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Ken Burch

(50,254 posts)
Fri Sep 7, 2012, 06:14 AM Sep 2012

Joe South, Singer And Writer of Hit Songs, Dies at 72

Source: New York Times

Joe South, a singer-songwriter who wove confrontational lyrics into bouncy pop hits of the late 1960s and early ’70s, including “Games People Play,” “Walk a Mile in My Shoes” and “(I Never Promised You a) Rose Garden,” died on Wednesday at home in Flowery Branch, Ga., north of Atlanta. He was 72.

The cause was apparently a heart attack, said Judy Thompson, a longtime friend.

Mr. South’s best-known song became a hit when it was recorded by someone else. “Rose Garden,” sung by Lynn Anderson, reached No. 3 on the Billboard pop chart in 1971, four years after Mr. South wrote it. The chorus — “I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden/Along with the sunshine there’s gotta be a little rain sometime” — reflected a world-weariness characteristic of his writing.

In 1969 he targeted religion and insincerity in “Games People Play,” which thrust him toward stardom:

People walking up to you

Singing glory hallelujah,

And they’re tryin’ to sock it to you

In the name of the Lord.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/06/arts/music/joe-south-singer-and-songwriter-dies-at-72.html



Just thought I'd add this other song of his here...I didn't realize Joe had done it...



RIP, Joe. Thanks for the truth in all your lyrics.
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Joe South, Singer And Writer of Hit Songs, Dies at 72 (Original Post) Ken Burch Sep 2012 OP
He wrote and sang some great songs. Hubert Flottz Sep 2012 #1
There is a lot more information about South.. sendero Sep 2012 #2
Here's thread I posted on this yesterday: silvershadow Sep 2012 #3
Didn't he do Poke Salad Annie? Cracklin Charlie Sep 2012 #4
It was someone else PMcDee Sep 2012 #6
I loved him. pacalo Sep 2012 #5

sendero

(28,552 posts)
2. There is a lot more information about South..
Fri Sep 7, 2012, 07:14 AM
Sep 2012

... on his Wikipedia page. He did not live an easy life but he did write some great songs.

pacalo

(24,721 posts)
5. I loved him.
Fri Sep 7, 2012, 03:05 PM
Sep 2012

My absolute favorite of all his songs (thanks, Joe) is on my iTunes/iPod:

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