In a sermon from 2010, Shirley Caesar was just trying to praise God. The pastor and gospel singer named her blessings, which were the “greens, beans, potatoes, tomatoes…” on her dinner table. In November, the internet turned that snippet into the viral Thanksgiving-themed “U Name It Challenge. ” Now, Caesar is going to court over one request: Stop inserting sin into her sermon!.
Caesar was okay with the videos going viral that had a Thanksgiving theme, but she wasn’t happy when an Atlanta DJ posted one that had alcohol in it. CBS Atlanta reports that Caesar has now filed an injunction against DJ Suede for posting a “U Name It Challenge” video that “violates the brand and name of a Christian pastor” and used her sermon in a way that “displeases the Christian pastor.” In their lawsuit, Caesar says that DJ Suede’s mix for profit takes away from a version of the challenge with Snoop Dogg that Caesar approved for charity. Her legal team told CBS that Suede’s video has resulted in more than $5 million in losses. “Snoop did his clean version to send the message that ‘This is Shirley Caesar,’” Caesar’s attorney said. “We need to honor her. ”.
The catchy lyrics “beans, greens, potatoes, tomatoes…” come from Shirley Caesar’s gospel song “Hold My Mule” originally released in 1988. The song experienced a huge viral resurgence in 2016 when producer Suede remixed it into “You Name It.”
Shirley Caesar’s “Hold My Mule”
“Hold My Mule” is a gospel track recorded by American singer Shirley Caesar It appears on her 1988 album of the same name released by Word Records
In the song Caesar sings
“I got beans greens potatoes. tomatoesChicken. turkeys. rabbit. YOU NAME IT!”
The lyrics are part of a larger theme about counting one’s blessings and not complaining over what you don’t have.
Shirley Caesar has enjoyed a decades-long career as a gospel singer. She began performing as a child in her native North Carolina and went on to release dozens of albums. Her soulful, energetic live performances made her a star within the African American church community.
“Hold My Mule” allowed Caesar to reach a broader audience. It became one of her most well-known songs.
Suede’s Viral “You Name It” Remix
In 2016, Virginia-based producer Suede created a viral remix transforming “Hold My Mule” into “You Name It.”
Suede added a hip hop drum beat and other musical embellishments to the original vocals. He posted the track online under the title “You Name It” along with an accompanying music video.
The remix spread rapidly across social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Millions of people shared the catchy “beans, greens, potatoes, tomatoes” chorus.
Many were surprised and amused to discover the song’s gospel origins. The viral hit introduced Shirley Caesar to a new generation of listeners.
“You Name It” elevated Caesar’s profile and cemented “beans, greens, potatoes, tomatoes” as the song’s most iconic line. Memes, jokes, and covers of the song focused heavily on that lyric.
Why the Lyrics Resonated
There are several factors behind why “beans, greens, potatoes, tomatoes” struck such a chord with listeners:
-
Catchy rhythm: The lyrics pair perfectly with Suede’s beat. Thescheming vocal pattern gets stuck in your head.
-
Humor: Hearing serious gospel repurposed as party music is inherently funny. The meme brought levity.
-
Relatability: Beans, greens, potatoes, and tomatoes are simple foods many people eat regularly. The familiarity resonated.
-
Thankfulness: Counting small blessings even if you don’t have everything reflects wisdom. The grateful message connected with audiences.
Caesar’s unique vocal delivery also added character. Her enthusiastic enumeration of basic food staples made the lyrics memorable and iconic.
Shirley Caesar’s Response
Initially, Shirley Caesar was unaware her song had become a viral meme. In November 2016, she gave an interview detailing her reaction to discovering “You Name It.”
Caesar said she first heard the remix while on a cruise. A church member showed her the video, leaving the 78-year-old shocked and moved to tears.
She expressed being pleasantly surprised that her song was reaching and entertaining a new audience. Caesar emphasized giving God credit for the unexpected popularity boost.
The viral hit brought Caesar immense joy. She appreciated gaining fans among younger generations. Memes and jokes using her lyrics never bothered her.
Legacy of the Lyrics
“Beans, greens, potatoes, tomatoes” remains embedded in pop culture and continues circulating online years later.
The song titles “Hold My Mule” and “You Name It” are now synonymous with those specific lyrics. “Beans, greens, potatoes, tomatoes” has become shorthand for the viral craze surrounding Caesar’s song.
The catchy line represents an unusual instance of gospel crossing over into mainstream memes. It introduced many new listeners to Shirley Caesar for the first time.
Years later, seeing or hearing “beans, greens…” still tends to inspire smiles and good feelings thanks to the original meme. The lyrics serve as a testament to an unexpected viral hit.
The Bottom Line
The lyrics “beans, greens, potatoes, tomatoes” originated from Shirley Caesar’s 1988 gospel track “Hold My Mule.” They became forever linked to producer Suede’s 2016 viral remix “You Name It.”
The simple foods enumerated in Caesar’s energetic vocals perfectly matched the hip hop beat. Millions shared the humorous remix, making those lyrics iconic.
Caesar was brought to tears when she discovered her song had become an unlikely viral hit. “Beans, greens, potatoes, tomatoes” remains tied to that viral moment and the joy it brought.
Sign In To Continue Reading
Password must be at least 8 characters and contain:
- Lower case letters (a-z)
- Upper case letters (A-Z)
- Numbers (0-9)
- Special Characters (!@#$%^&*)
This password will be used to sign into all
As part of your account, New York will send you updates and deals from time to time. You can choose to stop receiving these at any time.
Latest News from Vulture
This email will be used to sign into all New York sites. By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive email correspondence from us. Enter your email:
Beans, Greens, Potatoes, Tomatoes Original + Remix
FAQ
Who is the Beans Greens potatoes Tomatoes Lady?
When did the Beans, Greens, potatoes, Tomatoes come out?
Where did potatoes and tomatoes come from?
Who started the You Name It Challenge?