The Simple Genius of Bill Withers

Summary

This video celebrates the timeless song 'Ain't No Sunshine' by Bill Withers, a masterpiece of simplicity and raw emotion. Written in 1971, Withers' songwriting reflects his humble beginnings and the blues tradition. Despite his late start with music, his unique voice and relatable lyrics resonated deeply. The video explores Withers' journey from a factory worker to a celebrated artist, highlighting the song's creation and its enduring impact, showcasing Withers' humility and the universal appeal of his music.

Takeaways

• 🎵 Bill Withers' song 'Ain't No Sunshine' is a timeless piece that feels primal and simple, reminiscent of the Delta blues tradition.
• 📝 'Ain't No Sunshine' was written by Bill Withers in 1971, despite its ageless sound, showcasing his unique songwriting talent.
• 👶 Bill Withers' early life was marked by poverty and a stutter, and he was raised by a single mother in a coal mining town.
• 🎸 Withers taught himself to play guitar in his late 20s while working as a mechanic in an aircraft parts factory.
• 💡 He was inspired to pursue music after seeing a club manager anxious about a musician's tardiness, which led him to buy a guitar.
• 🎶 The song's raw emotion comes from Withers' own experiences and his observation of codependency and heartbreak, influenced by the movie 'Days of Wine and Roses'.
• 🔥 His break in the music industry came when music executive Clarence Avant recognized his talent and gave him a record deal.
• 🌟 The recording of 'Ain't No Sunshine' featured legendary musicians like Booker T. Jones and even Steven Stills and Graham Nash.
• 🏭 Despite his musical success, Withers continued to work at the factory until he was laid off two months before his album's release.
• 🏆 'Ain't No Sunshine' became a hit, peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100, and Withers received a golden toilet seat as a commemorative gift from his record company.
• 🌐 Bill Withers' humble and authentic songwriting style resonated across genres, making him an enduring icon in music history.

Q & A

What is the significance of 'Ain't No Sunshine' in Bill Withers' career?

'Ain't No Sunshine' is significant as it is Bill Withers' breakthrough hit that expresses a universal feeling with a timeless sound, and it helped establish him as a unique artist.

What musical tradition does 'Ain't No Sunshine' harken back to?

The song has a structural simplicity that harkens back to the Delta blues tradition.

What was Bill Withers' occupation before becoming a musician?

Before becoming a musician, Bill Withers worked as a mechanic in an aircraft parts factory making bathroom parts for 747 airplanes.

How did Bill Withers learn to play the guitar?

Bill Withers taught himself to play the guitar in his late 20s, inspired by seeing a club manager anxious about Lou Rawls not showing up on time for a gig.

What were the basic chords Bill Withers used in 'Ain't No Sunshine'?

The chords used in 'Ain't No Sunshine' are some of the most basic chords to play on the guitar.

How does Bill Withers' singing style contribute to the emotional depth of 'Ain't No Sunshine'?

Bill Withers' raw, from-the-heart singing style conveys a depth of pain that few complex pieces could match.

What movie inspired Bill Withers to write 'Ain't No Sunshine'?

Bill Withers wrote 'Ain't No Sunshine' after watching the 1962 movie 'Days of Wine and Roses', which is a story about a couple whose lives spiral out of control due to alcoholism.

How did Bill Withers get his break in the music industry?

Bill Withers got his break when music executive Clarence Avant recognized his potential and gave him a deal to record on his indie label.

Who produced Bill Withers' record that included 'Ain't No Sunshine'?

The record that included 'Ain't No Sunshine' was produced by the legendary Booker T. Jones.

What was the iconic moment in the recording of 'Ain't No Sunshine' that Withers hadn't initially written?

The repetition of 'I know, I know' in the song was an iconic moment that Withers hadn't written words for initially; he just repeated 'I know', and it was kept in the final recording.

What did Bill Withers do after recording one of the greatest songs ever?

