CRITICAL KARAOKE

Bill Withers "Lean On Me"

I’ve heard “Lean On Me” thousands of times in almost nineteen years, and I’ve always loved the song. Several artists have recorded it, but the first—and my favorite—was Bill Withers. From his sophomore album “Still Bill,” released under the Sussex record label in 1972, “Lean On Me” was one of his greatest hits, and was arguably one of the greatest songs of the last fifty years.
As a song about friendship, it’s right there at the top, along with songs like “You’ve Got a Friend” by James Taylor, “If I Had Only One Friend Left” by Dan Seals, and “I’ll Stand By You” by the Proclaimers. Friendship has always been one of the most important things in my life, so I value this song for that reason.
“Lean on me, when you’re not strong, and I’ll be your friend; I’ll help you carry on.”
Almost every one of my memories of hearing this song involves my friends; I heard it hundreds of times at 4H camp as a kid, and before my best friend left for college, she burned me a CD so that I could listen to it and remember our friendship. The lyrics, though they have a message, aren’t preachy, and the melody is ridiculously easy to play on the piano. Because the song is so simplistic, it’s easy to learn the words, and to remember the tune. Most of all, the sentiment expressed in the song feels genuine, and not contrived like much of today’s pop music.
“Lean On Me” is easy listening; there really isn’t a situation where this song couldn’t be appropriate. It’s mellow, so it’s good to listen to when you’re stressed. But at the same time, it reminds you that there’s someone out there who’ll take care of you when you’re down, and gives you some form of reassurance that you can rely on your friends to help you. During hard times, I’ve printed out copies of the lyrics and pasted them to my walls, because every time I think about this song, it lightens my mood and reminds me that I have friends and family who care about me.
“When you’re not strong, I’ll be your friend; I’ll help you carry on.” It’s not selfish comfort being offered here. The song practically demands that you reciprocate the support given to you, because we all need somebody to lean on.
This is the greatest song ever because it’s not a song that you’ll have to be ashamed to admit liking later. If you were a Britney Spears or *NSYNC fan, it’s hard to get any sort of respect from your peers when you admit that you still listen to their hits. However, there’s very little stigma attached to being a fan of soul music from the 1970’s. This is also a song that ages well; if you liked it when you were five, you can still like it at thirteen, and nineteen, and fifty, if you’re so inclined. You don’t stop having friends or troubles as you age; this song helps keep the big and little joys and pains in perspective.
“I’m right up the road; I’ll share your load if you just call me.” No man is an island, and we really aren’t alone. If we’re suffering now, someone else has suffered before, and support is out there, even if it’s just in the form of a simple song with this profound message:
…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. 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.…I just might have a problem that you’d understand; we all need somebody to lean on.

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 things you need to borrow
For no one can fill those of your needs
That you don't let show

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

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

So 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'd 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
'Till I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on

Lean on me