Bill withers - use me - Lyrics Meaning

Use me, the lyrics talk about a guy whose girlfriend walks all over him and by the title and lyrics "Uses me" suggests.

His family and close friends try to break them up, but he is addicted to the abuse and won't consider leaving her, he's trapped under her spell. As Withers explains in the 2009 documentary Still Bill, he didn't write it about anyone particular or an ex-girlfriend. One of his previous employers was his inspiration when he was a mechanic making airplane parts for $3 an hour and wasn't getting much attention from the ladies.

Still Bill was Withers second album, and it also included his hit "Lean on me." Withers' band for the album was keyboardist Ray Jackson, bassist Melvin Dunlop, guitarist Benorce Blackman and drummer James Gadson. In 2003, Withers told Mojo magazine that they rehearsed in Gadson's garage, and then, "We cut that whole Still Bill album in eight hours for $7,500. I loved that band." According to Gadson, he played the groove for about 5 minutes before Withers came up with the song.

There were many other artists who covered this song such as Grace Jones, Al Jarreau, Hootie & The Blowfish, Better Than Ezra and Widespread Panic.

Bill Withers performed "Lean on me" on the TV show Soul Train in 1972.

This song has appeared in the movies such as Anchorman, Starsky & Hutch, American Beauty and Any Given Sunday, is continued to be used as a classic backtrack.