Rhyming slang I think, mag. Think on't some more!

I think the point with parodies is that if you record someone's song and they believe that recording damages their reputation in whatever way (causes distaste, embarassment, is musically or lyrically not in keeping with the original) then that artist can seek an injunction and force withdrawl of the cd from circulation.

It stands to reason I guess. Imagine if you wrote a song and someone changed the lyrics to suggest a meaning which you disagreed with on any grounds - moral, political, etc. There is a law to protect that song from being mucked about with and sold by that person.

Of course no-one's going to know if you sing it in a folk club - unless one out of the half dozen people in the room is the author of the original song.

And getting back to the original point of the thread, what's wrong with becoming a little more aware of the origins of phrases we take for granted? If "nitty gritty" is deemed offensive by some, why not respect that? The English language is teeming with words, not to mention those you can make up. I don't see what good could come by insisting on using hurtful words when others will do.

Callie