Tag: Ray Jackson

I played this single so much when I was around 7 years old. I wore it out and know every nuance of this song. Just a great vocal by Withers on this. The simple piano riff makes this song so powerful to me. Still one of my favorite songs. Sometimes less is better. 

It’s been covered by many other artists, but this is my go-to version. Bill Withers wrote this song after he left his childhood town of Slab Fork, West Virginia, to live in Los Angeles in a poor section of town. Members of the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band were used on the recording.

Producer Ray Jackson (who doubled as the keyboard player) and engineer Bob Potter kept the recording dry and uncluttered. No strings, no brass, no unnecessary sweetening. Just voice, piano, bass, drums, and a touch of guitar. It’s like Bill is in your living room singing to you.

What’s remarkable is how this song has transcended its era. It’s been sung at weddings, funerals, movies, and classrooms. It’s part of the American pop culture now, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with songs such as Amazing Grace and This Land Is Your Land.

The musicians on this recording were Ray Jackson, Benorce Blackmon, Melvin Dunlap, and James Gadson. Some of these musicians were in The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band. The song peaked at #1 on the Billboard 100, #18 in the UK, and #20 in Canada in 1972. 

Bill Withers: “This was my second album, so I could afford to buy myself a little Wurlitzer electric piano. So I bought a little piano and I was sitting there just running my fingers up and down the piano. In the course of doing the music, that phrase crossed my mind, so then you go back and say, ‘OK, I like the way that phrase, Lean On Me, sounds with this song.’ So you go back and say, ‘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?’ At that point, it’s between you and your actual feelings, you and your morals and what you’re really like. You probably do more thinking about it after it’s done.”

Lean On Me

Sometimes in our lives we all have pain 
We all have sorrow 
But if we are wise 
We know that there’s always tomorrow 

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 faith 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 
We all need somebody to lean on 
I just might have a problem that you’ll understand 
We all need somebody to lean on 

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 
We all need somebody to lean on 
I just might have a problem that you’ll understand 
We all need somebody to lean on 

If there is a load you have 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 uh huh(call me) if you need a friend (call me)
If you ever need a friend (call me)
Call me (call me) call me (call me) call me 
(Call me) call me (call me) if you need a friend
(Call me) call me (call me) call me (call me) call me (call me) call me (call me)