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).
You Try to Find a Love
Bill Withers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lady power, hardly right
Oh, the showers cold and light
Hot, and lonely every night
You try to find a love
Holding on, wanting love
Try to find love
Keep on holding on
Just hanging out
Searching for love in the night
Searching for love in the night
Out and easy
Every night
How you see me
Is hardly right
A one and only would be nice
Hot and lonely every night
You try to find a love
Holding on, wanting love
You try to find love
Keep on holding on
Just hanging out
Searching for love in the night
Searching for love in the night
Searching for love in the night
Searching for love in the night
Searching for love in the night
Sometimes I feel like
Not a single blues
These lyrics are a reflection of the loneliness and desperation that can come with trying to find love in a world where it can be hard to connect with people on a genuine level. The singer of the lyrics is experiencing the highs and lows of this search, with crazy party nights and moments of empowerment ("lady power"), but ultimately feeling cold and lonely. They are holding on tightly to the idea of finding love, even though it seems elusive and difficult to attain.
The repetition of the refrain "you try to find love" emphasizes the struggle and effort that goes into searching for a meaningful connection with someone else. The line "hot and lonely every night" is particularly poetic, as it juxtaposes the physical sensation of heat with the emotional experience of feeling isolated and disconnected from others.
It's worth noting that the lyrics also touch on the societal pressures and expectations surrounding love and relationships, with the line "How you see me / Is hardly right" indicating that the singer is struggling to live up to certain standards or ideals.
Line by Line Meaning
Crazy hours, party nights
The singer describes their lifestyle as chaotic and full of partying.
Lady power, hardly right
The female presence at these parties is unsettling, as it seems that they are not being treated with respect.
Oh, the showers cold and light
The singer feels alone and uncomfortable in their living situation, which is indicated by the harsh contrast between the cold shower and bright lighting.
Hot, and lonely every night
Despite being surrounded by people and constantly partying, the artist still feels a deep sense of loneliness and isolation.
You try to find a love
The artist is actively searching for a romantic relationship to fill the void in their life.
Holding on, wanting love
The singer is holding onto hope for finding love, as it is the only thing that may bring them true happiness and fulfillment.
Try to find love
The singer emphasizes their determination to continue searching for love, no matter how long it takes.
Keep on holding on
The artist is hopeful and committed to their pursuit of love, despite the challenges and obstacles in their path.
Just hanging out
The artist spends their time socializing and trying to find companionship, but without much success.
Searching for love in the night
The artist is often out at night, looking for love among the crowds, but still struggling to find it.
Out and easy
The singer describes their lifestyle as carefree and relaxed, but it comes at a cost in terms of their emotional well-being.
Every night
The artist's loneliness and search for love is a constant struggle that they face every evening.
How you see me
The singer is aware that they may be perceived negatively by others for their lifestyle and approach to finding love.
Is hardly right
The singer feels misunderstood and judged by others, which adds to their feelings of loneliness and isolation.
A one and only would be nice
The singer desires a monogamous, committed relationship with one person, rather than the casual and fleeting encounters they have experienced thus far.
Hot and lonely every night
The artist reiterates their feelings of loneliness and longing for a meaningful relationship, despite the physical pleasure they may experience in certain situations.
Searching for love in the night
The chorus serves as a refrain, emphasizing the artist's persistent search for love, no matter what struggles they may face.
Sometimes I feel like
The singer acknowledges that their pursuit of love and social life may be unhealthy or unfulfilling at times.
Not a single blues
Despite their struggles, the singer maintains a positive attitude and tries to avoid feeling down or hopeless.
Lyrics © BLEUNIG MUSIC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Bill Withers, Michel Columbier
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind