records in 1975 and released the track "She's So Lonely" which was included in the movie soundtrack for "Looking for Mr. Goodbar". In 1985 Withers' released "Watching You, Watching Me" which included the track "Oh Yeah" which became a Top 40 rated Rhythm & Blues hit. Withers ended his contract with Columbia records after this release.
In 2007, "Lean On Me" was added to the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Inspiration for "Lean On Me"
Bill Withers told Songfacts.com that the inspiration for the song came to him while playing a Wurlitzer electric piano. He liked the way the phrase Lean On Me sounded with the melody he was playing. He asked himself "How do I arrive at this as a conclusion to a statement?" What would I say that would cause me to say Lean on Me?" The sounds of the chords reminded Withers of the hymns that he heard at church while he was growing up.
In the liner notes of his "Best of Bill Withers" CD (2000), Withers describes his music: "We all have different rhythms and rhymes. Mine might be slower than one man's and faster than another's. All I know for sure is this: When I'm writing, I'm a conduit. A larger spirit is moving through me. All I can do is be open when that spirit starts to move."
From All Media Guide an BN.com: "Withers wrote "Lean On Me" based on his experiences growing up in a West Virginia coal mining town. Times were hard and when a neighbor needed something beyond their means, the rest of the community would chip in and help.
An interesting fact about the song: This often the first song children learn to play on the piano because they don't have to change fingers. You just put your fingers in on position and go up and down the keyboard.