When people do change the words to a song here on Mudcat, I do wish they would acknowledge that and also post the original words, if they know them, so we can better appreciate their "improvements." I try to do that myself, and I often have been know to change the words.

Changing words may be more necessary when converting a poem to a song, to make it more easily understood or to fit with the proposed musical arrangement. I've done that with several sea poems by C. Fox Smith.

I do think that people who plan to record a song, either in its original form or as changed, should contact the original composer for permission. And if the composer is no longer alive or if the copyright has run out you're pretty much free do do what you want, unless you're recording someone's new arrangement.

Charley The Noble