Over in the thread called Angus and his kilt there's a statement about 'very very few people having permission' to sing this song. To heck with worrying about collection agencies looking for cash, how do American songwriters stop people singing their songs without permission? Is there an enforcement squad with baseball bats who patrol public performance areas demanding to see your permission slips for every song you sing? Can you sue someone for singing your song in public? I once got a phonecall from Maine seeking permission to record a song of mine, and have heard of remarkable cash demands for such use. But singing the song out loud? What is the situation?