After recording 'Ain't No Sunshine', Bill Withers returned to his factory job until he got laid off two months before his album was scheduled to be released.

How did 'Ain't No Sunshine' perform on the Billboard Hot 100?

'Ain't No Sunshine' climbed up the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number three, eventually going gold.

Outlines

00:00

🎵 Origins of 'Ain't No Sunshine'

This paragraph discusses the background and inspiration behind Bill Withers' timeless song 'Ain't No Sunshine.' It highlights Withers' humble beginnings in a coal mining town, his service in the American Navy, and his late start in music. The narrative emphasizes Withers' unique songwriting approach and the simplicity of his guitar playing, which paradoxically conveyed profound emotion. The song was written after watching the movie 'Days of Wine and Roses,' reflecting themes of codependency and heartbreak. Despite its rawness, 'Ain't No Sunshine' resonated with audiences and marked Withers as a distinctive artist.

05:02

🏭 From Factory Floor to Music Icon

Paragraph 2 details Bill Withers' transition from a factory worker to a celebrated musician. It describes his recording session filled with renowned musicians, including Booker T and members of MGs, and how Steven Stills and Graham Nash influenced the iconic 'I know' repetition in 'Ain't No Sunshine.' The paragraph also covers the album's cover photo, taken during Withers' lunch break at the factory, symbolizing his blue-collar roots. It concludes with the success of 'Ain't No Sunshine,' Withers' subsequent departure from factory work, and his humble reflection on his career and the universal appeal of his music.

Keywords

💡Patreon

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💡Nebula

Nebula is a subscription-based streaming platform. The script mentions that supporters can watch content early and ad-free on Nebula, indicating it as a platform that offers exclusive, premium viewing experiences to its subscribers. This is a way for creators to monetize their content and provide additional value to their most dedicated fans.

💡Ain't No Sunshine

‘Ain't No Sunshine’ is a song by Bill Withers, mentioned as a breakthrough hit that expresses a universal feeling. The song's simplicity and raw emotion resonate with listeners, making it feel timeless. The video discusses the song's composition and its impact, highlighting it as a key example of Bill Withers' songwriting prowess.

💡Delta Blues

Delta Blues refers to a style of blues music that originated in the Mississippi Delta. The script describes 'Ain't No Sunshine' as having a 'primal simplicity' reminiscent of the Delta Blues tradition, indicating the song's roots in classic blues music. This connection to a traditional style contributes to the song's timeless appeal.

💡Bill Withers

Bill Withers is an American singer-songwriter and musician, best known for his soulful and emotive songs. The video script focuses on his unique artistry, particularly his ability to write simple yet deeply affecting songs like 'Ain't No Sunshine.' His background and personal experiences significantly influence his music.

💡Songwriting

Songwriting is the process of creating the lyrics and musical composition for a song. The video emphasizes Bill Withers' songwriting as a key aspect of his artistry, noting his simple yet effective approach. His songs often reflect personal experiences and emotions, which is evident in the creation of 'Ain't No Sunshine.'

💡Codependency

Codependency is a relationship dynamic where one person relies excessively on another to meet their emotional needs. Bill Withers wrote 'Ain't No Sunshine' after watching 'Days of Wine and Roses,' a film about a couple whose lives spiral due to alcoholism. The song's lyrics expand on the theme of codependency and heartbreak, illustrating the complex emotions involved.

💡Booker T. Jones

Booker T. Jones is a legendary musician and producer mentioned in the script as the producer of Bill Withers' record. His involvement in the recording session, along with other talented musicians, helped shape the sound of 'Ain't No Sunshine' and contributed to its success.

💡Heartbreak

Heartbreak is a profound emotional response to loss, often associated with the end of a romantic relationship. The video discusses how 'Ain't No Sunshine' captures the raw emotion of heartbreak, making it a relatable anthem for many. The song's lyrics and Withers' delivery convey the depth of this feeling.

