Discover the story of the song > Lean on Me – Bill Withers

The song "Lean on Me" by Bill Withers was released in 1972. It was written by Withers and produced by Booker T. Jones. The song became an international hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States and reaching the top 10 in several countries.

Withers wrote "Lean on Me" after being inspired by a New York Times article titled "Friends in Need," which described how people supported each other in times of need. Withers said the song was about "the importance of friendship and the help people can give each other."

"Lean on Me" became an anthem for African American communities in the United States, especially in the 1970s and 1980s. The song has been covered by many artists, including Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston and Stevie Wonder. In 2014, the song was added to the U.S. Library of Congress' National Recording Registry, which recognizes musical recordings of "cultural, historical, or aesthetic quality."