Essay #1

A Song With Many Meanings:

Comparing The Song ‘Lean on Me’ to My Life And a Novella

An Essay by Mia Perry

8th Grade English

Pine Point School

September 27, 2011

        (TS) “Sometimes in our lives, we all have pain, we all have sorrow. But if we are wise we know that there's always tomorrow”. (SD) Have you ever heard the song ‘Lean On Me’? (CM) Have you ever thought to relate a song to the novella Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck and to your own life? (CM) Steinbeck’s way of writing in that novella really portrays the need of friends to help you through hard times. (CS) In this essay, I will discuss the connections between them.
        (TS) ‘Lean on Me’ is a song by Bill Withers that was written and released in 1972 with a strong message that can relate to the novella Of Mice and Men, and to my personal life. (SD) In the novella Of Mice and Men, the main characters, Lennie and George, depend on each other for support, because they have no other friends. (CM) For example, on page 32, George said, “We kinda look after each other”, which shows only a slight amount of how much they care for each other. (CM) Since Lennie isn’t very smart, George is always there to provide for Lennie’s needs. (CM) Although it sounds as if Lennie is just laying his troubles on George, George also needs Lennie to help him get employed. (SD) Moreover, this song relates to my life when I need to lean on my teachers, family and friends for support. (CM) In school, I lean on my teachers for help when I don’t understand certain material, and at home I lean on my family for support quite frequently. (CM) I also lean on my family for support when I am participating at sports games. (CS)I wonder if Bill Withers was thinking about his life when he wrote this song, because the song can relate to your life in many ways.

        (TS) Although this song may seem like just a couple of notes and a few words, it has a very inspirational message. (SD) There is a lot of meaning behind each lyric of the song. (CM) Like in the book Of Mice and Men, the concept of looking out for each other is brought up repeatedly. (CM) ‘Lean On Me’ by Bill Withers can be interpreted and compared in many different ways, and can relate to your own personal life if you just search deep enough into the lyrics of this song. (CS) Leaning on others is a huge part of my everyday life.