Lean on Me (song) explained

Lean on Me
Type:single
Artist:Bill Withers
Album:Still Bill
B-Side:Better Off Dead
Recorded:1972
Genre:
Length:
  • 4:17 (album version)
  • (single version)
Label:Sussex
Producer:Bill Withers
Prev Title:Grandma's Hands
Prev Year:1971
Next Title:Use Me
Next Year:1972

"Lean on Me" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Bill Withers. It was released in April 1972 as the first single from his second album, Still Bill. It was a number one single on both the soul and Billboard Hot 100 charts, the latter chart for three weeks in July 1972.[2] Billboard ranked it as the No. 7 song of 1972.[3] It was ranked number 208 on Rolling Stones list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2010.[4] Numerous other versions have been recorded, and it is one of only nine songs to have reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with versions recorded by two different artists.[5] In 2007, the 1972 recording of the song by Bill Withers on Sussex Records was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.[6]

Background and writing

Bill Withers' childhood in the coal mining town of Slab Fork, West Virginia,[7] was the inspiration for "Lean on Me", which he wrote after he had moved to Los Angeles, and found himself missing the strong community ethic of his hometown. He had lived in a decrepit house in the poor section of his town.

Withers recalled to SongFacts the original inspiration for the song:

"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.'"[8]

Withers stated in the same interview that he made an effort to keep the lyrics simple.

Several members of the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band[9] were used for the recording session in 1972. A string section was also included.

Personnel

Track listings

7-inch single

  1. "Lean on Me" – 3:45
  2. "Better Off Dead" – 2:13

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1972)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[10] 24
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[11] 20
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)18
US Billboard Hot 1001
US Billboard Hot Soul Singles1
US Billboard Easy Listening4
US Cash Box Top 100[12] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (1972)Rank
US Billboard Hot 100[13] 7
US Cash Box[14] 14

Club Nouveau version

Lean on Me
Cover:LeanOnMeCN.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Club Nouveau
Album:Life, Love & Pain
B-Side:"Pump it Up (Reprise)"
Released:March 20, 1987
Recorded:1986
Genre:
Length:
  • (LP version)
  • (radio edit)
Label:Warner Bros.
Producer:Jay King
Prev Title:Situation #9
Prev Year:1986
Next Title:Why You Treat Me So Bad
Next Year:1987

The R&B group Club Nouveau covered the song with go-go beat and took it to number one, for two weeks, on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in March 1987.[17] It also reached number one on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, and number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, kept out of the top spot by Jody Watley's "Looking for a New Love". It won a Grammy Award in 1987 for Bill Withers, as the writer, for Best R&B Song.[18]

The song ranked at number 94 in VH1's 100 Greatest One-hit Wonders of the 80s (although Club Nouveau's follow-up single, "Why You Treat Me So Bad", would reach #39 on the Hot 100 in July 1987).[19]

Track listings

7-inch single

  1. "Lean on Me" – 3:58
  2. "Pump It Up (Lean on Me)" (reprise) – 2:38

12-inch single

  1. "Lean on Me" (remix)" – 7:42
  2. "Lean on Me" (LP version) – 5:56
  3. "Pump It Up (Lean on Me)" (remix) – 4:51
  4. "Pump It Up (Lean on Me)" (reprise – LP version) – 2:38

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1987)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [20] 5
Canada Top Singles (RPM)1
Ireland (IRMA)5
South Africa (Springbok) [21] 2
UK Singles (OCC)3
US Hot Black Singles (Billboard)[22] 2

Year-end charts

1987 year-end chart performance for Club Nouveau's cover!Chart (1987)!Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[23] 27
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[24] 4
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[25] 55
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[26] 7
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[27] 18
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[28] 3
UK Singles (OCC)[29] 41
US Billboard Hot 100[30] 29
US Crossover Singles (Billboard)[31] 6
US Hot Black Singles (Billboard)[32] 39
West Germany (Official German Charts)[33] 61

Certifications

2-4 Family version

Lean on Me (With the Family)
Cover:Leanonmewiththefamily.jpg
Type:single
Artist:2-4 Family
Album:Family Business
Recorded:1998
Genre:Hip hop
Length: (radio version)
Label:Epic
Producer:Alex Trime, Sven "Delgado" Jordan
Prev Title:Stay
Prev Year:1998
Next Title:Take Me Home
Next Year:1999

In 1999, 2-4 Family released "Lean on Me (With the Family)", a remake with a hip hop arrangement and additional lyrics. Epic Records published a 12-inch single and a CD maxi single in Germany.

In 2008, several years after the dissolution of 2-4 Family, founding band-member Mike Johnson performed the song with backing vocalists and dancers at the Eurovision Song Contest in Bulgaria.

