Lean on Me

Lean on Me by Bill Withers is featured in Ballad, the tenth episode of Season One. It is sung by the New Directions, with solos from Artie and Mercedes, with Tina providing backup vocals.

They sing the ballad to show support toward Finn and Quinn due to the baby debacle. The song tells them that the group will support them throughout the journey of Quinn's pregnancy. Puck seems annoyed as he sings because he is the real father, which leads to him to be looking at Quinn throughout the entire song. Kurt also looks at Finn longingly through the song.

Lyrics[]

New Directions:
Hum-hum-hum-hum-hum
Hum-hum-hum-hum
Hum-hum-hum-hum-hum (Artie: Yeah)
Hum-hum-hum-hum-hum (Artie: Mmmm)
Hum-hum-hum-hum-hum (Mercedes: Ohhhh)
Hum-hum-hum-hum (Mercedes: Yeah) hum (Artie: Ohhhh noooo)

Artie:
Sometimes in our lives
We all have pain
We all have sorrow
But, if we are wise
We know that there's always tomorrow

Mercedes with Artie and New Directions:
Lean on me
When you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Till I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on

Mercedes (New Directions):
Please! (Please)
Swallow your pride (Pride)
If I have things
(with New Directions: You need to borrow)
(For) For (Ooooh) no one can fill
(Ooooh) Those of your needs
That you won't let show

New Directions (Mercedes):
So just call (with New Directions: Call!) (call on me brother) (New Directions: Hey!)
When (you need a hand) (with New Directions: You need a hand)

Mercedes with New Directions:
We all need (New Directions : Need) somebody to lean on!
(New Directions Girls: I just might have a problem)
I just might have a problem that you'll understand.
We all need somebody to lean on! (Artie: Lean on me)
Lean on me (Artie: Hey)
When you're not strong (Artie: When you're not strong)
I'll be your friend (Artie: I'll be your friend)
I'll help you carry on (Artie: Help you carry on)
For it won't be long (Artie: Oh, it won't be long)
'Till I'm gonna need (Artie: Oh, 'Till I'm gonna need, Oh) somebody to lean on

New Directions Girls (New Directions Boys):
(Just lean on me) You just, call on me brother (Hey)
When you need a hand (You need a hand)

Mercedes with New Directions Girls (New Directions Boys)
We all need (Need) somebody to lean on! (Artie: Somebody to lean on)

New Directions Boys (New Directions Girls):
(I just might)
I just might have a problem that you'll understand

Mercedes with New Directions Boys (New Directions Girls):
We all (need somebody to lean on!)
Lean on me (Artie: Oooh oh)

Artie (New Directions):
If (If)
There is a load (There's a load)
You have to bear (You have to bear)
That you can't (with New Directions: carry)
I'm (I am) (with New Directions: right up the road) (Oooh)
I'll (with New Directions Boys: share your load)

Artie and Mercedes with New Directions:
If you just call me

Mercedes with New Directions:
Call me (Artie: I'm calling)

New Directions:
Call me (Mercedes: When you need a friend)
Call me (Artie: Call me)
Call me (Tina: Call me) (Mercedes: Call me!) (Artie: When you need a friend)
Call me (Tina: When you need a friend)
Call me (Mercedes: If you need a friend)
Call me (Mercedes: Call me, uh) (Tina: Any time of day)
Call me

Mercedes:
Oooo, It won't be long
'Till I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on, lean on, lean on me

New Directions:
Lean on, lean on (Mercedes: Lean, lean on me, yeah), lean on me
When you need a friend
Lean on, lean (Mercedes: Hey, yeah!) on, lean on me, (Artie: Yeah!) lean on me
Lean on, lean on, lean on me

Mercedes with New Directions (New Directions):
I'm gonna need (Somebody) somebody to lean on

New Directions (Mercedes):
I'm gonna need (Hey!) somebody to lean on (Somebody to lean on) (Artie: Yeah!)

Mercedes with New Directions:
Yeah! (Artie: Ohh)

Trivia[]

Cory Monteith and Dianna Agron were not allowed to attend rehearsals for Lean on Me, as Brad Falchuk wanted their reactions to seem real. Both were brought to tears by the performance, with co-star Jenna Ushkowitz commenting: "It's special to have those kinds of touching moments where you can get real, raw emotions on screen."
This song was performed on the first season of The Glee Project as a homework assignment in episode 9, "Generosity," with Kevin McHale as the guest mentor.
Darren Criss sung this song for his first Glee audition. Source.
In their Showmance podcast, Jenna Ushkowitz and Kevin McHale explained that Tina's adlibs were placed in the song because Kevin had trouble performing them the way the music producers wanted.
- The specific phrase they noted Kevin having trouble with was (Tina: Any time of day).