well Derek's not untraceable. I think you might have asked him about the subject before using this forum. Not really a great move, if you want people to cover your songs.

songwriting is like that. Sometimes people don't pay. the collecting agencies like PRS can't be arsed with small fish like me for instance, and the vast majority of my airplay doesn't get a royalty. Most radio stations are quite upfront and say - we ain't paying you because we're doing you the favour playing your rather unpopular music.

One time Inter Milan bought all the unsold copies of my Rummenigge record, just after they had bought him, and apparently played it at their matches - which garnered nary a brass doubloon. Now they COULD afford it.

I think probably the truth is that during the 80's when Derek recorded your song, he couldn't - you'd have to ask him..

As I remember it was just at that point when the traddies had scientifically proved that nobody who didn't sound a cross between Walter Gabriel and Long John Silver was actually singing folk music. So they emptied the folk clubs to ratify their conclusions.