You could listen to the studio version of this song, the one that comes on the radio occasionally, but here I share the video I love. The cool shades, the Afros, the slow build, Bill Withers’ sweaty face.
It’s Black History Month and while I’ve always thought it great bullshit that African-Americans and Women get only one month (I mean, down with the patriarchy and all), maybe it’s a start, right?
Here in the Pioneer Valley, on our local PC, mostly rock-based radio station, 93.9, WRSI, The River, they’ve got a really cool music historian from one of the 5 Colleges who comments all month on the history of Black music (he does this during Women’s History Month, too). I was inspired my him somewhat for this post, but hey, I’ve had “Use Me” in the queue for a long time. It’s such a hot song, slow, consistent, unchanging beat..and those lyrics. Smokin’.
twinklysparkles 
Passionately love this song and never heard this version. Thank you.
My favorite part is when he says “I sho’ am usin’ you”. I can just hear the shortened word and the apostrophe.
Katharine, I am a Katherine, too, but not with the “a.”
I have read your blog via the Kamper. I’m glad you stopped over here and even more, glad you discovered a new version of a song you love.
Yes, I think you are right about that spelling of the whole phrase. Sho’ ’nuff!
I am ashAMED of myself that I haven’t been here before now. So I subscribed last night. 🙂
Oh, well, Katharine, shame is only good if it motivates us to sign up for automatic blog posts. Or something like that. But not really. Strive for embarrassment over shame. That is a good instruction I heard years ago, but it seems we feel both of those things automatically. Maybe we can re-frame them. I know you weren’t talking about real shame, but it prompted that thought in me.
And again, welcome and thanks for subscribing. I can’t even keep up with my hubby’s blog right now. Yeesh. I’m so behind.
A favorite played in our house often! 😉
The kids had a wonderful African American ACappella group sing at their school on the first day of February. The kids were stoked! They said the group sang all about African American history and were fabulous.
Glad I’m catching up on your posts today!
It always sounds like you have a great bunch of songs going on in your car or home! Bravo!
I wonder what group it was.
Living in DC, do you see Sweet Honey at all? I know Ysaye Barnwell (who I’ve studied and sung with a few times here in MA), used to do some sort of open community sings…I wonder if she still does. If it is nearby at all or convenient enough, it would be well worth it. She is the best conductor and singer I’ve ever known personally. Amazing.
I’ve not seen or heard of Sweet Honey, but I’ll be sure to keep my eyes and ears open now. Thanks for letting me know!
Oh, sorry, that was a bit silly of me. Sweet Honey in the Rock are an all-female, African-American a cappella group. They were founded by Bernice Johnson Reagon over 30 years ago. I love Ysaye because I’ve done so many workshops with her. She is the member I know the most about.
Also, a former member, Evelyn Harris, now lives in Northampton. She’s pretty active in singing and theater around here.
They have a website for more info. I haven’t seen them in about 10 years, but had seen them several times over many years before that. I am not as enamored with what I’ve heard lately, but I’m also not really familiar with their newer stuff.
They are like nothing else I’ve ever seen or heard live. If you have a chance, I highly recommend them. I still haven’t taken the girls! We had tickets last year, but a big snow storm kept us away from seeing them in CT. That was a doozy of a snowy winter. Not like this, hunh?