Bill Withers - I Can't Write Left Handed Lyrics

Even more relevant today. I' m rehearsing this song now. smdh

Whos here cause WWIII

momentum makes me sick.
under labour we had no new build.
labour will bankrupt our country in 3 yrs

As relevant today as it was back then. This world is crazy man.

Here because grandson (im not a grandma, thus is the name of a musician) recommended this👆

It's October the 6th.

Bill is my main man.  
I would wash his feet with the tears I shed whenever I hear this song!

One of my all time favorite songs. This song got me through the 70s and eased my mind while I was on Active Duty.
I still can’t listen to it and not shed a tear. 😢

Check out my post above brother. Why do we kill?

My friend who died in my arms was his favorite song .

I can't write left-handed
Would you please write a letter, write a letter to my mother?
Tell her to tell, tell her to tell, tell her to tell the family lawyer
Trying to get, trying to get a deferment for my younger brother

Tell the Reverend Harris to pray for me, Lord, Lord, Lord
I ain't gonna live, I don't believe
I'm going to live to get much older
Strange little man over here in Vietnam
I ain't, I ain't never seen
Bless his heart ain't never done nothing to
He done shot me in my shoulder

Boot camp we had classes
You know we talked about fighting, fighting everyday
And looking through rosy, rosy colored glasses
I must admit it seemed exciting anyway

Oh, but something that day overlooked to tell me, Lord
Bullets look better, I must say
Brother when they ain't coming at you
But going out the other way

And please call up the Reverend, call up
Call up the Reverend Harris
Tell him to ask the Lord to do some good things for me
Tell him I ain't gonna live, I ain't gonna live
I ain't gonna live to get much older, oh Lord
Strange little man over here in Vietnam
I ain't never seen
Bless his heart ain't never done nothing to
He done shot me in my shoulder
Lord

This is still one of the most powerful lyrics of all time:

Boot camp we had classes. You know we talked about fighting-fighting everyday.
And looking through rosy colored glasses, I must admit it seemed exciting anyway.
Oh, but someone that day overlooked to tell me bullets look better,
I must say - brother - when they're coming at you than going out the other way

I like this best of all his songs.

Bill Withers, born a poor black kid in the poor black community of Slab Fork, WVA. This USAF Vietnam veteran made the best of what life dealt him. I love Bill.

Thank you

Beautiful. And what a guitar tone. Wow.

THE IDEA OF WAR AND VIOLENCE WILL COME TO ANY MIND BUT IF WE ARE WISE WE AVOID IT BEFORE IT BECOMES A GANG OR A GROUP BECAUSE REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE DIFFERENCES MIGHT BE THE SIMILARITIES ARE THE SAME. WE WANT TO LIVE AND LOVE OUR FAMILIES... #ONELOVE

who's still listening to this jam in 2018 .. reminds me of my dad . he used to play it when I was 11 years old and now I'm 23 years old .. and he passed away 2006 💔 may he rest in peace ✊❤❤ still gona play this to my children ❤

A guy that I work with turned me on to this song. Very deep and moving. Thanks Champ.

I have a revolutionary war ancestor who made my grandmother eligible for the DAR.
My wife has an ancestor who served (union) in the Civil War.
My father was a Marine officer in the occupation at Nagasaki at the end of WW2,
and my mother was a stateside WW2 Navy nurse.
And I have other relatives who did service.
I served stateside in the Marines during Nam.
I was later a war protester at times in
both college and law school.

I don’t think I had ever heard this song before. How did I miss it?
I’m familiar with a lot of the ant-war tunes. Alice’s Restaurant,; Volunteers of America;
Country Joe,; Talkin VietNam Pot Luck; Where Have All the Flowers; Johnny I hardly Knew; and others. .
I missed this one.

An interesting contrast would be the Ink Spots (WW2) cover of “This is worth fighting for”.
At the highest level all war is senseless. But participation in a senseless war can still be necessary. As far as I know, VietNam was a senseless war, with senseless participation, and stupid rules and strategies. However, but for some other wars and shed blood, and willingness fight when sufficiently provoked, we would nearly all be victims of tyranny.

Deeply impressed of the message of this song. Masterpeace. Peace.

Still Bill.....👌👌👌amazing Bill..

outstanding

death from above

A brilliant singer
<3

Black man rears...

What a guy Billy was, watch a resent documentary about his life, amazing guy. Love him.

this song is the song that we need to understand when we are south african is hit song and beautiful

brad Kennett, welcome home brother...........xin loi to negative comments here on this page, they don't understand.

So sad but so beautiful.......

