On the Record for 6-7
By Jon Busdeker on Jun. 07, 2007
Q: Although I like the song, I’ve never understood Elton John’s “Daniel.” What is it about?
A: The song is about Daniel, a Vietnam vet who returns home to America after the war. He gets lots of attention but wants to be left alone so he hops on a plane to Spain. The story is told through the eyes of Daniel’s younger brother. You might ask yourself how we get all of this out of the song’s lyrics. Well, as many Elton John fans know, there was a third verse to the song which contained all this information, but Elton deleted it because he thought it would cause the song to be too long. The song that was finally recorded contained just the first two verses and resulted in many confused listeners.
Q: In recent years, I’ve heard many times that Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is a rip-off of Boston’s “More Than a Feeling.” Personally, I don’t think they sound alike. What are these people basing their opinion on?
A: This accusation is based on the similar chords played during parts of both songs. The next time you hear “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” listen closely to the opening chords and compare them to the chords played just before the chorus in Boston’s 1976 hit, “More Than a Feeling.” They’re not exactly the same, but they’re close enough for some people to think one influenced the other.
Q: I’ve written new words to an old children’s tune and want to know if it is legal to do this and how would I get these words (and tune) into the public eye? I have no idea who wrote the original. It’s just a little song most children learn in early school or at home, and the new words allude to the changing scene in rural life. Please let me know if you can help me. I’m a 77-year-old mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
A: Please understand that we are not attorneys and cannot provide legal advice. However, there are a few things you should think about. If the tune is truly one that is from an old children’s song, it is likely that it has passed into the public domain and is no longer subject to copyright protection (if it ever was). It might still be prudent to do a little research by checking the Copyright Resource Center of the Music Publisher’s Association (http://www.mpa.org) and the Library of Congress’ Copyright Office (http://www.copyright.gov) just to make sure that the tune is not copyrighted.
If the tune is in the public domain, then you are free to add any lyrics you wish to it. You can copyright any new lyrics and/or arrangement of a public domain tune, and you would want to follow the instructions found at the Copyright Office’s Web site above. There are innumerable instances of adding new words to public domain music, most notably religious music. Many hymns have different sets of lyrics that might each be copyrighted by the different authors. Once you have copyrighted your lyrics, you may wish to go to your local library or bookstore and look for one of the many songwriter’s guides that are available. A guide like Songwriter’s Market 2007 is an invaluable resource to aspiring songwriters who are interested in marketing their songs. These guides provide practical advice and insider knowledge about how best to get your song heard and published. Good luck!
By Bradford Brady and John Maron. Send your questions about songs, albums, and the musicians who make them to
or visit http://www.musicontherecord.com. Brady and Maron are freelance music writers based in Raleigh, N.C.
COMMENTS