The Story Behind The Song
After the great success of "If I Didn't Care," Dave Kapp suggested that I write a follow up song for the Inkspots' next recording. This was the one I wrote for them; being familiar with their routine, particularly that bit of conversational delivery, I designed the verse to be spoken after a first sung chorus. The groups' instant success earned them rewarding bookings all over the country. They were in great demand and since at this time they were appearing at a club in Philadelphia, Kapp arranged for me to go there and demonstrate my new song for them.
Naturally, I expected a warm reception — after all, my song had brought them fame and bookings. I was shocked to get an icy treatment from the group when we met. After a bit of probing their resentment broke out in speech. They said that they had given me a tremendous hit song and that I had given them none of my earnings.
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I reminded them that nobody had ever heard of them before they recorded "If I Didn't Care" that as a result they were booked all over the map ever week for the next two years, that their earnings far exceeded what mine would be and that I never expected to share in their good fortune. My rebuttal got me nowhere and they indicated that they would not record my new song. I left frustrated and angry.
When I told Dave Kapp what had happened, he was livid. He said: "Those ungrateful S.O.B's! Don't worry, Jack. They'll record what I want them to record!" And this song was their second recording.