I saw Bill on AM Joy this morning and he talked about this song. I had not played it years. Now and in the past, when the cease fire is called, people always have to come together work things out. I've got an idea, why don't we try working things out before the fighting.

I've been on a real Bill Withers phase lately...He is one of the greatest singer songwriters of all time and criminally underrated. Not too many songs make me cry but this does it to me every time.

try looking up Anthony David's cover of this, released recently

ME TOO BROTHER.

If you're open try John Prime "Lake Marie"

I know but I did it my way.

Soft good vibes.

STOP THE WAR. AMEN.

The 1st time I heard this is when I was Stationed in Germany in 1987,my Battle Buddy Wade Davis came to my room with the Cassette tape of Bill Withers,he knew me as the Hard charging Soldier that I was and knew it would melt me and it did! Wade if you are out in Cyber world! Thank you and God Bless!

love this song so so much

Profound

love it.Bad

love this song

To all the nam vets out there , this must describe the war

Andrew McMeekin:  This is for you!  Thank you for echoing my feelings  & those of so many veterans like myself who served during the Vietnam War Era.  Prior to being drafted I had no interest or desire to participate in that 'mess'.  "strange little man over here...."Here we are now...

amazing!

What are the chords.

this still makes me cry..............asante BILL.....4EVER

It's just been on the Huey Morgan show on bbc radio 2 very moving

Painful to listen to.
Was before my time and he transports you right to the battle field. A life, a limb, a mind unrightfully destroyed.

Is czechstallion from Czech? :)

thanks for sharing "czechstallion" this is a fine piece.. the awesome Voice off Bill Withers.. Goosebumps !!!

Just discovered this Bill Withers song. Politicians spout, Generals shout, Young men hurt.

Shivers..

*Withers

Such an amazing song, does anyone know what date in 1973 this was released?

My brother Brent was a Vietnam War combat Veteran (1969-1970) who died from complications of Agent Orange on October 24, 2014.  RIP Brent

@Paula Copeland My dad who served in Vietnam from 1968-1970 died of cancer in 2000, as he always believed and presumably from complications of Agent Orange also.... This song really hits home.

sorry for your LOSS....thank you Brent for your service and the ultimate sacrifice

Paula Copeland Sorry to hear about your brother. My paternal uncle also fought in Vietnam. He died 10 years ago of cancer.

Long Live Vietnam!

I love this song.

I remember asking my Dad,  what I'm i going to do if my number comes up. He looked into my eyes and said, THAN YOU GO JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. So I went... Feb 1969 - April 1970. 25th ID out of CU CHI Vietnam.  This Song by Bill is right on.

Roger Keulen The war was pretty much a resistance war against Northern aggression

for whatever life is worth living, its not worth dying too soon

Brad, thank you for your service. And to anyone else who has served honorably.

That said, the nation's leaders have a moral responsibility to only put our service members in harm's way when it's legitimately for the nation's defense. It's not automatic that one should go, no matter what. When it's for the rich to get richer (especially when their kids get to take a pass), or when politicians keep the meat grinder going to save face (theirs), or other such reasons that's not legitimate.

Resistance against a corrupt government doesn't mean only complete overthrow of that government or nothing. In general, it means protest and resistance when it's wrong. Conservatives, don't automatically acquiesce in a case like this -- or you may never have the chance to overthrow that government later.

Parents are supposed to do that!

Dont think thats the message

papatinho esteve aqui

Kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

Edson Júnior ele fez uma musica sampleando essa, se chama Pra Minha Mãe

This song goes to all fighting in Ukraine, the Middle-East, Iraq wherever, and for whatever reason. The message is this, when it's over you will realize that all the horror, pain and destruction wasn't worth it. You might as well stop before getting hurt, or before you do something you will never be able to forgive yourself for. Go home, make love, and have a beer instead! Cheers!

+János Borbély well said.....

Fighting for peace is like fucking for virginity. George Carlin

+Mogens Blenner RE-SPECT!

18 veterans commit suicide - and one active duty soldier commits suicide - every day. Over 5000 soldiers died in Iraq and Afghanistan for no good reason - 50,000 died in Nam for no good reason. War is at the top of the list of stupid things that humans do - and that is a very long list.

korean War was the armament industry's wet dream, rehearsal for Vietnam and to stroke MacArthurs ego..

my bff Captain William S Sherman shot himself in the heart in 1985. may God give you eternal peace and rest Billy.

I saw a young man who had just come back from Afgan. made me think of this song . his right arm was missing .

One of my many favs of Truthful Bill :) thanks for uploading this musical Masterpiece,Subbed and shared.

classic

Damn Bill Wither will always be the Truth !!!!!!!

