Hi Don. The thing about forgiveness vs permission is sometimes you can record the song, send them a royalty check and if they cash it you're home and dry. The canceled check is proof that you've done the right thing. If they send it back uncashed and demand that you remove the song from your recording, you're screwed. If you don't say anything at all and wait till they catch up with you, you've got a helluva lump sum to come up with either in penalties or royalties. Of course if they don't catch you, and your concience doesn't bother you...
Wasn't the Night Rider's Lament an Ian Tyson song, and isn't he covered by HFA?
How did the Tommy Makem thing go, by the way?
Hope to see you guys at a festival somewhere this year.

Seamus