Track listings

12-inch single

  1. "Lean on Me (With the Family)" (Special radio version) – 3:58
  2. "Lean on Me (With the Family)" (DSP mix) – 4:04
  3. "9 Lives" (Album Version) – 4:06
  4. "Stay" (Special Radio Version) – 4:12
  5. "Lean on Me (With the Family)" (Lounge mix) – 6:38
  6. "Stay" (Jay's D-Style Mix) – 4:15

CD maxi single

  1. "Lean on Me (With the Family)" (Radio version) – 3:38
  2. "Lean on Me (With the Family)" (DSP mix) – 4:04
  3. "Lean on Me (With the Family)" (Lounge mix) – 6:38
  4. "Lean on Me (With the Family)" (Special radio version) – 3:58
  5. "Stay" (Jay's D-Style mix) – 4:15
  6. "9 Lives" (Album version) – 4:06

Year-end charts

In popular culture

Notable cover versions

In 1989, remakes of "Lean on Me" by the Winans and Sandra Reaves-Phillips provided the emotional uplift for the film Lean on Me. For the same film, the song was adapted by Big Daddy Kane in "hip hop" form.[39]

For BBC Children in Need in 2016, 1,580 children in choirs sang the song in unison, live from nine towns across the UK.[40] The choirs started singing at the same time and on the telethon, starting in the studio it cut between the choirs giving them either one 20 second slot, or two 10 second slots on air before finishing in the studio. The choirs sang from: Elstree at Elstree Studios the studio just outside London where the main telethon was held,[40] Liverpool at Sefton Park,[40] Swansea from The Swansea University Bay Campus,[40] Bridlington at Bridlington Spa,[40] Dudley at the Black Country Living Museum,[40] Glasgow at BBC Pacific Quay,[40] Milton Keynes at Stadium MK,[40] Salisbury at Salisbury Arts Centre[40] and Belfast at Titanic[40]

