Dave: I think we share the same sense of "ownership" of songs we've written. I think that there's a difference between creating a song and owning it (in the non-copyright sense of the word.) Songs are like your kids... you do as much as you can to shape them into something you think is positive, and then you have to let them go. If I hear someone doing one of my songs where they've changed it, it doesn't bother me unless I think they're just too lazy to sit down and learn the words. I put a lot of care into choosing words, so I expect others to put as much care into changing them. If they do, I may or may not like the change, but I don't have a problem with someone doing it. Songs are like kids... once they are released out into the world, they're on their own. I would never use the word "own" in regard to songs I've written. I definitely would never use the word for songs that are in the tradition, or written by someone still living. Just give me my propers.... and then take the song and make it your own, until someone else takes it and makes it their own. Just be willing to let it go.

Jerry