A song does not "belong" to the songwriter, once it's out - except in the legal, royalties etc ways. At least no more than a child "belongs" to the parent. Both of them, once they are out in the big world, will grow and adapt and touch, and be touched by others. And so they should; as Mr Red says, that's life.

We may not always like what becomes of our children (or songs). Sometimes we may think that no treatment they receive is good enough for them. But we are wrong.

The singer-songwriter has no additional rights to "fix" a performing style or manner for his/her song. When they perform the song, they simply add "their" interpretation, just as (hopefully) others will add theirs.

The first time I heard Johnny Collins do my "Heart of a sailor boy" my jaw dropped, but from awe, not shock: it is recognisably my song, yet I do it in slightly ragtime style with heavy guitar riffs, while he does it unaccompanied, in a different rhythm, with the "JC style" stamp indelibly on it. And I just wish I could sing it like he does!

When Breezy does "Emptyhanded" or "Sailing tomorrow" I listen and learn. And I now perform both of those in a more laid-back manner that is definitely his own contribution to the songs.

In fact, with many of my songs, I confess that I have favourite singers that I wish I could hear them sung by: Martyn W-R doing "Expiree"; or HergaKitty doing "Two cannon balls" (I have hopes...). One thing I will wholeheartedly admit: I am NOT the best performer of my own songs, and in a perverse way, I am pleased for that.