Hey thanks Brother that means a lot

Welcome Home Brother!

Kitty2pat, we feel this song in our spirits, I too am crying just like when i listen to Grand Ma's hands. Bill has wrote songs that speak to our experiances he preached to us through music. For those of you how dislike ours brothers music i aint upset with you that's your choice. We love our Elder brother's music he cross generations spoke to many with his music, sit back and listen again open our minds eye and you too we see. Peace & Love to all

Just perfect

Zing! Zing! Zing! " Is that somebody shooting at us? I can't hear a bang? Lets get the heck out of here. Ruuun."

This is a very powerful song. Bill Withers did very well to describe the sense of resignation that the (now disabled) soldier must've felt... and also captures that dark place that we all possess which is brought to the fore during wartime... Great song - love it....

Like you, in the 70's. When "Lean on Me" came out, I think first, followed by "Use Me" and by then, I was hooked, ready for the double-album "live.
Have you watched his documentary released this past May, called "Still
Bill,"? If not, please do so; it's very well done.

Yes, I was made aware of Bill in the 70s, thanks to my sisters. As the years roll by the dude sounds better and better to my ears. Great singer, beautiful songwriter. When was the first time you were made aware of Bill?

I love him, too. and would love to sit and have a conversation with him, though, I think, most of what's he got to say, he said in the documentary.
Are you old enough to remember him from the '70's ? No problem if you aren't, just curious.

Bill Withers is so cool. And, a humble, grounded guy.. "Still Bill" .. The documentary is great.

Through the course of time this song has been in my memory since childhood, The lyrics displays the haunting truth of war. I pray for the innocent as well as the veterans and hope that God's angels comfort on them all. sincerely, Alice the Rose.....

this is one of the best, and most important songs ever created. Wars need to be visualized through the average veteran. Its painful to think of the internal horrors these guys have

"I ain't gonna livei dont believe i'm gonna live to get much older!" what a crack on your neck!

So powerful, will you please write a letter to my mother?

What's as bad what Bill describes in this song is MIA's (soldiers missing in action, yet status is unclear). I recently re-read "Kiss the Boys Goodbye" after all of these years. Any culture that isn't western is foreign. But to think that boys (for that's what they were) may have been left to suffer their fates after getting caught-up in some black-op is crazy. Now, think about our soldiers over in the
Middle East. Religion is the law. Most troops aren't ready for that. Pray, if you care.

Preach my friend. Have you seen the new(ish) documentary on YouTube called "Still Bill?"
If not, please watch it. It's superb and his personality and character are so different than I pictured. It's exceedingly well-done.

I haven't heard this in a long time. I'm crying like I did the last time---the stakes are higher !

No, people still protest wars, the only difference is that they get shot by the police instead of the national guard.

its not about writing left or right handed....its bout that arm that went off and left her twin. you can always learn how to write left handed...but whats the reason behind it is what is all bout this song.

Iosieff thanks for clarifying

Were you in the NAM?? IF so what class?

i'm a vet from the forgoten war known as as a police action. our blood was as red as yours. thank you for your deeds. but you cant beat the truth in this song.

I'm having trouble with the fact that one person doesn't like this...how can you not be moved by this song? This is timeless poetry with a powerful message delivered by a wonderful voice. Bill Withers is a living legend who is still a mild gentleman in the truest sense of the word.

His storytelling is what adds an extra element to this song. He's one of soul's legends...

I love Bill. His songs tell a story every time. This is one of my favorites. I have not served in the military, but my Grandpa, Dad and Brother were all lifetimers in the Navy.

Thank you for your service perkygrubb.

I was with the 25th ID out of Cu Chi Vietnam class of 69-71. I never heard this until I came home. This song is right on, I remember my first Baptism of fire which lasted only about 1/2 hour. I shook for almost 3 hours.. Great song thanks for up-loading.

thank allah i am left handed

i dont know how many people i have tried to explain how it was to be living in the sixties finnaly i just tell them to sit and listen to some of our music with an open mind because it is really hard to explain how it was unless you lived through it

Happy Memorial Day. God Bless America.

@drty3 Good call. That image with this song is exceptional.

now this is what living for ever look like after songs like this who can forget this brother,long live my brother and one love

Bill's the man

Very Deep Song.

Thanks bro, great song, great photos. I specially like the one at 4:00, very emotional, strong symbolic art. Would you please tell me the name of it or the artists name. Again thanks.

drty3 youngest of 10 my 2nd oldest brother did 2 years over there still living he made me really understand love him to death