Johnny Depp and Jeff Beck , Are Accused of Stealing , Song Lyrics From a Poem.<br />Johnny Depp and Jeff Beck , Are Accused of Stealing , Song Lyrics From a Poem.<br />The 'New York Post' reports that <br />Depp and Beck have been accused of plagiarism <br />on their new musical collaboration.<br />The 'New York Post' reports that <br />Depp and Beck have been accused of plagiarism <br />on their new musical collaboration.<br />Last month, the pair released their album, '18,' <br />just weeks after Depp won a high-profile <br />defamation trial against his ex-wife, Amber Heard.<br />According to 'Rolling Stone,' one track on the album features Depp reciting lines first spoken by convicted murderer Slim Wilson in 1964.<br />According to 'Rolling Stone,' one track on the album features Depp reciting lines first spoken by convicted murderer Slim Wilson in 1964.<br />The poems recited by Wilson were recorded <br />by folklorist Bruce Jackson while Wilson was serving <br />a prison sentence at Missouri State Penitentiary.<br />Jackson recorded the poem in his 1974 book, , 'Get Your Ass in the Water and Swim Like Me.'.<br />The 'New York Post' reports that lines from the poem, <br />'Hobo Ben,' appear almost verbatim on a track which <br />Depp and Beck receive the only songwriting credits.<br />The 'New York Post' reports that lines from the poem, <br />'Hobo Ben,' appear almost verbatim on a track which <br />Depp and Beck receive the only songwriting credits.<br />I’ve been publishing stuff for 50 years, <br />and this is the first time anybody <br />has just ripped something off <br />and put his own name on it, Bruce Jackson, folklorist and author, via 'Rolling Stone'.<br />'Rolling Stone' reports that legal action <br />against Depp and Beck would be difficult as 'Hobo Ben' <br />is part of an oral tradition without a specific author.<br />Jackson argues that the use of <br />the poem is more of an ethical issue <br />as opposed to a legal one.<br />If it is selling, Johnny Depp is making <br />a lot of money on it. Should it go to him, <br />or should it go to some place that helps <br />the people who produced this culture?, Bruce Jackson, folklorist and author, via 'Rolling Stone'.<br />If it is selling, Johnny Depp is making <br />a lot of money on it. Should it go to him, <br />or should it go to some place that helps <br />the people who produced this culture?, Bruce Jackson, folklorist and author, via 'Rolling Stone'