Bill Withers, Lean on Me | Throwback Thursday

Taking it back to 1972, we remember the iconic Bill Withers on Throwback Thursday (TBT) with his classic, “Lean on Me.” 

Throwback Thursday (TBT) looks back at songs that have truly captivated or stuck with me for whatever reason.  In some cases, there’s a compelling story or memorable happening behind the fan girling.  For the second TBT, we remember an iconic musician, Bill Withers, who passed away on Monday, March 30, 2020.  What better song to commemorate the legend than “Lean on Me.”

“Lean on me, when you’re not strong / And I’ll be your friend / I’ll help you carry on…” Certainly the most ubiquitous Bill Withers song, “Lean on Me” never seems to grow old.  I can remember selecting the thoughtfully penned song for my elementary music classes to sing, and the response was positive.  I say that to say that “Lean on Me” ranks among those rare, transcendent songs that bridges a number of different generations.  Why is it such a terrific song? It’s soulful, memorable, and honestly, relatively simple.

Sometimes, the simplest songs from a musical standpoint carry the most weight.  The harmonic progression isn’t the least bit complicated, yet it’s one of the most memorable and recognizable ones ever.  The minute that you hear those ascending chord changes, you connect it with “Lean on Me.” The lyrics, which are poetically written, are also simple, as they seem to hearken back to more innocent, selfless, and thoughtful times.  The aforementioned chorus is a prime example, thought the verses and bridge are also ripe in promoting brotherhood:

“Just call on me brother, when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you’ll understand
We all need somebody to lean on.”

Of course, the final reason why “Lean on Me” is epic is its all-around soulfulness.  First and foremost, Bill Withers was tailor-made to sing this. He delivers a smooth, easy-going performance that’s no less potent had he threw in ample vocal runs.  He’s coolly soulful you might say.  Furthermore, the production is equally stellar, led by the blend of acoustic and electric pianos, anchored by a robust bass line and drum groove, and accentuated by strings.  Yes, “Lean on Me” arrived back in ‘72, but it’s as relevant as ever in 2020, and should prove to be so for years to come.

Bill Withers • Still Bill • Columbia • 1972

Photo Credit: Columbia