Who rewrote Rita MacNeil's Working man?

Subject: Who rewrote Rita MacNeil's Working man?
From: breezy
Date: 15 Oct 13 - 11:42 AM

This is a very moving song adopted by mining communities everywhere

Welsh singers David Alexander and Paul child sing alternative lyrics to the original RM's

to whom can these be attributed to?

can anyone shed light please?

thank you

Subject: RE: Who rewrote Rita MacNeil's Working man?
From: GUEST,Triplane
Date: 15 Oct 13 - 04:09 PM

My late friend Pat Friel used this last verse

along with Ritas first two verses

At the age 0f sixty -five,
Thank God I'm still alive,
After all those years
working down the mine
Where diggin' for that coal,
Left a mark upon my soul,
I never again will go down under ground
.... Chorus

Subject: RE: Who rewrote Rita MacNeil's Working man?
From: breezy
Date: 16 Oct 13 - 10:44 AM

The 2nd verse which is substituted for the original is

At the age of sixty-five
I thank God I'm still alive
And the wheels above the mine no longer whine
Now they've fin'ly closed that hole
Where for years we clawed for coal
And never again will we go down underground

Does anyone know who is the author ?

Subject: RE: Who rewrote Rita MacNeil's Working man?
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 16 Oct 13 - 10:50 AM

Other than parody I can't understand why anyone would mess with someone elses lyrics. Rita was an excellent songwriter and her friends hold her memory dear! Working Man needs no modification!

Subject: RE: Who rewrote Rita MacNeil's Working man?
From: breezy
Date: 16 Oct 13 - 04:11 PM

I would agree Sandy but there is a modified version and it has been around awhile.

To my mind the modified version has its merits.

I surmised that it was a celtic influence from South Wales

It would be useful to know who wrote it dont you think?

Subject: RE: Who rewrote Rita MacNeil's Working man?
From: The Sandman
Date: 17 Oct 13 - 01:14 PM

not really, breezy,the song is copyrighted, people will sing which version they like they do not need to know the identity of the person who had the temerity to rewrite it,and thus according o the 1954 definition turn it into a traditional song.
suffice to say it was not Dick Miles, he is too busy practising

Subject: RE: Who rewrote Rita MacNeil's Working man?
From: breezy
Date: 17 Oct 13 - 04:19 PM

and he needs to so I hear !!

has it been copyrighted twice ?

Subject: RE: Who rewrote Rita MacNeil's Working man?
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 17 Oct 13 - 11:38 PM

Breezy,
   Due to the rather recent passing of Rita the subject is a bit sensitive:
She wrote it and in Cape Breton , at least, it was her signature song! Those of us who knew her are a bit protective of her legacy! From a legal perspective a copyright holds rights that may have been violated, and if that is so, imitations and additions may lack any status. A song under legal copyright can only be modified with the consent of the author or those holding the rights. I would wonder if that requirement has been fulfilled?
By the way the, only person who could come close to Rita herself singing it is Nipper MacLeod backed by The Men Of The Deeps!

Subject: RE: Who rewrote Rita MacNeil's Working man?
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 17 Oct 13 - 11:46 PM

Nipper with The Men Of The Deeps

Subject: RE: Who rewrote Rita MacNeil's Working man?
From: GUEST,Rita fan
Date: 18 Oct 13 - 10:34 PM

Great chorus; rousing tune and wonderfully performed by both Rita and The Men of the Deeps.

But the verses, despite a couple of great individual lines, read as nonsense (at least to this non-CBer) compared to both of the above "re-writes". Or should I call them "improvements"????

Unfortunately, this song shares that same failing with many of the "great" pop and rock anthems of our time (and not a few folk songs!!!)

My 10c worth (ducking for cover with hard hat firmly in place...)