The way the world is today--what with the pandemic and the divisiveness and the climate change and the human suffering and all--certain tunes really resonate.

Bill Withers' humanitarian hit from 1972, "Lean On Me", is one of them, and Grammy-winning blues artist Keb' Mo' would no doubt agree. Yesterday he released a cover of the song that's on his upcoming album, Good To Be.

“Lean on Me is probably one of the most famous songs about friendship," says Keb' Mo' in a statement released today. "I wanted to record it to honor my friend, Bill Withers, who we sadly lost last year.

"What makes this version special to me," he adds, "is the contribution from my lifelong friend, the Freedom Rider, Ernest ‘Rip’ Patton, who passed on this year. This was the last time I got to record his booming bass voice. I’m gonna miss calling on my brothers."

Hearing this new version of "Lean On Me" got me thinking about that old, impromptu version by the Purple Tunnel People who were stuck in the Purple Tunnel of Doom.

Man, that was somethin' else.