In 2020, the song was recorded by an ad hoc supergroup of Canadian musicians credited as ArtistsCAN, both in tribute to Withers' recent death and to raise funds for the Canadian Red Cross during the COVID-19 pandemic.[41] Participating artists included Bryan Adams, Jann Arden, Justin Bieber, Michael Bublé, Fefe Dobson, Scott Helman, Shawn Hook, Avril Lavigne, Geddy Lee, Marie-Mai, Sarah McLachlan, Johnny Orlando, Josh Ramsay, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Tyler Shaw, Walk Off the Earth, Donovan Woods, and Olivia Lunny.[42]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Bill Withers. Coleman. Mark. Evans. Ben. . 2004 . . 4th . Brackett . Nathan . Hoard . Christian . 0-7432-0169-8 . 884.
  2. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Joel Whitburn . 2004 . Record Research . 633.
  3. [Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1972]
  4. The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time : Rolling Stone . . November 22, 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080625061023/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs/page/3 . June 25, 2008 .
  5. Cover Me: Same Songs to Hit No. 1 By Two Different Artists. Billboard. https://web.archive.org/web/20121228045014/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/specials/hot100/charts/cover-me.shtml. December 28, 2012.
  6. https://www.grammy.com/awards/hall-of-fame-award#l
  7. Lean on Me: Bill Withers : Rolling Stone . . May 22, 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071001175536/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/billwithers/articles/story/6596050/lean_on_me . October 1, 2007 .
  8. Web site: Songfacts Interview with Bill Withers . Songfacts.com . 2017-05-10.
  9. Thompson, Dave (2001). "Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band." Funk. San Francisco: Backbeat Books. pp. 203-206.
  10. Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated. Australian Chart Book. St Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. 0-646-11917-6. 342.
  11. Web site: Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada . Collectionscanada.gc.ca . October 7, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150226032423/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.7662&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=90ugs3f4f7ud02puqd6m8e23b3 . February 26, 2015 . dead .
  12. Web site: Cash Box Top 100 7/22/72. tropicalglen.com. March 21, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20170228163555/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19720722.html. February 28, 2017. dead.
  13. Web site: Top 100 Hits of 1972/Top 100 Songs of 1972. www.musicoutfitters.com. March 21, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20170427223218/http://musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1972.htm. April 27, 2017. dead.
  14. Web site: Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1972. tropicalglen.com. March 21, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180928150812/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/1972YESP.html. September 28, 2018. dead.
  15. Web site: Tom . Breihan . The Number Ones: Club Nouveau's "Lean On Me. . February 8, 2021. Ultimately, go-go deserves better than Club Nouveau’s version of “Lean On Me.” New jack swing deserves better, too.. October 3, 2023.
  16. Web site: Tom . Breihan . The Number Ones: Club Nouveau's "Lean On Me. . February 8, 2021. Ultimately, go-go deserves better than Club Nouveau’s version of “Lean On Me.” New jack swing deserves better, too.. October 3, 2023.
  17. Web site: [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=club nouveau|chart=all}} Artist Chart History - Club Nouveau]. Billboard Music Charts. June 6, 2009.
  18. Web site: Bill Withers Biography . Billwithers.com . 8th Paragraph;Last Sentence . June 6, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110829182422/http://www.billwithersmusic.com/htmlWork/bio1.html . August 29, 2011 .
  19. Web site: VH1's 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the '80s: Do You Agree?. EW.com. EN. 2020-05-07.
  20. Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book. St. Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. Illustrated. 67. 0-646-11917-6. N.B. the Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid 1983 and June 19, 1988.
  21. Web site: SA Charts 1965–March 1989. September 2, 2018.
  22. Club Nouveau Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs). Billboard. November 10, 2021.
  23. Web site: Australian Music Report No 701 – 28 December 1987 > National Top 100 Singles for 1987. Australian Music Report. Imgur. December 11, 2019.
  24. Top 100 Singles of '87 . 47 . 12 . 26 December 1987 . . . April 8, 2022 . October 5, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131005015555/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.0920&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=u9874ano8k0c5b6bkp4r8qrbp3.
  25. European Charts of the Year 1987 > Singles . . 4 . 51/52 . 34 . December 26, 1987 . April 8, 2022 .
  26. Web site: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1987. Dutch Top 40. November 10, 2021.
  27. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 1987. dutchcharts.nl. November 10, 2021.
  28. Web site: End of Year Charts 1987. Official New Zealand Music Chart. April 22, 2021.
  29. Gallup Year End Charts 1987: Singles. Record Mirror. 36. January 23, 1988. April 8, 2022.
  30. December 26, 1987 . 1987 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles . Billboard . 99 . 52 .
  31. 1987 The Year in Music & Video: Top Hot Crossover Singles . December 26, 1987 . Billboard . 99 . 52 . Y-27. April 8, 2022.
  32. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1987. Billboard. January 2, 2013. November 10, 2021.
  33. Web site: Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts. German. GfK Entertainment. offiziellecharts.de. November 10, 2021.
  34. Web site: Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts. de . . April 21, 2018.
  35. Web site: Radioactive Man . 2007-02-27 . Martyn, Warren . Wood, Adrian . 2000 . BBC.
  36. Web site: Live from the "We Are One" Inaugural Concert. https://web.archive.org/web/20090119075819/http://newsroom.mtv.com/2009/01/18/were-live-blogging-we-are-one-inaugural-concert/. dead. January 19, 2009. Gil. Kaufman. Erica. Anderson. MTV News. Entry titled: "Gil, 2:52 p.m.". June 6, 2009.
  37. Web site: Cursed Purple Tickets (or, how I worked for two years to get Obama elected and then couldn't view the Inauguration) . January 20, 2009 . Barackoblogger.com . June 19, 2010 . https://archive.today/20130117155332/http://www.barackoblogger.com/2009/01/cursed-purple-tickets-or-how-i-worked.html . January 17, 2013 . dead .
  38. News: Hillary Clinton tends bar, impersonates Trump in 'SNL' cameo . Sederholm . Jillian . Alba . Monica . October 4, 2015 . . November 24, 2019 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20151005033049/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/hillary-clinton/hillary-clinton-tends-bar-impersonates-trump-snl-cameo-n438191 . October 5, 2015.
  39. Web site: Lean on Me: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. Amazon. 1989. June 6, 2009.
  40. Web site: Newsroom. The. Milton Keynes pupils to perform live for bbc children in need.
  41. Claire Shaffer, "Justin Bieber, Geddy Lee and More Sing ‘Lean on Me’ in Bill Withers Tribute". Rolling Stone, April 27, 2020.
  42. Web site: Kennedy . John R. . April 26, 2020 . Canadian Artists Join Voices For 'Lean On Me' . 2021-01-06 . Iheartradio.ca . en-CA.
  43. Web site: 2023-05-21 . AI、G7広島サミット期間中の広島から＜Lasting Peace LIVE＞配信 . Ai Broadcasts Lasting Peace LIVE from Hiroshima During the G7 Hiroshima Summit . August 27, 2023 . BARKS . ja.
  44. Web site: May 21, 2023 . AI、広島から世界へ平和へ願い G7サミット開催地で「アルデバラン」など大合唱 . Ai prays for peace from Hiroshima to the world . August 27, 2023 . Oricon.
  45. Web site: Hiroshima Students Discuss Peace with the Spouses of G7 Leaders . 2023-12-01 . UNITAR . en.
  46. Web site: August 23, 2023 . 【インタビュー】AI、アルバム『RESPECT ALL』にあなたへ届けたいメッセージ「もっと分かり合えたら」 . (Interview) Ai wants to deliver a message on her album "Respect All" "If we could understand each other more" . August 27, 2023 . Barks . ja.

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