The song was was one of the first credited collaborations by the acclaimed musical team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, the men writing it back in 1952. It sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc. Harrison sang "Kansas City" for the Harlem based entrepreneur Bobby Robinson, and he recorded additional singles for the Fire and Fury record labels, which were owned and operated by Robinson.
After this spike of widespread success, Harrison continued to perform and record, exciting his many fans. However, it would be another ten years before he again cracked the Billboard Top 40 when he released "Let's Work Together (Part 1)", a track that went to #32 in early 1970 on the Billboard Hot 100. The 1970 hit version was distributed as a single through Sue Records (Sue 11) and was backed with "Let's Work Together (Part 2)". The full version of the tune, a five minute and ninteen second song that was included on the Sue Records album SSLP-8801, was simply called "Let's Work Together". An earlier version of the full song by Harrison came out in 1962 as "Let's Stick Together" (on Fury 1059 and Fury 1063).
A sign of Harrison's strong influence on soul music, cover versions of his song would be later be hits for both the American rock band Canned Heat and the British singer-songwriter Bryan Ferry. It was also recorded by country rock group The Kentucky Headhunters for the soundtrack to the Mickey Rourke film 'Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man'. Harrison had some additional success with "My Heart Is Yours", and his non-charting singles continued to be beloved among many American rnb fans. He toured for many years with a band known as 'Wilbert Harrison and The Roamers', as well as a solo act.
Harrison died of a stroke in 1994, in a Spencer, North Carolina nursing home at the age of 65. In 2001, his recording of "Kansas City" was given a Grammy Hall of Fame Award, and has also been named as one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. Harrison was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2009.
Let’s Work Together
Wilbert Harrison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Divided we'll fall
Come on now people
And let's get on the ball
And work together
Come on come on let's work together
Now now people
Every boy girl woman and man
Before when things go wrong
As they sometimes will
When the road you travel
Well seems all uphill
Let's work together
Come on come on let's work together
Now now people
Say now together we will stand
Every boy girl woman and man
Make someone happy
Make someone smile
Let's all work together
And make life worthwhile
Let's work together
Come on come on let's work together
Now now people
Say now together we will stand
Every boy girl woman and man
Two or three minutes
Two or three hours
What do they mean
Now now in this life of ours
Let's work together
Come on come on let's work together
Now now people
Say now together we will stand
Every boy girl woman and man
The lyrics of "Let's Stick Together" by Wilbert Harrison are a call for unity and collaboration among people. The first stanza states that together we will stand but if we are divided, we will fall. It is a reminder that we need to leave behind our differences and work towards a common goal, which requires collaboration and teamwork. The chorus repeats the phrase "let's work together" as an encouragement to bring everyone together towards the same objective. The song acknowledges that things may not always go as planned, but we must remain focused and united to overcome obstacles, and make our lives or the lives of others more joyful and fulfilling.
The song promotes the idea of collective action towards a better future rather than individualism or selfishness. It also highlights the importance of spreading positivity and bringing a smile to someone's face. "Let's Stick Together" has a timeless and universal message that resonates with people to this day.
Line by Line Meaning
Together we will stand
We will be united and strong.
Divided we'll fall
If we're not together, we will be weak and likely fail.
Come on now people
Let's get going everyone!
And let's get on the ball
Let's start doing something productive.
And work together
It's crucial that we collaborate.
Come on come on let's work together
Let's all work together as a team.
Say now together we will stand
We can all stand tall and strong if we work together.
Every boy girl woman and man
This includes every person, regardless of age or gender.
Before when things go wrong
When things are rough and don't go as planned.
As they sometimes will
Difficult times can occur unexpectedly.
When the road you travel
When things start to become challenging.
Well seems all uphill
Things start to get harder and harder.
Make someone happy
Let's spread joy and positivity to others.
Make someone smile
Bring happiness to someone's day.
Let's all work together
We should collaborate as a group.
And make life worthwhile
Let's make life a meaningful, fulfilling experience.
Two or three minutes
A small amount of time.
Two or three hours
A bit more time, but still not that much in the grand scheme of things.
What do they mean
Why should they matter?
Now now in this life of ours
In this short, precious life of ours...
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Wilbert Harrison
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
James Prince
"Sock it to me baby"--Wilbert Harrrison.
Well now the marriage vow is very sacred
The man put us together now you want to make it
Stick together, come on, come on let's stick together
You know we made a vow not to leave one another never
"Let's Work Together"
Together we will stand divided we'll fall
Come on now people let's get on the ball
And work together, come on, come on let's work together, now, now people
Say now together we will stand, every boy, girl, woman, and man
Joe Writeson
Instead of arguing 'this is better than that' and dissing other versions, try showing a bit of musical maturity and appreciate that other musicians have interpreted the song their way. Yes this is the original recorded on primitive equipment ... and that's how it sounds ... raw, earthy and beautiful. Just be thankful someone took the time to upload it...thanks Hankgwe
robyonder
100% on.
robyonder
100% on.
Diane Anderson
You got that right !!!!!
64downtown
no one will disagree with your comments-well said--this shouldve been a top 100 hit in the world..canned heat gets credit and white boy ferrt takes all the gravy.
BOB KELLERMAN
This is the version I remember although the Canned Heat version probably sold much better. I hope that Wilbert Harrison got paid on that
Stevie Callaghan
A fantastic and great rendition by Wilbert give him some credit people, he wrote the bloody song.
M. W.
kudos to Gilbert....I always thought Canned heat wrote it.....P.S. he also does the best version of Kansas City
Marjory Rainey
Hell yes! All Credit to Wilbert,
Thomas Beattie
Ok he wrote it but he was not a singer!!!