Comments on: “Don’t worry if I write rhymes, I write checks!” http://averyfineline.com/2007/07/25/dont-worry-if-i-write-rhymes-i-write-checks/ Criticism and commentary on southern gospel music and culture Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:56:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3 By: Bucik http://averyfineline.com/2007/07/25/dont-worry-if-i-write-rhymes-i-write-checks/#comment-73982 Bucik Wed, 01 Aug 2007 13:58:24 +0000 http://averyfineline.com/2007/07/25/dont-worry-if-i-write-rhymes-i-write-checks/#comment-73982 Believe it or not (and I doubt that anyone will believe it), I am thankful to get the straight dope on "Yesterday". I was not asserting that George did not write it. I was questioning that story. QN's recounting of the tale about Haskel Cooley illustrates the problem. Was that story true? All of it? It was funny, sure. But was it true? The question arises because so many of George's stories were just stories, illustrations, jokes and parables. They were fictions used to shed light on a truth. The problem with that is that when a fiction, used to illustrate a truth, is told as if the fiction were true, credibility suffers. I've often heard preachers tell stories from the biography of someone like James S. Stewart, Dwight L. Moody or some other published preacher, and try to pass it off as if it happened to them (or their brother-in-law, cousin or someone else they know personally). These same people try to pass off someone else's sermon as their own (I believe that is plagiarism). When you realize the preacher hasn't told the truth about one part of a sermon, it makes you wonder about the other parts. So it is for me with the SG singers that introduce songs with stories that turn out not to be true. It has often made me wonder if they really wrote the songs they claimed to have written. And that is all I was saying: over the years it has made me wonder. (As Jim Croce said, "You don't tug on Superman's cape...and you don't mess around with Jim" (or George!) Believe it or not (and I doubt that anyone will believe it), I am thankful to get the straight dope on “Yesterday”. I was not asserting that George did not write it. I was questioning that story. QN’s recounting of the tale about Haskel Cooley illustrates the problem. Was that story true? All of it? It was funny, sure. But was it true?

The question arises because so many of George’s stories were just stories, illustrations, jokes and parables. They were fictions used to shed light on a truth. The problem with that is that when a fiction, used to illustrate a truth, is told as if the fiction were true, credibility suffers.

I’ve often heard preachers tell stories from the biography of someone like James S. Stewart, Dwight L. Moody or some other published preacher, and try to pass it off as if it happened to them (or their brother-in-law, cousin or someone else they know personally). These same people try to pass off someone else’s sermon as their own (I believe that is plagiarism). When you realize the preacher hasn’t told the truth about one part of a sermon, it makes you wonder about the other parts.

So it is for me with the SG singers that introduce songs with stories that turn out not to be true. It has often made me wonder if they really wrote the songs they claimed to have written. And that is all I was saying: over the years it has made me wonder.

(As Jim Croce said, “You don’t tug on Superman’s cape…and you don’t mess around with Jim” (or George!)

]]> By: QN http://averyfineline.com/2007/07/25/dont-worry-if-i-write-rhymes-i-write-checks/#comment-70327 QN Sat, 28 Jul 2007 01:01:15 +0000 http://averyfineline.com/2007/07/25/dont-worry-if-i-write-rhymes-i-write-checks/#comment-70327 Daniel, Did you misunderstand me? I was writing to Buick. Or is Avery using an AKA? Bucik, Are you specifically saying that George was one of those people that "tell tearfull stories about how God gave them the song" ? I reread your 1st comment, and am not sure how you meant it. On a similliar note, I recall a story that George told on a live recording they did in 1974 about Haskel Cooley. According to George, Haskel was in the Pacific during WWII. He was the only one left in his regiment shooting. He realized that there was only one Japaneese solider firing back at him. So, Haskel yelled to him to stop shooting so they could take a break and eat their rations.They sat together on a log and started talking. The Japaneese solider said that he was from Yakohoma (George pronounced it in such a way to make it sound like Oklahoma) Haskel supposedly said "What are we fighting for? I'm from Tulsa." I've played that CD remaster of the record hundreds of times, yet still get a laugh out of it! I've heard someone say to me that they co-wrote "From The Depths Of My Heart" with Sonya Isaacs. I checked the 3 recordings that I have the song on: all of their credits say Ben and Sonya Isaacs. No third person. I went to BMI and similliar sites and found the same thing. Daniel,
Did you misunderstand me? I was writing to Buick. Or is Avery using an AKA?

Bucik,
Are you specifically saying that George was one of those people that “tell tearfull stories about how God gave them the song” ? I reread your 1st comment, and am not sure how you meant it.

On a similliar note, I recall a story that George told on a live recording they did in 1974 about Haskel Cooley. According to George, Haskel was in the Pacific during WWII. He was the only one left in his regiment shooting. He realized that there was only one Japaneese solider firing back at him. So, Haskel yelled to him to stop shooting so they could take a break and eat their rations.They sat together on a log and started talking. The Japaneese solider said that he was from Yakohoma (George pronounced it in such a way to make it sound like Oklahoma) Haskel supposedly said “What are we fighting for? I’m from Tulsa.”
I’ve played that CD remaster of the record hundreds of times, yet still get a laugh out of it!
I’ve heard someone say to me that they co-wrote “From The Depths Of My Heart” with Sonya Isaacs. I checked the 3 recordings that I have the song on: all of their credits say Ben and Sonya Isaacs. No third person. I went to BMI and similliar sites and found the same thing.

