Give the World a Smile

Give the World a Smile

“Give the World a Smile” was the theme song for the Stamps Quartet, and probably the first Gospel song to become a “gold record.”

According to Otis Deaton , in November 1924, he and M. L. Yandell were students at the Stamps School of Music in Jacksonville, Texas. Yandell wrote a tune and asked James Rowe if he would write words for it. Rowe was not able to come up with suitable words, so Yandell asked Deaton, and Deaton wrote lyrics called “Keep the Song Wave Rolling On,” but when they showed this song to V. O. Stamps, he pointed out that there was already a similar song by H. W. Elliott. Deaton then wrote the lyrics for “Give the World a Smile.” V. O. paid each of them $5.00 cash for the song.

Deaton’s recollection concludes, “So I never sold the words nor assigned them to anyone. I gave V. O. permission to print the song. The next year, 1925, Frank Stamps and the Wheeler Brothers recorded it on Victor label, and that’s how ‘Give the World a Smile’ was born.” ["Gospel Music Hi-Lites", August 1966, page 12. This ephemeral publication is available in microform at the library of the Indiana University School of Music, Bloomington, Indiana]

The basic lyrics for the chorus are:

Give the world a smile each day

Helping someone on life's way

From the paths of sin oh bring the wanderers in

To the master's fold to stay

Help to cheer the lone and sad

Help to make some pilgrim glad

Let your life so be that all the world might see

The joy of serving Jesus with a smile.

The United States copyright status of this song is not clear. Assuming it was first copyrighted in 1924, it would have been eligible for renewal in 1952 (28 years after its first copyright). If it was renewed in 1952, it will enter public domain in 2019 (95 years after its first copyright), but if it was not renewed in 1952, it is now in public domain. A search of the Library of Congress web site shows that there have been later attempts to copyright this song. [ [http://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&PAGE=First Simple Search ] ] Most of them are arrangements, copyrights on collections (which do not alter the copyright status of songs in the collection, or sound recordings, but some appear to be attempts to re-copyright the original song as part of a large accumulation of songs. It should be kept in mind that only the original copyright and any 1952 renewal are valid.

The song, as sung by the Corley Family (in a style that might be called "folk-primitive")can be heard on-line. [ [http://mp34u.muzic.com/publicdomain4U/posts/20 Musical Gems From Public Domain 4U ] ] More recently it has been recorded by a number of different Gospel quartets.

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • The Best Dance Album in the World... Ever! — is a long running compilation series released by Circa Records, as part of the The Best... Album in the World...Ever! brand.TracklistingPart 1 (1993)VTDCD 17Disc 1#Black Box Ride On Time #2 Unlimited No Limit #Haddaway What is Love #Dr. Alban It… …   Wikipedia

  • The Best of Chet Atkins, Vol. 2 — Infobox Album Name = The Best of Chet Atkins, Vol. 2 Type = compilation album Artist = Chet Atkins Caption = Released = 1966 Recorded = Nashville, TN Length = 28:01 Label = RCA Victor Producer = Reviews = * Allmusic (no rating)… …   Wikipedia

  • Heal the World — Single par Michael Jackson extrait de l’album Dangerous Sortie novembre 1992 Enregistrement 1989 à 1991 Durée 6:25 Genre …   Wikipédia en Français

  • A Hole in the World — Infobox Television episode Title = A Hole in the World Series = Angel Caption = {Caption|} Season = 5 Episode = 15 Airdate = 25 February, 2004 Production = 5ADH15 Writer = Joss Whedon Director = Joss Whedon Guests = Sarah Thompson (Eve) Jonathan… …   Wikipedia

  • We Are the World 25 for Haiti — Single par Artists for Haiti Sortie 12 février 2010 Enregistrement 1 février 2010 Durée 6:56 Genre …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Around the World (chanson de Red Hot Chili Peppers) — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Around the World. Around the World Single par Red Hot Chili Peppers extrait de l’album Californication Sortie Septembre 1999 Dur …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Smile (chanson) — Smile Chanson par Charlie Chaplin Parolier John Turner Geoffrey Parsons Compositeur Charlie Chaplin Smile est une chanson à partir d une musique de Charlie Chaplin, qui est le thème du film Les Temps modernes, sorti au cinéma …   Wikipédia en Français

  • The Satanic Verses controversy — refers to the controversy surrounding Salman Rushdie s novel The Satanic Verses . In particular it involves the novel s alleged blasphemy or unbelief; the 1989 fatwa issued by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini ordering Muslims to kill Rushdie; and the… …   Wikipedia

  • Give in to Me — Single par Michael Jackson extrait de l’album Dangerous Face A Give In to Me (5:28) Face B Dirty Diana (4:52) Beat It (4:17) Sortie 15 février  …   Wikipédia en Français

  • World War I prisoners of war in Germany — The situation of World War I prisoners of war in Germany is an aspect of the conflict little covered by historical research. However, the number of soldiers imprisoned reached a little over seven million [Jochen Oltmer estimates a figure between… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”