Uploaded by Odawg96 on Dec 17, 2008
This is probably one of my FAVORITE Bill Withers and one that it seems only gung ho fans know about. While Marvin Gaye has often gotten credit for being so willing to sing about failed relationships in a frank manner (particularly on "Here, My Dear" from '78), a lot of people forget that Bill Withers was doing the same thing perhaps even earlier. When I first heard this song as teenager I was caught completely off-guard by how blunt and direct Bill was in this song.
If this is the same protagonist from his earlier hit "Use Me"--who was standing on shaky ground in his relationship--than it looks like things DEFINITELY took a turn for the worst. I guess he got tired of being treated rudely in front of high-class people and finally retaliated. Gossip then and now says that this song, along with "Use Me" and "Ain't No Sunshine", were about his brief marriage to Denis Nicholas. All of the songs from that period, the one's I named above as well as songs like "Who Is He and What Is He To You?" and "Hope She'll Be Happier With Him", collectively tell one HELL of a story...intense but artistic, blunt but not trashy.
As a guy, I really appreciate songs like this. We usually don't get to tell our side of the story. It seems that women prefer to hear Babyface-type stuff from us ("I'll cook your food, I'll run you bath, I'll wash your draws, etc.), but after being taken advantage of, some of us are rightfully distressed.
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Uploader Comments (Odawg96)
Top Comments
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"I gotta take a ton of lies just to get an ounce of truth from you
It's like a man loving Jesus and say he don't like the Jews"... Class people, pure class!
2 years ago 19
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Bill is the world's least known artist but he has some of the world's BIGGEST hits
2 years ago 12
Video Responses
All Comments (81)
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One of the more underrated vocalists/musicians of the last century....Withers, is a genius, period.
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Bill is in my eyes not merely a soul artist but an artist that fuses the blues, folk and soul tradition and manages to stay soulful while writing some really profound music
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Thumbs up if love brought you here
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word
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@dmanbadman, I think he is largely ignored by the media because, as this song demonstrates, he has a moral compass which tends to frighten the pop culture.
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Great lyrics, great tune from one of my very favourite singers.
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Saw the movie Still Bill and gained a deeper appreciation for the artist and the man...always loved his music...still relevant and yes I agree very underrated...really hope he releases "Mi Amigo Cubano"...absolutely loved it!!! The song he sang with his daughter wonderful...that would be an awesome cut.
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Hotdog! Thanks, I knew someone would post this. My absolute favorite Withers song. (That I don't have a copy of :)
83 videos
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Another amazing song by bill that like many I have only recently discovered , why is this man not recognised as one of the greatest artist who lived !
dmanbadman 1 year ago
@dmanbadman Trust me. Those in the KNOW do know that he's one of the greatest ever. If you're a younger person who gets his musical knowledge from EmpTyVee, Black Exploitation Television, or the radio, you're a bit behind. Seriously though, Bill Withers profile was at its peak in the mid-70s. Part of the reason that he doesn't get his props today is because he basically walked away from the industry in the 80s and has kept a low profile until recently.
Odawg96 1 year ago 7
I have to be honest, I didn't read the preceeding comments but, to have found this song is a blessing to me. Thank you thank you! Do you have the original version of this track? Friends please look up the movie "Still Bill" it is our chance to Big Up our under-rated hero Mr. Bill! Don't sleep on this movie ;)
funktional01 2 years ago
This ISN'T the original version of this song? It's the only I know of, but if there's another earlier version, I'd like to hear it myself. Will definitely look for the movie.
Odawg96 2 years ago
@Odawg96 yes it is right off lp im looking at
cepierce100 1 month ago
@cepierce100 What LP and what artist?
Odawg96 1 month ago