]]> By: Bucik http://averyfineline.com/2007/07/25/dont-worry-if-i-write-rhymes-i-write-checks/#comment-69467 Bucik Fri, 27 Jul 2007 01:51:54 +0000 http://averyfineline.com/2007/07/25/dont-worry-if-i-write-rhymes-i-write-checks/#comment-69467 Hey, don't get me wrong. I loved George, too. Great voice and winsome personality. But over time we learned that lots of the stories he told from the stage were not true. Some were jokes told as if true. Some were old sermon illustrations told as if they had happened to him. Once credibility is compromised, it is hard to regain. The talent and personality were undiminished. But the believability suffered. Hey, don’t get me wrong. I loved George, too. Great voice and winsome personality. But over time we learned that lots of the stories he told from the stage were not true. Some were jokes told as if true. Some were old sermon illustrations told as if they had happened to him. Once credibility is compromised, it is hard to regain. The talent and personality were undiminished. But the believability suffered.

]]> By: Daniel J. Mount http://averyfineline.com/2007/07/25/dont-worry-if-i-write-rhymes-i-write-checks/#comment-69460 Daniel J. Mount Fri, 27 Jul 2007 01:40:48 +0000 http://averyfineline.com/2007/07/25/dont-worry-if-i-write-rhymes-i-write-checks/#comment-69460 QN, Avery doesn't comment at other blogs. If he posted a comment on my blog, it would be such a momentous event in Southern Gospel that even Singing News would post an article on it on their main page..........................well, I exaggerate. :P QN,

Avery doesn’t comment at other blogs. If he posted a comment on my blog, it would be such a momentous event in Southern Gospel that even Singing News would post an article on it on their main page……………………..well, I exaggerate. :P

]]> By: QN http://averyfineline.com/2007/07/25/dont-worry-if-i-write-rhymes-i-write-checks/#comment-69242 QN Thu, 26 Jul 2007 18:42:43 +0000 http://averyfineline.com/2007/07/25/dont-worry-if-i-write-rhymes-i-write-checks/#comment-69242 Bucik- Please go to www.southerngospelblog.com and site the specific evidence you have for your claim about "Yesterday". I'm sure that many of us die-hard George fans over there think this is a bunch of balogna. Again, please give your proof. Thanks, QN Bucik-
Please go to www.southerngospelblog.com and site the specific evidence you have for your claim about “Yesterday”. I’m sure that many of us die-hard George fans over there think this is a bunch of balogna.
Again, please give your proof.
Thanks,
QN

]]> By: www.southerngospelblog.com » Blog Archive » An unlikely Rumor refuted: George Younce and “Yesterday” http://averyfineline.com/2007/07/25/dont-worry-if-i-write-rhymes-i-write-checks/#comment-68958 www.southerngospelblog.com » Blog Archive » An unlikely Rumor refuted: George Younce and “Yesterday” Thu, 26 Jul 2007 09:57:58 +0000 http://averyfineline.com/2007/07/25/dont-worry-if-i-write-rhymes-i-write-checks/#comment-68958 [...] The other day, a pseudonymous commenter on Averyfineline said this: And I am sure that some of the singers who have already passed away got credit for songs they did not write. I understand that sometimes they just bought the rights to the songs - such as George Yonce and “Yesterday.” [...] […] The other day, a pseudonymous commenter on Averyfineline said this: And I am sure that some of the singers who have already passed away got credit for songs they did not write. I understand that sometimes they just bought the rights to the songs - such as George Yonce and “Yesterday.” […]

]]> By: Fawn http://averyfineline.com/2007/07/25/dont-worry-if-i-write-rhymes-i-write-checks/#comment-68393 Fawn Wed, 25 Jul 2007 18:47:48 +0000 http://averyfineline.com/2007/07/25/dont-worry-if-i-write-rhymes-i-write-checks/#comment-68393 I love hearing Dolly Parton talk about how Elvis was going to cut "I Will Always Love You" if she gave him publishing/credit. She said she just couldn't do it and cried herself to sleep. On behalf of Dolly with all the hindsight we have now on this song, I say, "Whew." I love hearing Dolly Parton talk about how Elvis was going to cut “I Will Always Love You” if she gave him publishing/credit. She said she just couldn’t do it and cried herself to sleep. On behalf of Dolly with all the hindsight we have now on this song, I say, “Whew.”

]]> By: Bucik http://averyfineline.com/2007/07/25/dont-worry-if-i-write-rhymes-i-write-checks/#comment-68183 Bucik Wed, 25 Jul 2007 11:54:48 +0000 http://averyfineline.com/2007/07/25/dont-worry-if-i-write-rhymes-i-write-checks/#comment-68183 I had long suspected this. And I am sure that some of the singers who have already passed away got credit for songs they did not write. I understand that sometimes they just bought the rights to the songs - such as George Yonce and "Yesterday". What burns is when, in addition to that duplicity, they tell tearful stories about how God gave them the song during a time of crisis. It's a crock! I had long suspected this. And I am sure that some of the singers who have already passed away got credit for songs they did not write. I understand that sometimes they just bought the rights to the songs - such as George Yonce and “Yesterday”. What burns is when, in addition to that duplicity, they tell tearful stories about how God gave them the song during a time of crisis. It’s a crock!

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