In Memoriam 2020: Bill Withers (1938–2020) Tribute List

Bill Withers, one of the most popular and influential songwriters of the 1970s, died on April 2. His importance is especially remarkable given how late he started — well into his 30s — and how short his music career was. He made eight records between 1971-78, and then one more in 1985 before walking away from the music business forever. While his songs were heartfelt and sincere, his speeches were hilarious and sarcastic, particularly the one he gave when he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. aimless
    drifting without direction
    You can make out a plan with aimless dedication
    You can hang up a million slogans in your house
    But before you put it into operation, before you man your station
    You ought to take it all in and check it all out.
    – Take It All In And Check It All Out
  2. antagonistic
    characterized by feelings of intense dislike or hostility
    "Joan Jett was talking about A&R issues. I call them antagonistic and redundant."
    – Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction speech, 2018
  3. appoint
    assign a duty, responsibility, or obligation to
    My friends feel it's their appointed duty
    They keep trying to tell me
    All you want to do is use me
    – Use Me
  4. concurrently
    overlapping in duration
    "His basketball career ran concurrently with my nine-year Navy career."
    – Speech given at Elgin Baylor statue unveiling, 2018
  5. deferment
    act of putting off to a future time
    I can't write left handed
    Would you please write a letter to my mother
    Tell her to tell the family lawyer
    Try to get a deferment for my younger brother
    – I Can't Write Left-Handed
  6. delegation
    a group of representatives
    Our crooked delegation wants a donation to send the preacher to the holy land
    Hey hey lawd honey don't give your money to that lyin', cheatin man
    – Harlem
  7. heathen
    a person who does not acknowledge your god
    Sunday morning here in Harlem now every body's all dressed up.
    The heathen folk just gettin' home from the party and the good folk just got up.
    – Harlem
  8. indignation
    a feeling of righteous anger
    You can fill up a room with idle conversation
    You can stir up a whole darn nation with your mouth
    But before you start to show your indignation about a situation
    You ought to take it all in and check it all out.
    – Take It All In And Check It All Out
  9. indiscreet
    lacking discretion; injudicious
    You got the nerve to call me narrow-minded
    ‘Cause I'm not loose and indiscreet
    But people lying down always get blinded
    By people standing on their own two feet.
    – You
  10. machismo
    exaggerated masculinity
    "You don’t have to give up any of your machismo if you lean on each other."
    – Pep talk given to USC football team, 2012
  11. melancholy
    a constitutional tendency to be gloomy and depressed
    Sometimes a song is funky
    Cause you feel that way
    A song might be easy and melancholy on another day
    – Sometimes A Song
  12. recollection
    the process of remembering
    When I need some affection you're not there,
    I close my eyes and use my recollection,
    And in one moment there's my fav'rite scene,
    Taken from the place where I keep my dreams,
    In my heart, in my heart.
    – In My Heart
  13. redundant
    more than is needed, desired, or required
    "Joan Jett was talking about A&R issues. I call them antagonistic and redundant."
    – Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction speech, 2018
  14. satin
    a smooth, shiny fabric
    In a room with soft satin pillows,
    Cracklin' fireplace keeps us warm.
    – Sweet Wanomi
  15. weary
    physically and mentally fatigued
    And now my dream talks to me
    And fixes my coffee in the morning
    And rubs my back when I'm weary
    – My Imagination
Created on Fri Apr 03 18:47:25 EDT 2020 (updated Sat Apr 04 11:27:17 EDT 2020)

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