He had met and was encouraged by Bill Lowery, an Atlanta music publisher and radio personality. He began his recording career in Atlanta with National Recording Corporation, where he served as staff guitarist along with other NRC artists Ray Stevens and Jerry Reed. South's earliest recordings have been re-released by NRC on CD.
South's compositions have been recorded by many artists. They include Billy Joe Royal's hits "Down in the Boondocks" and "Hush" (later a hit for Deep Purple and Kula Shaker), the Osmonds' hit "Yo-Yo," and Elvis Presley's Las Vegas-era version of "Walk a Mile in My Shoes", also recorded by Bryan Ferry and Coldcut. South's most commercially successful composition is Lynn Anderson's 1971 country/pop monster hit "(I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden", which was a hit in 16 countries worldwide. Lynn Anderson won a Grammy Award for her vocals and South won a Grammy Award for writing the song. South would go on to write more hits for Anderson such as, "How Can I Unlove You" (Billboard #1) and "Fool Me" (Billboard #3).
South was also a prominent sideman, recording the memorable guitar part on Aretha Franklin's "Chain of Fools", Tommy Roe's "Sheila" as well as appearing on Bob Dylan's album Blonde on Blonde. He also played the electric guitar part that was added to Simon & Garfunkel's first hit, "The Sound of Silence".
The suicide of his brother, Tommy, drove South into a deep depression.[citation needed] Tommy had been his backing band's drummer and accompanied South not only in live performances, but also on recording sessions when South produced hits for other artists, including Billy Joe Royal, Sandy Posey, and Friend & Lover.
South was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1979.
In 1988 Dutch DJ, Jan Donkers, interviewed South for VPRO-radio. The radio show that aired the interview also played four new songs by South, but a new record was not released.
In 1994 South played several concerts in England.
On 13 September 2003 South was inducted into Georgia Music Hall of Fame, and played together with Buddy Buie, J.R. Cobb and Chips Moman at the induction ceremony.
Walk A Mile In My Shoes
Joe South Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For just one hour
If we could find a way
To get inside each other's mind
If you could see you through my eyes
Instead of your ego
I believe you'd be
That you've been blind
Walk a mile in my shoes
Walk a mile in my shoes
And before you abuse, criticize and accuse
Walk a mile in my shoes
Now, your whole world
You see around you
Is just a reflection
And the law of Karma
Says you gonna reap
Just what you sow, yes you will
So unless you've lived a life
Of total perfection
You better be careful of every stone
That you should throw, yeah
And yet we spend the day throwing stones
At one another
'Cause I don't think or wear my hair
The same way you do
Well, I may be common people
But I'm your brother
And when you strike out and try to hurt me
It's hurtin' you, Lord have mercy
Walk a mile in my shoes
Walk a mile in my shoes
Hey, before you abuse, criticize and accuse
Walk a mile in my shoes
There are people on reservations
And out in the ghettos
And brother, there
But for the grace of God
Go you and I, yeah, yeah
And if I only had the wings
Of a little angel, yeah
Don't you know I'd fly
To the top of the mountain
And then I'd cry, hey
Walk a mile in my shoes
Walk a mile in my shoes
Hey, before you abuse, criticize and accuse
Better walk a mile in my shoes
(Drop what you're doin')
Walk a mile in my shoes
Walk a mile in my shoes
Oh, before you abuse, criticize and accuse
Walk a mile in my shoes, yeah
Joe South's song "Walk A Mile In My Shoes" is a call for people to try and understand each other's perspectives and experiences before they judge or criticize them. The first verse talks about the idea of empathy, with the lines "If I could be you, if you could be me/ For just one hour/ If we could find a way/ To get inside each other's mind". The second verse discusses the concept of karma, stating that if people throw stones at others they will only end up hurting themselves. The third verse highlights the idea that we all have experienced struggles in life, regardless of our status or appearance, with the lines "I may be common people/ But I'm your brother/ And when you strike out and try to hurt me/ It's hurtin' you, Lord have mercy".
Overall, the song is urging people to be more compassionate and understanding towards each other. It reminds listeners that everyone has a unique perspective and story, and encourages people to try and see things from a different point of view before they judge or belittle others.
