Cleavant Derricks, who was born in 1910 in Chattanooga TN, wrote gospel standards like: “Just A Little Talk With Jesus,” “When God Dips His Love In My Heart,” “My Soul Is Satisfied,” and “We’ll Soon Be Done With Troubles And Trials.”
Derricks was also a well known pastor and choir director. In 1936 “We’ll Soon Be Done With Troubles and Trials” was published in a Stamps-Baxter hymnbook. “Just A Little Talk With Jesus” was published a short time later in another singing convention song book. Like many other songwriters of the day, Derricks received little compensation for his songs.
In the mid 70s Derricks met Aaron Brown who worked for Canaan Records. The story goes Derricks entered the recording studio and told them he had some new material if they wanted to look at it and then he told them he was the man who had penned “Just A Little Talk With Jesus.” Once Brown realized what a treasure he had been introduced too, he signed Derricks and his family to a record deal. The Derricks family recorded two albums for Canaan Records, with the second garnering an Emmy nomination.
Several big name entertainers have hit the billboard charts with songs written by Cleavant Derricks: The Oak Ridge Boys became almost synonymous with the song “Just A Little Talk With Jesus” during the late 70s and Otis McCoy had a hit with his performance of “When God Dips His Love In My Heart.”
When Brown realized Derricks had never received any royalties from his songs, he contacted BMI, an organization that represents songwriters, composers, and publishers. Brown convinced BMI to pay Derricks a lump sum of $14,000.
Although I never knew who wrote them, I grew up singing Cleavant Derricks songs in church. Recently Paul and Chitter have been giving the old toe tapper “When God Dips His Love In My Heart” a try. They haven’t gotten it down pat enough to record yet, but their trying reminded me of how good Pap and Paul did the song and how much fun it is to play.
Hope you enjoyed the song and the history.
Tipper
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I love the Presleys.. pure, raw, love.. Thank you all. Mountain folk are real folk.
Just a Little Talk with Jesus is one of my favorite songs. I did not know who wrote it. Also, Paul and Papa did a good job. Thanks for this video.
Another one of my favorites!
I love the picture of that little white church. My granddad Miller Lee Smith have to build a church up in Mount Olive North Carolina. It was a rock church. It was beautiful I love pictures of these old churches. Thank you.
I was hoping to hear Katie and Paul sing the song. Not that there is anything wrong with Pap and Paul’s version but I have been listening to a new song “We Just Won’t Let God Take Command” written by Pap. I was really impressed with Katie’s grasp of the harmony and the control she has of her voice. I’ve come to expect high quality music from Paul but now Katie is following in his footsteps.
Loved listening to that, even more the truth of what it sings about…. my feet tap and my heart and hands clap and I join right into the singing. this Sunday is the first time we’ve been back to church since covid, although we have listened on-line it sure was good seeing each other even with the distancing and mask on and off.
Can you see me smiling and keeping time on my knee?
Enjoyed it very much! Remembering the choir singing all those songs listed, but never knew that the same person had written them…
Grew up on all but My Soul is Satisfied. They came in shape note song books for our little church. We had a guy with a tuning fork, a lady lead singer and the rest just joined in. One lady sang base in our small church!! Did a good job too.
When God dips His love in my heart. Loved it!
I grew up on those songs mentioned and it’s nice to hear that others do so as well. Those songs carry such a good message and they’re fun to sing. I enjoy when you include these in your posts. Thank you!
What a precious way to start a morning! Paul and Pap’s singing just can’t be beat. It seems I was brought up on “Just a Little Talk with Jesus,” but I like this one too. I listened to it twice and will probably listen to it again this evening. I will always love the old gospel songs. Thanks for sharing this one. God bless and have a wonderful day and week ahead.
Tipper,
I appreciate the way you tell the history and all, I did not know any of that. Yesterday i was sitting on the couch, watching TV when my power went off. It stayed Off from about 15 till 1 till about 5 o’clock. Meanwhile my daughters had called and couldn’t get me, so they called My friend, Mr. Williams on Hanging Dog. He is the retired Policeman. Anyway, seems someone had wrecked and cut a light pole down up the road a piece. I don’t know how many others were effected. It’s always Something. …Ken
I never knew about Mr. Derricks either. I like to know backstories on the old songs I’ve heard and sung most of my life, especially the stories of how they came to grow out of life experiences.
Mr. Derricks getting the $14,000 long after (I expect) he had given up any thought of such a thing, if he every thought that at all, makes me think about what the bible says about “bread upon the waters” and finding after many days. But I am confident his heart was to serve the church first and foremost whether he ever got dollars. And having that faith in him makes his songs even more special. I have heard gospel singers talk about groups they know who were ruined by success as measured in fame and money. On the other hand, we see songs that have outlived their author and are still loved and meaningful. To me, a hymnal is a testament to the gifts of the Spirit, both words and music.
That was BEAUTIFUL and I very much enjoyed hearing WHEN GOD DIPS HIS LOVE IN MY HEART. Your brother and pap are very talented and harmonize well together. I don’t know if you noticed the sun streaming upon your paps arm and guitar. It is wonderful! Thanks for the Sunday morning share as I prepare my heart for worship this blessed day. As my Irish folks used to say “Top o’ the mornin’ to ya!” As my Jewish husband would say “ the Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6: 24-27.