Let’s face it, Lean On Me is a true classic that has stood the test of time. One of his biggest hits, Bill Withers released the song in 1972 on the Still Bill album, and in July of that year it reached number one on the Billboard charts.
The song has been covered by countless artists and shares another distinction as it is only one of nine songs that ever reached number one with covers performed by two different artists. (Club Nouveau released a version in 1987 that reached number one for both Dance and R&B.)
So what makes this song great? Besides the catchy melody, the bottom line is that the lyrics manage to speak to everyone. Bill Withers is a great songwriter and probably the best way to describe his talent is with what Sting once said about the way he writes his songs: “The hardest thing in songwriting is being simple but profound. And Bill seemed to understand, intrinsically and instinctively how to do it. ” The lyrics speak of friendship. The fundamental idea that when a friend is not doing so well in life, a true friend will always be there to keep them willing and strong.
Where did Withers find inspiration for this song? When asked a general question about song inspiration (as reported in a 2010 UK Telegraph interview), he replied: “If I knew how to explain songwriting, I would write a best-selling book. If that’s what you do, that’s what you are. ” You are that.
For this song specifically, it has been said that the idea came to him while playing a Wurlitzer electric piano. He liked how the phrase “Lean on me” sounded as he played the melody and wondered “how do I come to this as a conclusion to a statement? What could he say that would make me say lean on me?”
Musically, the chords reminded him of hymns he heard in church growing up. Withers’s childhood was spent in the coal-mining town of Slab Fork, West Virginia. He wrote Lean On Me after moving to Los Angeles and discovering that he missed the strong community ethic of his old city, where friends helped each other.
Hopefully, this article helped give insight into the mind of this wonderful composer. Click this link to see the lyrics to Lean On Me along with some additional videos and articles on this timeless song.