💡Indie Label

An indie label, short for independent record label, is a type of music label that operates without the direct funding or control of a larger record company. The script mentions that Bill Withers was given a deal to record on Clarence Avant's indie label, which allowed him the creative freedom to produce his influential work.

💡Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a museum and hall of fame in Cleveland, Ohio, that recognizes the contributions of those who have had a significant impact on the development of rock and roll. Bill Withers' induction into the Hall of Fame, as mentioned in the script, is a testament to his enduring influence and legacy in music.

Highlights

The song 'Ain't No Sunshine' by Bill Withers is a timeless piece that feels primal and simple, reminiscent of delta blues tradition.

Bill Withers wrote 'Ain't No Sunshine' in 1971, despite its sound suggesting it could be a traditional blues piece.

Withers' early life in a coal mining town and his service in the navy influenced his music.

He taught himself guitar in his late 20s while working as a mechanic in an aircraft parts factory.

Withers was inspired to pursue music after seeing a club manager anxious about a late musician.

He bought a guitar and learned simple 12-bar blues patterns despite never having played before.

Withers' raw singing style conveys deep pain, making 'Ain't No Sunshine' emotionally powerful.

The song was written after watching the movie 'Days of Wine and Roses', which is about a couple's life spiraling due to alcoholism.

Withers' simple songwriting approach led to several hits in the early 70s.

Music executive Clarence Avant recognized Withers' potential and gave him a record deal.

The record was produced by Booker T. Jones and featured appearances by Steven Stills and Graham Nash.

Graham Nash encouraged Withers to record, telling him he didn't know how good he was.

The iconic 'I know' repetition in 'Ain't No Sunshine' was unplanned but kept due to its raw emotion.

Withers was so dedicated to his factory job that he recorded the album while still working there.

His debut album 'Just As I Am' was named after his work ethic and humble beginnings.

Withers continued working at the factory until he was laid off two months before his album release.

He received two letters on the same day: one asking him to return to work, the other inviting him on to Johnny Carson's show.

'Ain't No Sunshine' was initially a B-side but climbed the Billboard Hot 100 with help from Johnny Carson.

Withers' record company commemorated his song going gold with a golden toilet seat, a nod to his factory job.

Bill Withers became an icon with his simple, relatable songwriting style that influenced many genres.

Withers remained humble, summing up his career by saying he wrote songs people could identify with.

Transcripts

this video is made possible thanks to my

amazing supporters on patreon and thanks

to everyone who has signed up to watch

my stuff early and ad-free on nebula

thank you all so much for your support

and don't forget to subscribe to the

channel if you like the video there's

some songs that are difficult to imagine

somebody writing songs that express some

human experience so pure so raw that

they feel like they've always been

around in some form or another

for me one such song has always been

ain't no sunshine bill withers

breakthrough hit is an expression of a

universal feeling and structurally it's

got this almost primal simplicity to it

hearkening back to the delta blues

tradition

honestly growing up hearing this song as

a kid i think a part of me always

assumed it was some sort of blues

traditional piece

but of course

it wasn't

despite its timeless sound a no sunshine

was in fact written by bill withers in

1971

and the story of that writing can help

us understand what makes aino sunshine

such a timeless song and what makes bill

withers such a unique artist

let's take a closer look

bill withers early life looks a lot like

that of the blue singers that clearly

influenced his music

he was born with a stutter in a small

coal mining town and spent most of his

childhood raised by a single mother

at 17 years old he enlisted in the

american navy where he served for nine

years it wasn't until withers was well

into his late 20s that he even decided

to teach himself guitar at the time

withers was working as a mechanic in an

aircraft parts factory where he made

three bucks an hour making bathroom

parts for 747 airplanes

in a 2015 piece with the rolling stone

withers said that he was inspired to

take up music after seeing a club

manager get anxious about lou rawls not

showing up on time for a gig

withers said i remember him saying i'm

paying this guy two thousand dollars a

week and he can't show up on time i was

making three dollars an hour looking for

friendly women but nobody found me

interesting then rawls walked in and all

these women are talking to him so

withers took a stroll down to the pawn

shop and bought himself a guitar despite

never having played before in his life

he told the rolling stone i figured out

that you don't need to be a virtuoso to

accompany yourself chords in a simple 12

bar blues pattern

and the chords in question are some of

the most basic chords to play on the

guitar

ain't no sunshine when she's gone

she's always gone

[Music]