Line by Line Meaning
If I could be you, if you could be me
For just one hour
If we could find a way
To get inside each other's mind
Imagine for a moment if we could switch places and experience life from each other's perspective.
If you could see you through my eyes
Instead of your ego
I believe you'd be
Surprised to see
That you've been blind
If you could look at yourself without your self-absorbed attitude, you might see your own flaws that you've been oblivious to.
Walk a mile in my shoes
Walk a mile in my shoes
And before you abuse, criticize and accuse
Walk a mile in my shoes
Before you judge me or treat me poorly, try to understand my situation and feelings.
Now, your whole world
You see around you
Is just a reflection
And the law of Karma
Says you gonna reap
Just what you sow, yes you will
Everything you experience is a reflection of your own attitudes and actions. Karma suggests that you will experience the consequences of your behavior.
So unless you've lived a life
Of total perfection
You better be careful of every stone
That you should throw, yeah
If you haven't led a perfect life, then you should think twice before being critical or hurtful to others.
And yet we spend the day throwing stones
At one another
'Cause I don't think or wear my hair
The same way you do
We tend to be quick to judge and criticize others who are different from us in various ways.
Well, I may be common people
But I'm your brother
And when you strike out and try to hurt me
It's hurtin' you, Lord have mercy
Despite any differences between us, we're all human beings and should treat each other with respect and kindness. Harming others will ultimately hurt us as well.
There are people on reservations
And out in the ghettos
And brother, there
But for the grace of God
Go you and I, yeah, yeah
There are people facing disadvantages and hardships in life, and we should all recognize that it could be any of us who are going through those struggles.
And if I only had the wings
Of a little angel, yeah
Don't you know I'd fly
To the top of the mountain
And then I'd cry, hey
If I had the opportunity to see our world from a different perspective, I might be overwhelmed with the sadness and injustices that exist.
Walk a mile in my shoes
Walk a mile in my shoes
Hey, before you abuse, criticize and accuse
Walk a mile in my shoes
Once again, before you hurt or judge others, try to understand their perspective and feelings.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Joe South
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@chrisp9538
They are. This is based off a well known poem by an unknown author. Men with Broken Hearts. "'ve never stood in another man's shoes
Or saw things through his eyes
Or stood and watched with helpless hands
While the heart inside you dies.
So help your brother along the way
No matter where he starts.
For the same God that made you,
Made him too,
these men with broken hearts
@jerrymoore8355
Just played this song at my brother's funeral! Stopped all the critics and hardly a dry eye in the house. He had an addiction that has killed so many! Miss him dearly!
@jerrymoore8355
So many people quick to put a man down,yet never walked in his shoes, or understood his problems!
@slimbarentse
My deepest condolences... 🙏🙏🙏
@jerrymoore8355
@@slimbarentse Thanks Slim. He's the second brother I've lost to addiction. At the first funeral in 2003,'Ivheard people say how many chances he had and how he wouldn't listen and a victim of his own decisions. I put a good deal of thought into this and just happened to be playing a 70's hits track and the song Walk A Mile came on. It was what my brother would say to me and did on many occasions.
@billwest69
You have my deepest sympathy. Stay strong brother.
@shirleycarter2288
God bless you and your family. Must have been a complicated person. Aren't we all. I pray your brother rests in peace. I lost my sister recently 😞. I don't know if you ever rid that pain. Prayers for you my brother. 🙏🙏🙏
@curtis866
The lyrics to this should be framed and hanging on a wall in every household. Its fantastic and so true
@depaola63
Absolutely ❤️🎶⭐️✊
@jerrymoore8355
It could be put in churches too! Casting stones has killed several people too! Brother and sister better than you are in most churches and boy do they like to throw stones! I don't have time to walk in anybody else's shoes, because it's hard enough to walk in my own!
@williamjohnson5031
What did The Lord Jesus Christ
Do for me 🤔
He Walked a mile in my shoes.
And where did my shoes take Him 🤔
To a Cross.
To an Exicution.
To Death and Hell.
WOW !!!
He wore my shoes 🙏