Lean on Me may refer to:
"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 his first and only number one single on both the soul singles and the Billboard Hot 100.Billboard ranked it as the No. 7 song of 1972. It is ranked number 205 on Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Numerous cover versions have been recorded, and it is one of only nine songs to have reached No. 1 with versions recorded by two different artists.
Withers' childhood in the coal mining town of Slab Fork, West Virginia, 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 lived in a decrepit house in the poor section of town.
Withers recalled to Songfacts the original inspiration for the song:
Several members of the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band were used for the recording session in 1972. A string section was also included as well.
Lean on Me is an album by organist Shirley Scott recorded in 1972 and released on the Cadet label.
All compositions by Shirley Scott except as indicated
When the neon lights shine down,
and there's no one else around,
whatcha gonna do when the clock strikes two,
and all the freaks come out,
On the ave....
When the neon lights shine down,
and there's no one else around,
whatcha gonna do when the clock strikes two,
and all the freaks come out,
On the ave....
When you're on the ave...
Now I got a reason for breathin,
goodbye Hollywood and hello Cleveland.
I didn't tell my girl I was leavin,
packed my bags, jumped in the Lincoln.
Suicide doors more to the meaning,
Four on the floor, three on the tree and,
I'm doin' speed on the 405 freeway,
Officer give a white boy some leeway.
Downtown with the he-say she-say,
Dont mean nothin cause the he-she's cliche.
Downtown where your dreams just decay,
$40 for a ? $20 for a BJ
But uptown they play my CD's
Girls wanna fuck me, boys wanna be me.
Who's Mickey, she said, and smiled in a special way.
When the neon lights shine down,
and there's no one else around,
whatcha gonna do when the clock strikes two,
and all the freaks come out,
On the ave....
When you're on the ave...
Now I'm gonna keep on creepin'
Latchkey kids gettin' high all weekend.
Lookin past the hood of my Fleetwood,
Jesus on the dash and the king on the speaker.
You can find me in the back of the theater like
Pee Wee Herman, holdin my weiner.
I ain't seen her since the milk went bad
and I didn't mean to beat her is what I told her dad..
Round town it's a stone cold fact,
Avalon got a gun in his lap.
Round town you can hear the clap,
when I take the stage, and shake my ass.
Out of town you can feel the heat,
when my bus pulls up and steals your freaks.
Out of town you can feel the noise,
come on girls, rock your boys!
When the neon lights shine down,
and there's no one else around,
whatcha gonna do when the clock strikes two,
and all the freaks come out,
On the ave...
When you're on the ave...
When the neon lights shine down,
and there's no one else around,
whatcha gonna do when the clock strikes two,
and all the freaks come out,
On the ave....
When you're on the ave...
Now I'm gonna speak on freedom,
do what you like fuck other people.
They tell you what you're supposed to do,
how about your girl do me, and you do you.
Now kick rocks before you get shot,
in the back of the head all you heard was POP
Goes to weasel cause the weasel smoke rock,
Hypodermic needle paramedic on the block.
Chop your body up, drop it off the dock,
why you gotta go and call the mothafuckin cops?
It's too late babe it could've been great,
but you had to go and stab me in the back with a steak knife.
Late night, waste away,
Chain smokin' til the drapes turn grey.
Cocaine helps me face the day,
and then the pills wash the pain away.
I won't be blamed for your mistakes,
burned at the stake,
for God's sake.
When the neon lights shine down,
and there's no one else around,
whatcha gonna do when the clock strikes two,
and all the freaks come out,
On the ave....
When you're on the ave...
When the neon lights shine down,
and there's no one else around,
whatcha gonna do when the clock strikes two,
and all the freaks come out,
On the ave....