but as rudimentary as his guitar playing

is bill withers is able to convey a

depth of pain that few complex pieces

could really match

a big reason for this is his raw from

the heart singing

ain't no sunshine when she's gone

and this house just ain't no home

anytime

she goes away

voice is not the polished instrument of

a career musician

it's the whale of a true working class

man born to poverty and resigned to the

realities of a tough world and the words

he sings are just as powerful as his

voice for all their simplicity

in an interview with song facts withers

explained that he wrote the song after

watching the 1962 movie days of wine and

roses a story about a successful couple

whose lives spiral out of control due to

alcoholism

withers explained they were both

alcoholics who were alternately weak and

strong

it's like going back on seconds for rat

poison

sometimes you miss things that weren't

particularly good for you

it's just something that crossed my mind

from watching that movie and probably

something else that happened in my life

that i'm not aware of

through simple metaphor withers expands

the story into a tale of codependency

and heartbreak

in the early 70s withers penned a number

of songs with his simple songwriting

approach and saved up enough money to

record a demo tape while still working

on the factory floor he spent his off

time shopping his demo to major labels

but he found no takers

his break came when the music executive

clarence avant realized his potential

and gave him a deal to record a record

on his indie label

the record would be produced by the

legendary booker t jones

a working man to the last withers came

to the studio directly from the factory

with a notebook full of songs in hand he

was bewildered to find himself in a room

full of some of the most talented people

in all of music in addition to booker t

and most of his mgs withers recording

session also featured appearances by

steven stills and graham nash

in fact it was nash who gave withers the

confidence to record telling him you

don't know how good you are

and that wasn't the only impact of these

career musicians they're partially

responsible for what might be the most

iconic moment of a no sunshine the

repetition

[Music]

i know i know

withers hadn't written words for that

section yet so he just repeated i know

the result is something tense and raw as

though the sheer emotion of heartbreak

is overcoming withers and transcending

language

his delivery of this was so strong that

everyone in the room told him to keep it

just like that

withers were called to song facts there

were all these people with all this

experience and all these reputations and

i was this factory worker in here just

sort of puttering around

so when their general feeling was leave

it like that

i left it like that

withers was so much the factory worker

that the cover photo for what would

become his debut album was taken at his

factory while he was on his lunch break

fittingly that album would be titled

just as i am and being who he was bill

withers didn't jump ship from his

factory job immediately he knew the

music industry was fickle so after

laying down one of the greatest songs

ever recorded he returned to the factory

floor he would continue to work there

until he got laid off two months before

his album was scheduled to be released

after a time being unemployed withers

fortune changed when he got two letters

in the mail on the same day

he told the rolling stone

one was asking me to come back to my job

the other was inviting me on to johnny

carson and that about spelled the end of

bill withers days as a factory worker

even though ain't no sunshine was

actually released as a b-side to the

song harlem radio djs saw it for what it

was and started to spin it over and over

with the help of johnny carson aino

sunshine climbed up the billboard hot

100 and peaked at number three

before long the song went gold and

withers record company commemorated the

occasion by presenting him with a golden

toilet seat an homage to his previous

job at the airplane parts factory

from there bill withers became an icon

his simple salt of the earth songwriting

style made his song some of the most

enduring influential pieces ever

recorded and withers himself stayed

humble to the very end he summed up his

career best in an interview with rolling

stone on the occasion of him getting

inducted into the rock and roll hall of

fame what few songs i wrote during my

brief career there ain't a genre that

somebody didn't record them in i'm not a

virtuoso but i was able to write songs

that people could identify with

i don't think i've done bad for a guy

from slab fork west virginia

you