"Lean on Me" is one of those rare songs that feels like it has existed forever. Written and performed by Bill Withers in 1972, its journey from a childhood memory in West Virginia to a global anthem is full of fascinating details. 1. The "Wurlitzer" Breakthrough Withers didn't set out to write a masterpiece that day. He had just bought a new Wurlitzer electric piano and was simply "running his fingers up and down the keys" to see how it sounded. He hit a simple, ascending chord progression that