There are at least four examples of people who stutter who have written about their stuttering in their songs. One was a hymn writer, William Cowper, who wrote "There is a Fountain" in 1771. One of the verses in this hymn is

Perhaps it was because they were fluent when they sang that several people who stutter have made singing a career including Mel Tellis, Robert Merrill, Gareth Gates, and Carly Simon.

It is rather strange when stuttering becomes part of a song since music is usually considered a "fluency enhancer" for people who stutter. That means, when they sing, many (but not all) people who stutter become totally fluent. The first person in recorded history who is said to have noted the fact that stutterers are fluent when they sing is the English composer William Byrd (1543-1623), master of music of the Chapel Royal of Queen Elizabeth I. (posted to a stuttering mailing list by Pierre B, October 15, 2001). Healey and Mallard discovered (Healey EC, Mallard AR 3rd, Adams MR., Factors contributing to the reduction of stuttering during singing, J Speech Hear Res. 1976 Sep;19(3):475-80) that for the people in their study, sung lyrics were always more fluent than spoken lyrics and it didn't even matter if the person could carry a tune or not. The effects of singing, even in a monotone or off key, made them more fluent.

Dr. W.F.Rannie who teaches geography at the University of Winnepeg wrote to me in 1998, and shared some of the story about this song. He wrote that the Katy in the song was his grandmother, Katerine Gertrude Craig Richardson of Kingston, Ontario. She was called "Kate." It was composed spontaneously at a party in 1917. The finished version of the song was first played at a garden party fund-raiser for the Red Cross at a cottage in Collins Bay on Lake Ontario just west of Kingston. Katie Richardson didn't stutter and probably the stuttering in the song it was simply a device to make the words fit the music. Many modern day song writers do the same thing, for example The Reflex by Duran Duran, My Generation by The Who, Barbra Ann by The Beach Boys, Foolin' by Def Leppard, and many others.

There are many songs about stuttering. There is a large collection on The Stuttering Home Page at http://www.mnsu.edu/comdis/kuster/media/songs.html/. Probably the best known song about stuttering is "K-K-K-Katy.". It was composed by Geoffrey O'Hara who composed many other songs, mostly hymns and died in 1967 at the age of 84.

Three contemporary professional singers, with distinctly different musical styles, do not stutter when they sing, but they have written and performed songs that talk about their stuttering. Frankie Jones and Jason Gay have both given permission for the performance of their songs about stuttering to be online for this conference. The song by John "Scatman" Larkin is online with the permission of his widow, Judy Larkin. The words to the songs are online if you are not able to access the music with your computer.

I stutter. In this song, I have tried to express the pain, fears, and frustrations of this condition. A little background on some of the reference may help you better appreciate the song. One of the hardest things I've had to deal with as a stutterer is the phone.

Several times when I've called someone and had difficulties speaking, I've been mistaken for a prank caller or been made fun of, thus the "person on the other end of my receiver" line. Also, after a show once, someone came to me and asked it I was aware that it was actually called the "rock" of Gibraltar. But when a stutterer gets hung up on a word it's called a block, thus the "block of Gibraltar" line. I always feel compelled to clarify this as that I want the public to know just how clever of a songwriter I really am. Although it is a very specific song about a very specific ailment, I believe its longing is universal, and therefore I wish to dedicate this song to all of those who feel that the thorn in their flesh can and does from time to time inhibit them from being completely who, in their hearts and dreams, they truly are. I am compelled to believe that they will all find, hopefully sooner than later, sweet relief. Until then, we would do well to be honest about our pain and perhaps even cry a little if need be. Until then, His grace must be sufficient.

what's that why do you laugh at me as if i'm some kind of fool well yes i am a fool indeed but not for what you might believe and i'm still waiting i'm still praying for sweet relief oh to speak with the tongue of an angel or maybe just mere man or even just to have the person on the other end of my receiver understand that i'm still waiting i'm still praying for sweet relief i did not choose to talk this way i had no say in the matter i am innocent of the part i might have played and there's so much more i am dying to say please don't make me repeat myself once was bad enough "look at the bright side, son, it keeps you humble it builds your character and makes you tough" nonetheless i'm still waiting all the same i'm still praying for sweet relief my tongue is tied and the cat's got it, too my mind is on fire i'm trapped under the block of gibraltar and i just want to tell you that i'm still waiting i'm still praying for sweet relief oh yes i'm still waiting i'm still praying for our sweet relief