Sorry for my late reply, I was in hospital. I recorded the song with Dick's verbal permission.

Dick wrote the tune, but he also wrote the extra chorus (not in the original poem), and for me it's the chorus that really makes the song.

The song was written as a wedding present for Gordon Bok and his wife, Gordon being not only a singer and songwriter, but also a woodcarver.

If it had been formally copyrighted, I don't know who would own the copyright. As far as I know he had no children, and his wife passed shortly before he did. She did have a daughter, however, but it's quite likely that she wouldn't know anything about it.

I would think that for a limited release recording, copyright shouldn't be a problem, so long as Dick is given proper credit for his tune and chorus addition to create his song arrangement.

John Roberts