Johnny Depp accused of stealing lyrics from the poem of an incarcerated man circa the ’70s
Depp and collaborator Jeff Beck seem to have lifted from a toast published in 1974 by folklorist Bruce Jackson
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In today’s “yep, this guy sucks” news, Rolling Stone suggests that Johnny Depp and his collaborator Jeff Beck may have stolen the lyrics to their song “Sad Motherfuckin’ Parade” from Slim Wilson, an incarcerated man whose toasts were immortalized in the 1974 book Get Your Ass In The Water And Swim Like Me by folklorist Bruce Jackson.
“The only two lines I could find in the whole piece that [Depp and Beck] contributed are ‘Big time motherfucker’ and ‘Bust it down to my level,’” Jackson claims to the outlet. “Everything else is from Slim’s performance in my book. I’ve never encountered anything like this. I’ve been publishing stuff for 50 years, and this is the first time anybody has just ripped something off and put his own name on it.”
Depp and Beck are the only writers credited on the song, and there has apparently been no acknowledgement from the duo of the original toast (titled “Hobo Ben,” which Slim himself can be heard performing on the 1976 Get Your Ass In The Water…album). Jackson’s son Michael Lee Jackson, who happens to be a lawyer focused on music and intellectual property rights, tells the outlet the credits “do not reflect the actual authorship of those lyrics,” adding, “It’s just not plausible, in my opinion, that Johnny Depp or anybody else could have sat down and crafted those lyrics without almost wholly taking them from some version of my father’s recording and/or book where they appeared.”
Rolling Stone shares some fascinating context about the oral tradition of toasts and how it pertains to copyright law, all of which essentially boils down to the fact that “the issue here may be more ethical than legal.” Jackson may have a case as the author of the book in which “Hobo Ben” was published, but it’s a murky issue since he didn’t originate the words.
The folklorist himself has reportedly given much of the profit from his work back to his incarcerated subjects, or to an inmate trust fund. “I don’t know if this record is selling. I’ve seen some reviews that I’d be very embarrassed to have gotten had they been my album,” he says in a very deserved snipe. “But if it is selling, Johnny Depp is making a lot of money on it. Should it go to him, or should it go to some place that helps the people who produced this culture?”
17 Comments
Maybe they’re interpurplating. Ever think of that?
Jeff Beck is a very good guitar player. His judgement has always been suspect. And I doubt he’s written a lyric in his life. My guess it’s Derp.
Is Depp going to sully another musician documentary?
From the looks of that picture, Joe Perry and Alice Cooper have banished him to that corner of the stage. The Asshole Corner?
I’m completely shocked to discover that Johnny Depp is a total asshole.
I’m not surprised that the guy who’s not a good musician steals lyrics
He’s trash. He reportedly smells like it and he officially talks it. Congrats for getting an appearance here – your legacy is assured.
So who did the ‘folklorest’ steal them from?
What?
Err, nobody? You can look up “folklorist” if you don’t know what one does, might save you both face and time.
It says right there in the article
“ Jackson may have a case as the author of the book in which “Hobo Ben” was published, but it’s a murky issue since he didn’t originate the words.”
Though this sentence is vague, confusing and the hyperlink uselesss.
The folklore person wrote it down after apparently hearing it from a prison inmate named Slim Wilson, who I imagine is deceased and doesn’t have any legal heirs. That’s why it’s more of an ethical issue than a legal issue since there’s no one with real standing to sue.
I’ll predict there is some sort of lawsuit coming, seeking damages that just happen to coincide with the amount Amber Heard will need to get out of bankruptcy.
At least when Dylan steals, he steals from obscure Civil War poets.
Aaand this is why Beyoncé has 24 writers credited on her song. It’s an eye popping number but at least she’s giving credit where credit is due.
One must really be into Johnny Depp to care one iota about this story.
Johnny Depp is making a lot of money on it. Should it go to him, or should it go to some place that helps the people who produced this culture?” To be clear, what culture is he referring to? Hobo culture? Is that a “thing”?