Just saw a trailer for a movie called Green Book. And it really looked good. A story about a black piano player who toured the Deep South in the 60s. The trailer didn't tell the name of the musician, but when I got home I looked it up and found out that it was Don Shirley. I'd never heard of him...and I know a whole lot of music. So I went to YouTube to see if I could hear some of his stuff. The first offering was a piece called "Water Boy," and I gave it a spin. So to speak.
And it was just fantastic and amazing. I listened to it again. It was even more amazing, but another thing was going on, too. I was hearing some echos of something else. I quickly realized that it was the same tune as was used in the song "Put Your Hand in the Hand of the Man," which was recorded in 1970, and was written by Gene MacLellan. Just one problem. Don Shirley recorded this song...which was written by Avery Robinson...in 1965. Finding information on "Water Boy" was a bit challenging, but I found one indication that the part of this song which obviously forms the basis of "Put Your Hand in the Hand of the Man" was actually a variation on the melody of Avery Robinson's song which was created by Don Shirley.
Too bad he didn't get any royalties from the white folks who made a mint off of that song, isn't it? I mean, not just Ocean (and, in the interest of full disclosure, one of the band members was black)...this song was also recorded by Anne Murray and Bing Crosby and Lynn Anderson and Elvis Presley. And Joan Baez, Loretta Lynn, and The Oak Ridge Boys. And Johnny Cash.
Song about Jesus, too.
Hmmmpf.
I'm going to go listen to some more Don Shirley now.
And come November 21st I'll be heading out to the theater to see Green Card.
You come too.
P.S. Breaking News: I just listened to Avery Robinson's recording of "Water Boy," and I can categorically state that the "Put Your Hand in the Hand of the Man" section was not in his version. Avery Robinson's song was good, but Don Shirley's version is just amazing, life changing. Seriously. Check it out and improve the quality of your life immediately.
P.S. Breaking News: I just listened to Avery Robinson's recording of "Water Boy," and I can categorically state that the "Put Your Hand in the Hand of the Man" section was not in his version. Avery Robinson's song was good, but Don Shirley's version is just amazing, life changing. Seriously. Check it out and improve the quality of your life immediately.
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