Lean on Me (song)

This article is about the Bill Withers song. For other songs, see Lean on Me.

"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 Stone's 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]

"Lean on Me"
Side A of the 1985 US Eric Records reissue
Single by Bill Withers
from the album Still Bill
B-side	"Better Off Dead"
Released	April 21, 1972 (1972-04-21)
Recorded	1972
Genre	Soul gospel^[1]
Length	4:17 (album version) 3:45 (single version)
Label	Sussex
Songwriter(s)	Bill Withers
Producer(s)	Bill Withers
Bill Withers singles chronology
"Grandma's Hands" (1971) "Lean on Me" (1972) "Use Me" (1972)
Audio
"Lean on Me" on YouTube

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.^[8]

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

• Bill Withers – Piano, vocals
• Benorce Blackmon – Guitar
• Raymond Jackson – Wurlitzer electric piano, string arrangement
• Melvin Dunlap – Bass
• James Gadson – Drums

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 100 1 US Billboard Hot Soul Singles 1 US Billboard Easy Listening 4 US Cash Box Top 100^[12] 1 Chart (2020) Peak position Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[13] 84

Year-end charts Chart (1972) Rank US Billboard Hot 100^[14] 7 US Cash Box^[15] 14

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[16]	Platinum	70,000^‡
United Kingdom (BPI)^[17]	Gold	400,000^‡
United States (RIAA)^[18]	Gold	1,000,000^^
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Club Nouveau version

"Lean on Me"
Single by Club Nouveau
from the album Life, Love & Pain
B-side	"Pump it Up (Reprise)"
Released	March 20, 1987
Recorded	1986
Genre	R&B soul funk go-go^[19] new jack swing^[19]
Length	6:01 (LP version) 3:58 (radio edit)
Label	Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)	Bill Withers
Producer(s)	Jay King
Club Nouveau singles chronology
"Situation #9" (1986) "Lean on Me" (1987) "Why You Treat Me So Bad" (1987)
Music video
"Lean on Me" on YouTube

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.^[20] It also reached number one on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart,^[20] 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.^[21]

The song ranked at number 94 in VH1's 100 Greatest One-hit Wonders of the 80s.^[22]

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

Weekly chart performance for Club Nouveau's cover

Chart (1987)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report) ^[23]	5
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[24]	22
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[25]	12
Canada Top Singles (RPM)	1
Ireland (IRMA)	5
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[26]	5
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[27]	4
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[28]	1
South Africa (Springbok) ^[29]	2
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[30]	7
UK Singles (OCC)	3
US Billboard Hot 100^[31]	1
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[32]	31
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)^[33]	1
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[34]	2
West Germany (Official German Charts)^[35]	9

Year-end charts

1987 year-end chart performance for Club Nouveau's cover

Chart (1987)	Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[36]	27
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[37]	4
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)^[38]	55
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[39]	7
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[40]	18
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[41]	3
UK Singles (OCC)^[42]	41
US Billboard Hot 100^[43]	29
US Crossover Singles (Billboard)^[44]	6
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[45]	39
West Germany (Official German Charts)^[46]	61

Certifications

Certifications and sales for Club Nouveau's cover

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)^[47]	Silver	250,000^^
United States (RIAA)^[48]	Gold	1,000,000^^
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

2-4 Family version

"Lean on Me (With the Family)"
Single by 2-4 Family
from the album Family Business
Released	January 30, 1999 (1999-01-30)
Recorded	1998
Genre	Hip hop
Length	3:38 (radio version)
Label	Epic
Songwriter(s)	Bill Withers
Producer(s)	Alex Trime, Sven "Delgado" Jordan
2-4 Family singles chronology
"Stay" (1998) "Lean on Me (With the Family)" (1999) "Take Me Home" (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

Charts

Chart (1999)	Peak position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[49]	6
Germany (Official German Charts)^[50]	9
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[51]	7

Year-end charts

Chart (1999)	Position
Germany (Official German Charts) ^[52]	82

In popular culture

• The song is used in the ending scene of the Season 7 episode of The Simpsons titled "Radioactive Man".^[53]
• Mary J. Blige performed this song at the HBO We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial (January 18, 2009).^[54] The next day, a crowd spontaneously began singing the song in the Purple Tunnel of Doom under the National Mall as they waited to gain entrance to the inauguration ceremonies.^[55]
• On October 3, 2015, Hillary Clinton, during her presidential campaign, made a cameo appearance on Saturday Night Live in a comedy sketch alongside Kate McKinnon, who regularly parodied Clinton for the show. At the end of the sketch, the duo sang "Lean on Me" together.^[56]
• In the animated series Amphibia, the song plays at the climax of the first-season finale "Reunion".

