A Stolen Song!!!!! - Page 2

StillStanding · #11 03-14-2008, 04:38 PM

Now HERE's how to play it on the organ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope the rings don't blind you!

I Won't Complain" on the Hammond B3

MissBrattified · #12 03-14-2008, 04:40 PM

To shine a little more light on the time line of Don Johnson's writing of the song:

In 1973 (3 years before I was born) my oldest sister and her husband were holding a revival at the Blue Mountain's Children's home (Bro. Pipkin's church), and my brother, Robbie, went with them. He went swimming with a boy from the orphanage at a lake there (I don't know which one), and my brother drowned.

When Bro. Johnson found out, he called my Dad and said he had recently (or "just") written a song he wanted to sing to him, and then he sang "I Can't Complain" over the phone.

So he had written it at least by August of 1973.

My mother said that he told my Dad he wrote it on the back of a paper bag.

StillStanding · #13 03-14-2008, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blubayou

Did Br Johnson have the song under copyright? If so there should not be an issue with him sharing in the profit. It is diffenently the same song.

It was copyrighted, but Bro. Johnson was just happy to see his song being sung and recorded. He didn't write the song for the money, but to be a blessing. It was only after he heard that Rev. Jones was claiming the song as his own, that he filed a lawsuit.

MissBrattified · #14 03-14-2008, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pianoman

It was copyrighted, but Bro. Johnson was just happy to see his song being sung and recorded. He didn't write the song for the money, but to be a blessing. It was only after he heard that Rev. Jones was claiming the song as his own, that he filed a lawsuit.

I agree. He wouldn't have filed the lawsuit for money, but just to be properly credited for being the author.

A_PoMo · #15 03-14-2008, 04:46 PM

Wow, what a cool story.

I'm sorry about your brother. That must have been hard on your parents.

MissBrattified · #16 03-14-2008, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A_PoMo

Wow, what a cool story.

I'm sorry about your brother. That must have been hard on your parents.

It was. They're survivors!

When my mother found out she was pregnant in 1976 (with me!!!!), my Dad was convinced that I was going to be twin boys, because God was going to give him back double what he lost. He even picked out the names Joshua and Caleb. And then I was born. LOL!!!! Double TROUBLE is what he got.

That's why I was named "Abigail." "Restorer of joy."

"Restorer of sleepless nights, empty pockets and worry" is more like it.

dizzyde · #17 03-14-2008, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

To shine a little more light on the time line of Don Johnson's writing of the song:

In 1973 (3 years before I was born) my oldest sister and her husband were holding a revival at the Blue Mountain's Children's home (Bro. Pipkin's church), and my brother, Robbie, went with them. He went swimming with a boy from the orphanage at a lake there (I don't know which one), and my brother drowned.

When Bro. Johnson found out, he called my Dad and said he had recently (or "just") written a song he wanted to sing to him, and then he sang "I Can't Complain" over the phone.

So he had written it at least by August of 1973.

My mother said that he told my Dad he wrote it on the back of a paper bag.

That is a wonderful story, and also very sad. I feel for your parents, I can't imagine anything worse than the loss of a child. My brother almost died as a teenager, and I will never forget my parents faces during that time.

But God is indeed a restorer! The first thing I thought when reading that was "Oh my Lord, her sister was married before she was born"!! That is a HUGE age gap (even if you sister married very young!), your parents were very brave!!

MissBrattified · #18 03-14-2008, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dizzyde

That is a wonderful story, and also very sad. I feel for your parents, I can't imagine anything worse than the loss of a child. My brother almost died as a teenager, and I will never forget my parents faces during that time.

But God is indeed a restorer! The first thing I thought when reading that was "Oh my Lord, her sister was married before she was born"!! That is a HUGE age gap (even if you sister married very young!), your parents were very brave!!

When I was born, my sisters' ages were: 15, 17, & 22.

My Dad always said I was an accident, and my mother would smile and say, "No you weren't." LOL!

Most of my nephews and nieces are about the same age I am.

rgcraig · #19 03-14-2008, 05:26 PM

I loved listening to the organ version of it!

Of course, John Legend is one of my all time favs so him singing it on Oprah was pretty sweet too!

Rhoni · #20 03-14-2008, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pianoman

I heard the song for the first time at a General Conference in Louisville, KY around 1975 or 1976. It was sung by Loretta Earl, who was the wife of a black UPC evangelist. I'll never forget that song bringing the house down and the glory of the Lord filled the place for about ten minutes!

I remember that too. Lorretta Earl was my prayer partner one year.