Okiemockbird said:

"I don't consider it infringement, or so-called "piracy" to copy from the public domain. The P.D. is meant to be copied, after all.

If a songwriter adapts a p.d. melody and then tries, in intention or in effect, to enforce copyright in the underlying melody (not just in the copyrightable adaptations, if any) -- that practice strikes me as ironic."

When you write a song with a traditional melody and new lyrics by yourself (which in itself is fine with me, done it my own self), and record it, the honest thing to do (IMO) is put the credits on the record as: "Lyrics: (You); Melody: Trad: (orig. title)>" I don't recall Mr. Zimmerman ever doing so.

Maybe I missed something.

Peter.