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.^[57]
• 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.^[58] 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.^[59]
• In 2023, Japanese-American singer Ai performed the song live at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park during the 49th G7 summit.^[60][61] Her cover of "Lean on Me" later was included on her thirteenth studio album, Respect All.^[62]

References

1. Coleman, Mark; Evans, Ben (2004). "Bill Withers". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. p. 884. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 633.
3. Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1972
4. . Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 25, 2008. Retrieved November 22, 2007.
5. . Billboard. Archived from the original on December 28, 2012.
6. https://www.grammy.com/awards/hall-of-fame-award#l
7. . Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 1, 2007. Retrieved May 22, 2007.
8. "Songfacts Interview with Bill Withers". Songfacts.com. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
9. Thompson, Dave (2001). "Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band." Funk. San Francisco: Backbeat Books. pp. 203-206.
10. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 342. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
11. . Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on February 26, 2015. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
12. . tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on February 28, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
13. "Bill Withers – Lean on Me". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
14. . www.musicoutfitters.com. Archived from the original on April 27, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
15. . tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on September 28, 2018. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
16. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2020 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
17. "British single certifications – Bill Withers – Lean on Me". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
18. "American single certifications – Bill Withers – Lean on Me". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
19. Breihan, Tom (February 8, 2021). "The Number Ones: Club Nouveau's "Lean On Me". Stereogum. Retrieved October 3, 2023. Ultimately, go-go deserves better than Club Nouveau's version of "Lean On Me." New jack swing deserves better, too.
20. "Artist Chart History - Club Nouveau". Billboard Music Charts. Retrieved June 6, 2009.
21. . Billwithers.com. pp. 8th Paragraph, Last Sentence. Archived from the original on August 29, 2011. Retrieved June 6, 2009.
22. "VH1's 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the '80s: Do You Agree?". EW.com. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
23. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St. Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 67. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. the Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid 1983 and June 19, 1988.
24. "Club Nouveau – Lean on Me" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
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26. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 22, 1987" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
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29. "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved September 2, 2018.
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31. "Club Nouveau Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
32. "Club Nouveau Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
33. "Club Nouveau Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
34. "Club Nouveau Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
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37. . RPM. Vol. 47, no. 12. Library and Archives Canada. December 26, 1987. Archived from the original on October 5, 2013. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
38. "European Charts of the Year 1987 > Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 51/52. December 26, 1987. p. 34. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
39. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1987". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
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41. "END OF YEAR CHARTS 1987". Official New Zealand Music Chart. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
42. "Gallup Year End Charts 1987: Singles" (PDF). Record Mirror. January 23, 1988. p. 36. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
43. "1987 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 99, no. 52. December 26, 1987.
44. "1987 The Year in Music & Video: Top Hot Crossover Singles". Billboard. Vol. 99, no. 52. December 26, 1987. p. Y-27. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
45. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1987". Billboard. January 2, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
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49. "2-4 Family – Lean on Me (With the Family)" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
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51. "2-4 Family – Lean on Me (With the Family)". Swiss Singles Chart.
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53. Martyn, Warren; Wood, Adrian (2000). "Radioactive Man". BBC. Retrieved February 27, 2007.
54. Anderson, Erica; Kaufman, Gil. "Live from the "We Are One" Inaugural Concert". MTV News. pp. Entry titled: "Gil, 2:52 p.m.". Retrieved June 6, 2009.
55. "Cursed Purple Tickets (or, how I worked for two years to get Obama elected and then couldn't view the Inauguration)". Barackoblogger.com. January 20, 2009. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved June 19, 2010.
56. Sederholm, Jillian; Alba, Monica (October 4, 2015). "Hillary Clinton tends bar, impersonates Trump in 'SNL' cameo". NBC News. from the original on October 5, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
57. "Lean on Me: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack". Amazon. 1989. Retrieved June 6, 2009.
58. Claire Shaffer, "Justin Bieber, Geddy Lee and More Sing ‘Lean on Me’ in Bill Withers Tribute". Rolling Stone, April 27, 2020.
59. Kennedy, John R. (April 26, 2020). "Canadian Artists Join Voices For 'Lean On Me'". Iheartradio.ca. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
60. "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]. BARKS (in Japanese). May 21, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
61. "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]. Oricon. May 21, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
62. "【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"]. Barks (in Japanese). August 23, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2023.

External links

• "Lean On Me" at the 2015 Induction Ceremony on YouTube