I Can't Write Left Handed

I Can't Write Left Handed - Bill Withers

Listen to 'I Can't Write Left Handed'

Even though a studio recording has never been officially released, the 1973 live recording of ‘I Can’t Write Left Handed’ at Carnegie Hall by the legendary Bill Withers is perhaps one of the most passionate live vocal performances ever committed to tape.

The track is a politically-charged tirade, from the perspective of a soldier who fought in the Vietnam War. Withers describes his recollection of the war as “one big drag” and the track itself was inspired by Withers’ meeting with a young soldier who had lost an arm. In the introduction, Withers tells of his meeting, and how the young man told him “getting shot at didn’t bother him, it was getting shot that shook him up”.

For Withers, an American born on the fourth of July ironically enough, to make such bold statements in his music at the time was almost surprising. He had previously been known as an easy-listening folk-soul singer, with massive hits ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’ and ‘Lean On Me’ gaining him international recognition. ‘I Can’t Write Left Handed’ was lyrically a far cry from what his listeners were used to.

While the classic soulful instrumental staple of Withers tracks remains, lyrically he does not hold back. Withers references his meeting with the soldier in the lyric “someone that day overlooked to tell me bullets look better, when they're coming at you than going out the other way” before seeking redemption. “Tell the Reverend Harris to pray for me, Lord... I ain’t gonna live to get much older”, Withers wails - his normally effortlessly smooth vocal peppered with a rasp emanating from the vitriol. Each verse reaches a fiery peak as the West Virginian passionately howls “he done shot me in my shoulder”.

The legacy of ‘I Can’t Write Left Handed’ lives on. Fatboy Slim sampled the track on his 2001 single ‘Demons’ featuring Macy Gray, using the timeless piano hook to equally thrilling effect. The lyrics also remain relevant, with wars still ongoing throughout the world with innocent young people and soldiers being sent to fight with no real purpose. Ultimately though, the song is a masterclass in passionate songwriting and delivery. Withers took a true-to-life experience and made it sound like he lived it himself. The real trick though, is making us believe him. Bill Hicks famously said he wanted his rock stars to “play from your fucking heart”. Bill Withers proved in 1973 that this need not apply exclusively to rock stars.

GM

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