Sunday Song Stories

Confluences and Inspirations

Most great songs have a heritage and progeny. They descend into songwriters' minds, either from the Ether, songs overheard incidentally, or as a direct tribute to an artist they admire. George Harrison wrote many tunes that clearly echoed or plagiarized Motown songs. It's hard not to hear the Chiffon's He's So Fine in My Sweet Lord. Harrison claimed that it was unintentional, but the confusion of the two songs led to fusion into one great mashup by Sweden's Brainpool in 1997.


And so, Harrison's plagiarism sparked creativity in another generation.

In 1985, Led Zeppelin's settled out of court because they had lifted riffs and phrasing in Whole Lotta Love... 


...from Willy Dixon's You Need Love. 


At the time, Robert Plant made it clear: he was glad to pay damages and residuals. It was a tribute, an act of reverence.

It was ever thus. Pete Seeger's Kisses Sweeter than Wine (a romantic song about lasting marriage) ...


...came from Leadbelly's If It Wasn't for Dicky (a farmer's lament for a dead cow).


Plato suggested that inspiration and knowledge is not acquired but recalled from memories embedded in the soul. In modern times, we clearly see that many inspirations come from radios, libraries, the internet, or music passed on from parents to children in the cradle.

In other postings, titled Sunday Song Stories, I'll meditate on many other musical confluences and inspirations. Stay tuned.