Song Clearance Sheet
5 sources citedGrazing in the Grass
Jazz1960s107BPM
G minKey
More around 110 BPM → · More in G minor →
Tempo/key via GetSongBPM →, Deezer →
The verdict
Documented Sampling History
No formal dispute found — the real authorship-identity question (whether Philemon Hou was a separate person or a Masekela pseudonym) is a documentation gap presented honestly in Rights Status, not resolved by assertion.
Quick Facts
Released1968
AlbumThe Promise of a Future
GenreJazz, Pop
LabelUni Records
ProducerStewart Levine
More infoWikipedia → · Discogs →
Who you need to ask
The songwriter of record — Philemon Hou (credited) — identity disputed between sources
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
The current administrator — Not confirmed — Cherio Corp administers the F.O.D. lyric version; the composition needs a lookup
Unknown · checked Jul 2026
Has it been reused?
Yes — The Friends of Distinction’s 1969 vocal version, and Sugar Ray’s 1999 hit “Every Morning” sampled it.
Do they allow reuse?
No standalone policy found; no formal dispute — but note the unresolved authorship-identity question in Rights Status.
Who Owns It
Licenses explained →The two permissions you need, and who holds them
The song itself (the writing)Philemon Hou (credited) — but see the sourcing discrepancy below
An honest, unresolved sourcing discrepancyMost sources (Wikipedia, Songfacts, Black History Channel) describe Philemon Hou as a separate, real person — an actor/singer in the studio that day — who created the melody. At least one source directly claims “Philemon Hou” was actually a pseudonym Masekela used for himself. Presented honestly as unresolved, not asserted either way.
The composition (current administrator)Not confirmed
Receipts
Every public mention of terms, policy, or past deals we've found
Created in under an hour, to pad an album
Masekela was three minutes short on his 1968 album; producer Stewart Levine suggested reworking a novelty single (“Mr. Bull #5”) Masekela had picked up in Zambia. Reportedly created in under an hour — Levine later called it “a bit of a spoof.”
Songfacts · read it →
The vocal cover’s cow-watching origin
The Friends of Distinction’s 1969 version got its new lyrics from group member Harry Elston watching cows from a tour-bus window while touring with Ray Charles’s revue. No lyrics reproduced.
The Black History Channel · read it →
Can You Use It for Free?
How to check PD →Is it public domain?No
Sample History
—
Times sampled
The Friends of Distinction (1969) · sampled by Sugar Ray
Covers
—
First flip
Big names who used itSugar Ray
Who to Contact
GG
Philemon Hou (credited)
The credited writer — identity is disputed between sources
What they'll chargeNobody's shared numbers yet
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References
Every source cited on this page — 5 in total
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Page history · 2 updates
Jul 2026Page created — full research (Research Queue Batch 8)
Jul 2026BPM/Key pending the automated GetSongBPM/Deezer pass