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“We all need somebody to lean on”

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* RIP…


RIP: singer-songwriter #BillWithers, heart complications, 81. Stuttered as a child, left the world speechless with his plainspoken, heartfelt hits. Won Grammys for "Lean On Me", "Ain't No Sunshine" and "Just The Two Of Us". https://t.co/pDwYERdcrL

— Joshua Johnson (@jejohnson322) April 3, 2020

* Not that you’d want to, but you couldn’t get away from this song when it was released. And it seems to me to be a perfect anthem for these trying times

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

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Apr 3, 20 @ 9:46 am

Comments

  1. Love me some Bill Withers. Still holds the record in the US for longest note held on a top 40 song on “Lovely Day”.

    Comment by Intheknow Friday, Apr 3, 20 @ 9:51 am

  2. If you decide to redesign the website, I hope you can include a like button. There are time it would not be appropriate, but here it surely would be.

    Comment by Socially DIstant Watcher Friday, Apr 3, 20 @ 9:58 am

  3. After Lou Rawls, my all-time favorite singer.
    My friend got me a greatest hits cd about 20 years ago. I listened to it nonstop for about three months.
    The guy could sing an instruction manual and make it sound beautiful.

    Comment by Proud Papa Bear Friday, Apr 3, 20 @ 10:05 am

  4. “Lean on Me” became the theme song for the wounded warrior hunting and fishing events we put on - and agree a most apropos song for the times right now.
    The losses to us as a society as a whole just keep coming. Deep sigh.

    Comment by DownSouth Friday, Apr 3, 20 @ 10:05 am

  5. Ain’t no sunshine today, man.

    RIP Bill

    Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Friday, Apr 3, 20 @ 10:05 am

  6. Man does that make me sad. Bill Withers was awesome.

    Comment by JS Mill Friday, Apr 3, 20 @ 10:15 am

  7. Lovely Day was our first dance on our wedding day. Very sad.

    Comment by ChrisB Friday, Apr 3, 20 @ 10:23 am

  8. RIP Bill. One of my favs was Use Me. Still sing it today.

    Comment by Generic Drone Friday, Apr 3, 20 @ 10:42 am

  9. Unique, soothing voice…sorry to hear…

    Comment by Loop Lady Friday, Apr 3, 20 @ 10:48 am

  10. Lovely Day was the first dance at my daughters wedding almost three years ago. All of us boomers in attendance were touched that this young couple truly appreciated great music. It was a lovely day!
    RIP Bill.

    Comment by Because I said so.... Friday, Apr 3, 20 @ 10:49 am

  11. Lean On Me is a song to heal the soul. Praise for a life well lived and beautifully shared.

    Comment by Froganon Friday, Apr 3, 20 @ 10:57 am

  12. “Lean on me when you’re not strong”…was the beautiful philosophy of a beautiful man.

    Comment by Dotnonymous Friday, Apr 3, 20 @ 11:03 am

  13. Such sad news.

    Really great choice Rich, for me, this song walks that edge of having both sympathy and then still speaking to empathy.

    That voice? The ideal instrument for the message.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 3, 20 @ 11:06 am

  14. “Use Me” is one of my all time favorite songs. When he gets into that long slow jam with the guitar toward the end… Good stuff.

    Comment by phenom_Anon Friday, Apr 3, 20 @ 11:08 am

  15. That’s a big loss, loved Bill Withers.

    Comment by Boone's is Back Friday, Apr 3, 20 @ 11:44 am

  16. I highly recommend the 2009 documentary Still Bill.

    Comment by Rural Juror Friday, Apr 3, 20 @ 12:24 pm

  17. Grandma’s Hands is the song that has come to mind more than any over the past few weeks. Click the link on this post for a superlative version by the great Bill Withers.

    Comment by Rich Hill Friday, Apr 3, 20 @ 2:10 pm

  18. RIP Bill.

    BTW, on this day in 1981 Bill’s hit “Just the Two of Us,” with Grover Washington Jr. on sax, was #7 on the Billboard charts. On its way to peak at #2 the next month. I have always loved that song–in fact, it’s always been my favorite Bill Withers song:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Njwasr1OOuc

    https://top40weekly.com/1981/04/04/us-top-40-singles-week-ending-april-4-1981/

    Comment by Leatherneck Friday, Apr 3, 20 @ 2:15 pm

  19. Have all his ablums playing on a loop today. We all know the hits but Bill Withers had a lot of deep cuts too! The album +Justments highly underrated. The song YOU is why he is one, if not the most prolific American song writer ever. I said that line last week, and have for years. One of the best music videos ever….so much soul. Rest His Soul. Peace to all…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAncvyAk5Vw

    Comment by MuddFlapp Friday, Apr 3, 20 @ 2:50 pm

  20. “Lean on Me” came out about the time I was finishing up some advanced training at Fort Bragg — it became sort of an underground anthem for us. Have loved it ever since. Sad to know Bill Withers is gone.

    Comment by Flapdoodle Friday, Apr 3, 20 @ 4:04 pm

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