Withers, the youngest of six children, was born in the small coal-mining town of Slab Fork, West Virginia, on July 4, 1938. He was the son of Mattie (Galloway), a maid, and William Withers, a miner. He was born with a stutter and later said he had a hard time fitting in. His parents divorced when he was three, and he was raised by his mother's family in nearby Beckley, West Virginia. He was 13 years old when his father died. Withers enlisted in the United States Navy at the age of 17, and served for nine years, during which time he became interested in singing and writing songs.
He left the Navy in 1965, relocating to Los Angeles in 1967 to start a music career. His debut release was "Three Nights and a Morning" in 1967. Arranged by Mort Garson, the song went unnoticed at the time but was later reworked by Withers as the track "Harlem".
Withers worked as an assembler for several different companies, including Douglas Aircraft Corporation, IBM and Ford, while recording demo tapes with his own money, shopping them around and performing in clubs at night. When he returned with the song "Ain't No Sunshine" in 1971, he refused to resign from his job because he believed the music business was a fickle industry. In early 1970, Withers's demonstration tape was auditioned favorably by Clarence Avant, owner of Sussex Records. Avant signed Withers to a record deal and assigned former Stax Records stalwart Booker T. Jones to produce Withers' first album. Four three-hour recording sessions were planned for the album, but funding caused the album to be recorded in three sessions with a six-month break between the second and final sessions. Just as I Am was released in 1971 with the tracks, "Ain't No Sunshine" and "Grandma's Hands" as singles. The album features Stephen Stills playing lead guitar. On the cover of the album, Withers is pictured at his job at Weber Aircraft in Burbank, California, holding his lunch box.
Withers was known for his "smooth" baritone vocals and "sumptuous" soul arrangements. He wrote some of the most covered songs of the 1970s, including "Lean on Me" and "Ain't No Sunshine". The former entered the Hot 100 chart through multiple versions, including Club Nouveau's 1987 cover, which made the composition one of nine songs to have led the chart via different acts. With "Lovely Day", he set the record for the longest sustained note on a chart hit on American charts, holding a high E for 18 seconds. Editors from The Guardian considered that Withers' songs are "some of the most beloved in the American songbook," citing, "'Ain't No Sunshine' is regarded as one of the all-time great breakup tracks, while 'Lean on Me', an ode to the supportive power of friendship ..." For the same newspaper, Alex Petridis noticed "[he] laid pain and paranoia under his deceptively gentle songs, and retired early having conquered gospel, funk, blues, disco and more." In Rolling Stone, writer Andy Greene noted that several of his songs "are embedded in the culture and have been covered countless times."
Writing for The New York Times, Giovanni Russonello considered Withers "[a] soulful singer with a gift for writing understated classics", adding, "the ultimate homespun hitmaker, he had an innate sense of what might make a song memorable, and little interest in excess attitude or accoutrements. Ultimately Withers reminded us that it’s the everyday that is the most meaningful: work, family, love, loss." A Billboard article considered that Withers "stands as one of R&B/soul music's most revered singer-songwriters." In the same magazine, writer Gail Mitchell acknowledged "Withers' legacy has flourished in the decades since, thanks to a cross-section of artists who have covered/sampled his songs or cited him as a major influence." Musician and music journalist Questlove referred to Withers' post-breakup 1974 album +'Justments as "a diary [...] [it] was a pre-reality-show look at his life. Keep in mind this was years before Marvin Gaye did it with Here, My Dear." The Beach Boys' Brian Wilson deemed him "a songwriter's songwriter". Musicians Sade, D'Angelo, Justin Timberlake, John Legend and Ed Sheeran have credited Withers as a music inspiration.
Withers died from heart complications in Los Angeles on March 30, 2020, at age 81; his family announced his death four days later. He is interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills).
Liza
Bill Withers Lyrics
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Is that feeling that's there between
A worldly old uncle and very innocent young niece
Liza, won't you lay your head on my shoulder?
Cry if you want to, I don't mind
Seems as if you need some love and kindness
And all I've got is time
Wiser is the way when you grow older
Nothing heals a broken heart but time
I know what it means to need a shoulder
So lay your head on mine
Wiser is the way when you grow older
Nothing heals a broken heart but time
I know what it means to need a shoulder
So lay your head on mine
I know what it means to need a shoulder
So lay your head on mine
The lyrics to Bill Withers's song "Liza" depict a touching and compassionate relationship between an uncle figure and his young niece. The song is a comforting message to the girl to lay her head on his shoulder, cry if she needs to, and seek love and kindness. As the song progresses, the lyrics reveal the message that nothing can heal a broken heart except time. The singer empathizes with Liza's need for a shoulder to cry on, as he has experienced the same need himself.
The relationship between an adult and a child can be complex, but in this song, it is portrayed as a genuine and innocent connection. The song emphasizes the importance of showing compassion and kindness to younger generations and the impact that such kindness can have on a child's perspective on life. The singer recognizes the value of being there for someone when they need emotional support, and the song's overall message reinforces the idea of finding comfort in close relationships.
Overall, "Liza" is a touching song about the importance of empathy and compassion towards those who need it most. It captures the essence of the bond between an adult and a child and how such relationships can be a source of comfort and guidance. The song serves as a reminder of the power of love and the impact it can have on those who need it most.
Line by Line Meaning
Probably one of the nicest affections in the world
The bond between an older, experienced uncle and a young, innocent niece is one of the most precious relationships.
Is that feeling that's there between
It is a unique emotional connection that exists between them.
Liza, won't you lay your head on my shoulder?
Liza, please rest your head on my shoulder.
Cry if you want to, I don't mind
It's okay to cry if you need to, I'm here for you.
Seems as if you need some love and kindness
It appears that you require affection and compassion.
And all I've got is time
I have nothing better to do than spend time with you and offer my support.
Wiser is the way when you grow older
As you age, you learn to act more wisely and thoughtfully.
Nothing heals a broken heart but time
Only time can mend a shattered heart.
I know what it means to need a shoulder
I understand the desire for someone to lean on for comfort.
So lay your head on mine
Rest your head on me and let me be that person for you.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BILL WITHERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind