unusual question about copyrights

[chuckberry]

ok, I wrote this song back in my youth. How it came about was, I was looking at a page of lyrics in Hit Parader magazine and a totally different tune from the actual hit that was featured came into my head. Now, many years later my band and I did a version of the song, recorded it I mean, and it's really good. Thing is though, the lyrics are basically somebody else's? Is there a remedy within the copyright law for this or do I need to track down the guy and get permission to use his lyrics with a different melody?

 

[mjbphotos]

You can't use someone else's lyrics without their permission and paying for the rights to use it.

 

[chuckberry]

You can't use someone else's lyrics without their permission and paying for the rights to use it.

Last night I found the writer on facebook and messaged him, we'll see if I hear back.

 

[VomitHatSteve]

You can't use someone else's lyrics without their permission and paying for the rights to use it.

IANaLB... I don't think you actually need permission to create a derivative work. You DO have to pay them as a co-writer of the song (so 25-50% of the songwriting royalties depending on how many of their lyrics you used.)

 

[Robus]

You could always write some lyrics for it yourself, or get someone to do it.