Gray was born near Houston, Texas, by his own account in Simonton although some sources suggest the nearby town of Brookshire. His birth name was probably Lawrence Darrow Brown, who is listed in the Fort Bend County Birth Records as being born in 1940 to Jane P. Spencel and Jethro Clifton Brown. Other sources suggest he may have been born Leonard Victor Ainsworth, a name he used on some early recordings.
His family were sharecroppers, and he discovered gospel music through his grandfather, a Baptist minister. In the early 1960s he moved to Los Angeles, intending to pursue an acting career but also singing to make money.
He recorded for several local labels under the names Leonard Ainsworth, Larry Curtis, and Larry Dennis, before Sonny Bono directed him towards the small independent Stripe Records. They suggested that he record under the name "Dobie Gray", an allusion to the then-popular sitcom The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis. His first taste of success came in 1963, when his seventh single "Look At Me", on the Cor-Dak label, recorded with bassist Carol Kaye, reached # 91 on the Billboard Hot 100. However, Gray's first album, Look!, failed to sell.
Greater success came in early 1965 when his original recording of "The 'In' Crowd" (later recorded by Ramsey Lewis) reached # 13 on the chart. Written by Billy Page, arranged by his brother Gene,[8] and produced by Fred Darian. Gray's record reached # 11 on the US R&B chart, and # 25 in the UK. The follow-up, "See You at the Go-Go", recorded with such top session musicians as Kaye, Hal Blaine and Larry Knechtel, also reached the Hot 100, and he issued an album, Dobie Gray Sings For 'In' Crowders That Go Go Go, which featured some self-penned songs.
Gray continued to record, though with little success, for small labels such as Charger and White Whale, as well as contributing to movie soundtracks. He also spent several years working as an actor, including 2½ years in the Los Angeles production of Hair. In 1970, while working in Hair, he joined a band, Pollution, as singer and percussionist. They were managed by actor Max Baer Jr. (best known as "Jethro" in The Beverly Hillbillies), and released two albums of soul-inspired psychedelic rock, Pollution I and Pollution II. The band also included singer Tata Vega and guitarist/singer James Quill Smith. After that, he worked at A & M Records on demo recordings with songwriter Paul Williams.
In 1972, he won a contract with Decca Records, shortly before it became part of MCA, to make an album with producer Mentor Williams, Paul's brother, in Nashville. Among the songs that they recorded at the Quadrafonic Sound Studios, co-owned by session musicians Norbert Putnam and David Briggs, was Mentor Williams' song "Drift Away", featuring a guitar riff by Reggie Young. Released as a single, the song rose to # 5 on the US pop charts, and remains Gray's best known song today. The follow-up, a version of Tom Jans' much-covered song "Loving Arms", made # 61 in the chart. Gray also released three albums with MCA, Drift Away, Loving Arms, and Hey, Dixie, but later stated that MCA were unsure of how to market the albums - "They didn't know where to place a black guy in country music."
In the mid-1970s he moved permanently to Nashville and signed for Capricorn Records, writing songs in collaboration with Troy Seals. His biggest hit singles in the late 1970s were "If Love Must Go", # 78 in 1976, and "You Can Do It", # 37 in late 1978, his last solo chart hit to date. He increasingly concentrated on songwriting, writing songs for a variety of artists including Ray Charles, George Jones, Johnny Mathis, Charley Pride and Don Williams. Gray also toured in Europe, Australia and Africa in the 1970s. He performed in South Africa only after persuading the apartheid authorities to allow him to play to integrated audiences, becoming the first artist to do so in that country. His popularity in South Africa continued through numerous subsequent concert tours.
He re-emerged as a recording artist for Capitol Records in the mid-1980s, recording with producer Harold Shedd. Gray placed two singles in the US Billboard country chart during 1986 and 1987, including "That's One to Grow On" which peaked at #35. His country albums included From Where I Stand in 1986, and he made several appearances at Charlie Daniels' popular Volunteer Jam concerts. He also sang on a number of TV and radio jingles. In 1997, he released the album Diamond Cuts, including both new songs and re-recordings of older material.
In 2000, Wigan Casino DJ, Kev Roberts, compiled The Northern Soul Top 500, which was based on a survey of northern soul fans. Gray's "Out On The Floor", a 1966 recording which had been a British chart hit in 1975, was placed in the Top 10. "Drift Away" became a hit again in 2003, when it was covered by Uncle Kracker on his No Stranger to Shame album. The recording was a duet between Kracker and Gray, who was also featured in the video. It ended in the nineteenth place in the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2003.
