Grandma's Hands
{{short description|1971 single by Bill Withers}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Grandma's Hands
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Bill Withers
| album = Just as I Am
| B-side = Sweet Wanomi
| released = 1971
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Soul
| length = 2:00
| label = Sussex
| writer = Bill Withers
| producer = Booker T. Jones
| prev_title = Ain't No Sunshine
| prev_year = 1971
| next_title = Lean on Me
| next_year = 1972
| misc = {{External music video|header=Audio video|{{YouTube|TdrChyGb574|"Grandma's Hands"}} }}
}}
"Grandma's Hands" is a song written by Bill Withers about his grandmother. It was included on his first album Just as I Am (1971), and was released as a single, reaching number 18 on the Best Selling Soul Singles chart and 42 on the Billboard Hot 100.[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p5859|pure_url=yes}} Bill Withers – Billboard Singles] on allmusic.com In Canada, it reached No. 37 on the RPM magazine charts. The song was produced by Booker T. Jones and also featured drummer Al Jackson Jr. and bassist Donald "Duck" Dunn from Booker T. & the M.G.'s, as well as Stephen Stills on electric guitar. "Grandma's Hands" was recently re-imagined in picture book form,{{Cite web |title=Grandma's Hands – the Book – Based on Bill Withers' 1971 album, Just As I Am. |url=https://grandmashandsbook.com/ |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=grandmashandsbook.com}} published by Bill Withers' wife Marcia, daughter Kori,{{Cite web |title=Marcia Withers and Kori Withers – Grandma's Hands – the Book |url=https://grandmashandsbook.com/about/marcia-withers-and-kori-withers/ |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=grandmashandsbook.com}} and Freedom Three Publishing.
Lyrics
Withers' maternal grandfather, Gracchus Monroe Galloway (1855–1937), had been born into slavery. As a child, Withers attended church with his maternal grandmother, Lula (1868–1953). He later said: "It was spontaneous singing, there was nothing programmed. People got up and sang and everybody would join in. It was my favorite kind of singing."{{cite web|author=Rock and Pop Features |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopfeatures/7928784/Bill-Withers-interview.html |title=Bill Withers interview |publisher= The Telegraph |date=2010-08-10 |access-date=2014-06-07}}
A theme of the song is the caring force of Grandma's hands, as expressed in the last verse:
:"Grandma's hands used to hand me piece of candy.
:Grandma's hands picked me up each time I fell.
:Grandma's hands, boy they really came in handy
:She'd say, "Mattie don't you whip that boy.
:What you want to spank him for?
:He didn't drop no apple core,"
:But I don't have Grandma anymore,
:If I get to heaven I'll look for
:Grandma's hands.
:Um, mm, mm."
Cover versions
The song has since been covered by many other artists, including Keb' Mo', Al Jarreau, Kristy Lee, Meg Mac, Merry Clayton, Livingston Taylor, the Staple Singers, Gladys Knight, Tony Orlando, Barbra Streisand, Gregory Porter, Will Downing, Take 6, Josh Garrels,{{cite web|url=http://noisetrade.com/masonjarmusic/decoration-day-volume-2 |title=Mason Jar Music : Decoration Day, Volume 2 | Free Music Download |publisher=Noisetrade.com |access-date=2014-06-07}} Marti Pellow, Simply Red, Starsailor, Gil Scott-Heron, Everlast, Jeff Lorber, Paddy Casey in Today FM's Even Better Than the Real Thing, Willie Nelson, Ron Kenoly,Russ Taff, and Jamie Foxx. It is also sampled for the hook of Blackstreet's "No Diggity".,{{cite web|url=http://www.whosampled.com/Bill-Withers/Grandma's-Hands/ |title=Grandma's Hands on WhoSampled |website=WhoSampled |access-date=2015-09-23}} Ace Of Cups
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Bill Withers}}
{{Willie Nelson singles|state=collapsed}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Bill Withers
Category:Sussex Records singles
Category:Songs about grandparents
{{1970s-single-stub}}