Re: A twisted Don McLean song

Sun, 16 Mar 1997 10:39:20 -0800
Douglas McCorison <douglas at camax.com.DELETE.THIS.TO.REPLY> wrote:

> Larry Caldwell wrote:
> > Don is no longer with us, but during his life he was both a Fan
> > and writer of filk.
 

> When did he leave? Last I knew he was still putting out interesting
> music.

I am astonished. Evidently I have been nursing some sort of delusion for 20 years. I could have sworn Don McLean died about two years after 'American Pie' was released. Granted, it's been 20 years, but I don't understand how I could have blanked 20 years of song writing from somebody like him.

Evidently my mind isn't going, it left decades ago. Who is carrying his albums nowdays? Do you have any recommended titles?  

> > On The Amazon

> > by Don McLean
 

> Ummm, sorry 'bout this but no. Don McLean did NOT write this song. I
> have both of his earier songbooks and this one is credited to someone
> else. I don't have my books here at work so I can't say who.

Wow. Would you look it up and let me know who wrote it? I have a xeroxed lyric sheet which has no title or author listed. Once again, I had always assumed it was by Don McLean. He was singing it, and the writing style was so similar, that I never thought to question it.  

> Also it is considered impolite & often illegal to quote a copyrighted
> song in full on even a limited mailing list without the explicit
> permission of the author or copyright-holder (also helps with
> mis-attribution). This is what the "blanket-permission" list on
> rec.music.filk is for. It allows you to know who has OK'ed posting
> lyrics.

What can I say? I have a criminal mind. I'm more embarrassed by making misstatements than I am by posting copyrighted material. A song has to be sung or it dies. It needs to be spread as widely as possible.

Misattribution, OTOH, is a gaffe of heroic proportions. I am mortified.

> Cool song anyway. I just wish it didn't use so many just plain wierd
> chords. I'd learn it.

Hmmm. I've never seen an arrangement, so don't know what chords you mean. Still, it's a weird song, so it deserves some weird chords. And sound effects too. :)

• Larry