FAS: “Use Me” by Bill Withers

As some of you have figured out, the FAS is now being voted on by the masses in the S&C sidebar (just look to the right —–> ). I take suggestions, and then put it up to vote until noon each Friday. So VOTE.

And now… this week’s Friday Afternoon Song… a very personal favorite of mine….

“Use Me” by Bill Withers

(cheer)(applause)(fainting)(crying)

The History:
Born in West Virginia as William Harrison “Bill” Withers, Jr, he worked as an aircraft assembly worker while putting what money he had into recording demo’s in his free time. Even after the song that lead him to his first Grammy “Ain’t No Sunshine” he kept his job thinking that he still wasn’t going to survive as a musician. A humble man was he.

“Use Me” was his second biggest hit in the US, reaching #2 on the Billboard charts in 1972.

The content is that of a dramatic nature, with the crooner complaining about his friend’s advice about his love life, which they see as one-sided and him being “used.” But he’s totally OK with that apparently, saying “when you love me, I can’t get enough.” He ends this love/hate riddled poem by turning the tables and admitting the he is being used, but says that that is made up for by “using you to do the things you do.”

It has been covered by the likes of Mick Jagger, Isaac Hayes, Better Than Ezra (which as a bonus, I have included in this post), Widespread Panic, Ben Harper, Fiona Apple, Aaron Neville, and notable College Station groups Drying Off Grandpa, Bobbing For Tucker, and Enjoy Chris Clonts.

Ladies & Gentlemen… Use me.

“Use Me” by Bill Withers

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“Use Me (cover)” by Better Than Ezra

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