Song Clearance Sheet
3 sources citedLean on Me
See all Bill Withers in the catalogue →
Soul1970s76BPM
C majKey
More around 80 BPM → · More in C major →
Tempo/key via GetSongBPM →, Deezer →
The verdict
Documented Sampling History
Confirmed songwriter of record (Bill Withers, sole credit), no dispute found — one of only nine songs to top the Hot 100 in two different recordings; part of the Bill Withers set in this catalogue.
Quick Facts
Released1972
AlbumStill Bill
GenreSoul, R&B, Gospel
LabelSussex Records
ProducerBill Withers
More infoWikipedia → · Discogs →
Who you need to ask
The songwriter of record — Bill Withers
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
The current administrator — Not confirmed — Sussex (defunct); needs a Songview/Discogs lookup
Unknown · checked Jul 2026
Has it been reused?
One of only nine songs ever to reach #1 on the Hot 100 in two different recordings (Withers’ 1972 original and Club Nouveau’s 1987 cover); a much-performed standard.
Do they allow reuse?
No standalone policy found; confirmed songwriter of record and no dispute found.
Related Songs
Same album, answer records, and songs worth knowing about
Same artist (already in this catalogue)
Same artist, same album “Still Bill” (already in this catalogue)
Same artist (this batch)
Who Owns It
Licenses explained →The two permissions you need, and who holds them
The song itself (the writing)Bill Withers (sole credit)
The recording (current administrator)Not confirmed
Receipts
Every public mention of terms, policy, or past deals we've found
A rare dual-#1 distinction, and a Grammy for his own cover
This is one of only nine songs to top the Hot 100 in two different recordings — Withers’ 1972 original and Club Nouveau’s 1987 cover, which also hit #1. Withers won his third songwriting Grammy (Best R&B Song) specifically for Club Nouveau’s cover of his own composition.
Songwriters Hall of Fame · read it →
From a small piano and a coal-mining hometown
Withers has recounted buying a small piano and running his fingers up and down the keys — the title phrase crossed his mind and he liked how it sounded. His childhood in Slab Fork, West Virginia — and missing that community after moving to LA — directly inspired it. No lyrics reproduced.
Ultimate Pop Culture Wiki · read it →
Can You Use It for Free?
How to check PD →Is it public domain?No
Sample History
—
Times sampled
A dual-#1 standard (Withers 1972; Club Nouveau 1987)
Covers
—
First flip
Big names who used itClub Nouveau
Who to Contact
LO
Bill Withers (Sussex, now defunct)
The sole confirmed songwriter of record
What they'll chargeNobody's shared numbers yet
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References
Every source cited on this page — 3 in total
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Page history · 3 updates
Jul 2026BPM set to 76 (feel tempo) — the two-source pass read the 150 double-time octave; halved to this song’s natural tempo. Key C maj confirmed.
Jul 2026Page created — full research (Research Queue Batch 15)
Jul 2026BPM/Key pending the automated GetSongBPM/Deezer pass