Lean On Me
Dobie Gray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We all have pain
We all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there's
Always tomorrow
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
Till I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on
Please swallow your pride
If I have things
You need to borrow
For no one can fill
Those of your needs
That you won't let show
You just call on me brother
When you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem
That you'll understand
We all need somebody to lean on
Lean on me, when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
Till I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on
You just call on me brother
When you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem
That you'll understand
We all need somebody to lean on
If there is a load
You have to bear
That you can't carry
I'm right up the road
I'll share your load
If you just call me
Call me
If you need a friend
(Call me)
Call me
(Call me)
If you need a friend
(Call me)
If you ever need a friend
(Call me)
Call me
(Call me)
Call me
(Call me)
Call me
(Call me)
Call me
(Call me)
If you need a friend
(Call me)
Call me
(Call me)
Call me
(Call me)
Call me
(Call me)
Call me
(Call me)
Dobie Gray's song "Lean On Me" is about the importance of having a support system during difficult times in life. The lyrics acknowledge that everyone experiences pain and sorrow, but it's important to be wise and remember that there's always tomorrow. Gray encourages listeners to lean on him when they're not strong, offering to be a friend and help carry them through their struggles.
The chorus of the song repeatedly emphasizes the importance of having somebody to lean on. The lyrics also suggest that there's no shame in asking for help, encouraging listeners to swallow their pride and reach out to others when they need to borrow or when they have needs that they're not comfortable showing. Gray acknowledges that he may have his own problems that he needs help with, further emphasizing the importance of mutual support and understanding.
Overall, "Lean On Me" is a heartfelt and powerful song that shows how much of a difference it can make to have someone to rely on during tough times. It's a reminder that none of us are alone in our struggles, and that reaching out for help can be the first step towards healing and overcoming adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes in our lives
At certain points in our lives
We all have pain
We all experience hurt and suffering
We all have sorrow
We all experience sadness and distress
But if we are wise
However, if we are intelligent or sensible
We know that there's
We understand that there is
Always tomorrow
A future day or time ahead of us
Lean on me, when you're not strong
Rely on me when you don't have the strength to carry on
And I'll be your friend
And I will be your companion
I'll help you carry on
I will assist you in persevering
For it won't be long
Because it won't take much time
Till I'm gonna need
Until the point where I will require
Somebody to lean on
Someone to support me and be there for me
Please swallow your pride
Please humble yourself and put your ego aside
If I have things
If there are items or possessions
You need to borrow
That you require to borrow from me
For no one can fill
Because no one can fulfill
Those of your needs
All of your requirements
That you won't let show
That you are hesitant to reveal
You just call on me brother
You need only summon me, my brother
When you need a hand
Whenever you require assistance
We all need somebody to lean on
Each of us require someone for support and guidance
I just might have a problem
I may have an issue or a complication
That you'll understand
That you can comprehend or empathize with
If there is a load
In case there is a burden
You have to bear
You must endure
That you can't carry
That you are incapable of bearing
I'm right up the road
I am located nearby
I'll share your load
I will help you shoulder your burden
If you just call me
If you simply reach out to me
Call me
Get in touch with me
If you ever need a friend
If you require a companion at any point
If you need a friend
If you are in need of a companion
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bill Withers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robert Davison
on Rockin' Chair
It's not "buckets dance" it's "biscuits done" referring to a mother making biscuits (as in the Southern American food staple, not like cookies) in keeping with the song's theme of sentimental childhood memories.
Robert Davison
on Rockin' Chair
Keep rocking, rocking chair
It looks like your pals are here with you
They can't go anywhere without you
They used to write songs about you
Keep rocking, rocking chair
Mom, are the buckets dancing?
I can hear the buckets, but not the man who's just hanging there
You watch the world from the comfort of your rocking chair
I remember all the fantasies that come back to me
The daydream I had at the store about the things I'd buy
I remember all the drops of summer rain
When I relaxed, swaying in the middle of the day
So comfortable that I didn't want to get up and play
Rock me away, rocking chair
Keep rocking, rocking chair
Take me away to a dream or two
Don't ever leave me, because I'll miss you; keep rocking, rocking chair
Back on the radio
Yes, I used to play it all alone
Late at night when she would come to visit me
Too young to understand love
But we loved each other anyway
I asked her if she wanted to rock with me
Just hold my hand, close your eyes, and follow me
Let's explore the night together; rock me
Keep rocking, yeah
Rock me
Would you rock me, honey?
I'm going to see my mother
Make me
Make me feel at home
Ricky Ray
on Streets Of Fire
the song streets of fire is co written by dobie gray and ricky ray rector and the publishing for ricky ray rector is ricky ray music bmi
Mimi MamaTshimo Mufamadi
on Cupid
Straight to my loves heart.