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 Parts 1 & 2
Wilbert Harrison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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)
Every boy, every girl and man
People, when things go wrong
As they sometimes will
And the road you travel
It stays all uphill
Let's work together
Come on, come on
Let's work together
You know together we will stand
Every boy, girl, woman and man
Oh well now, two or three minutes
Two or three hours
What does it matter now
In this life of ours
Let's work together
Come on, come on
Let's work together
(Now now people)
Because together we will stand
Every boy, every woman and man
Come on, let's work together...
Well now, 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)
Because together we will stand
Every boy, girl, woman and man
Oh well now, come on you people
Walk hand in hand
Let's make this world of ours
A good place to stand
And work together
Come on, come on
Let's work together
(Now now people)
Because together we will stand
Every boy, girl, woman and man
Well now together we will stand
Every boy, girl, woman and man
The lyrics of Wilbert Harrison's Let's Work Together Parts 1 & 2 are a call for unity and cooperation among people. The song emphasizes the importance of coming together to achieve a common goal and overcome obstacles. The opening lines "Together we'll stand, divided we'll fall" suggest that division and disunity can lead to failure and defeat, whereas working together can lead to success and victory.
The lyrics also acknowledge the challenges that people face in life, as the road can be rough and uphill. However, the solution to this is to work together, as this will make the journey easier and more manageable. The song encourages people to put aside their differences and work towards a common goal, emphasizing that every person, regardless of gender or age, has a part to play in achieving this.
Overall, the lyrics of Let's Work Together Parts 1 & 2 are a message of hope and unity, suggesting that by working together, people can overcome any challenge and make the world a better place. The song is a timeless call for cooperation and community, and its message remains just as relevant today as it did when it was first released in 1961.
Line by Line Meaning
Together we'll stand
If we unite and act as one, we will not easily be defeated.
Divided we'll fall
If we are not together, we can easily be beaten.
Come on now people
Addressing everyone to pay attention and move forward.
Let's get on the ball
Encouraging everyone to get started and take action.
And work together
Emphasizing the importance of cooperation and collaboration.
Come on, come on
Urging people to hurry and start working together.
Because together we will stand
Highlighting the benefits of working together and standing strong as a group.
Every boy, every girl and man
Including everyone, regardless of gender or age, in the effort to work together.
People, when things go wrong
Acknowledging that things can go wrong and emphasizing the need for unity during tough times.
As they sometimes will
Recognizing that difficulties and challenges are a normal part of life.
And the road you travel
Referring to the journey that individuals take in their lives.
It stays all uphill
Indicating that life can be difficult and challenging.
You know together we will stand
Re-emphasizing the power of working together as a group.
Oh well now, two or three minutes
Suggesting that even a short amount of time spent working together is valuable.
Two or three hours
Expanding on the idea that even a longer period of collaboration is important.
What does it matter now
Posing a rhetorical question that emphasizes the idea that time spent working together is always valuable.
In this life of ours
Reflecting on the importance of working together in this shared experience of life.
Well now, make someone happy
Encouraging people to spread positivity and joy to those around them.
Make someone smile
Further expanding on the idea of spreading happiness and positivity.
And make life worthwhile
Highlighting the value and importance of making life fulfilling and meaningful through collective effort.
Come on you people
Addressing everyone once again and urging them to join together.
Walk hand in hand
Suggesting a gesture of togetherness and unity.
Let's make this world of ours
Expressing the idea that we all share this world and must work together to make it better.
A good place to stand
Emphasizing the importance of creating a strong foundation for a better future.
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!!!