He essentially got his fill of the music biz back in 1985, and he called it day. He pops up every so often in interviews or archival footage; there are great clips on the Web of him doing his thing on Soul Train or Burt Sugarman's Midnight Special. But he hasn't performed live or released new music in years (unless you count a recent, one-off collaboration with singer/guitarist Raul Midón that was years in the making). Which is too bad, because the world and music industry could use a dose of his candor, positivity, and soul right about now.
One of my favorite tracks of his growing up was the infinitely funky "Use Me" from his 1972 album Still Bill, which somehow manages to be an even tighter collection of songs than his strong debut album, Just As I Am, from 1971.
Basically, it's a song about a guy whose buddies warn him that he's being used by his girlfriend. The twist, though, is that he turns right around and tells them (and the girlfriend) that, if being used feels that great, she can keep right on using him!
Although, in the 2009 documentary Still Bill, Withers kind of alludes to the fact that the song wasn't so much inspired by a romantic relationship but by his career circumstances before he landed a record deal. He was a factory worker, making toilet seats for airplanes and getting paid just $3/hour, when he began his music career at age 32. In fact, Withers didn't initially quit his job making toilet seats even after his debut album started climbing the charts. (After all, the music industry was a gamble, and he had a steady job, albeit one that didn't pay all that well.)
Taken in that light, the lyrics are an acknowledgment that his employer was essentially "using him," but he was glad to be used if that meant having a roof over his head.
How can you not be a fan of a guy like that?
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