Origins: 'The more we come together' copyright?

Subject: Origins: 'The more we come together' copyright?
From: GUEST,Ptpgrad-guest
Date: 05 May 11 - 07:23 PM

I am part of a two person singing group who as satirized the children's song 'The More We Come Together". We are looking to find out who owns the rights. The tune is the same as "have you ever seen a lassie" but I can't find out who might own the rights to the tune, if at all, and the lyrics. I would love to get this info before we head into recording the information.

I look forward to any help this group can provide.

Subject: ADD: The More We Get Together
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 May 11 - 01:43 AM

Hmmm. There is no listing for "The More We Come Together" at the Harry Fox Agency licensing Website, songfile.com

There are lots of listings for "The More We GET Together," including one listing Raffi as author. Raffi and I are more-or-less the same age, and I've known the song all my life - so I doubt that Raffi wrote the song. Another entry attributes the song to Norman Martin - the albums containing the song make me think that Martin may be the actual songwriter. Don't know anything about him.

THE MORE WE GET TOGETHER

The more we get together, together, together,
The more we get together,
The happier we'll be.
For your friends are my friends
And my friends are your friends;
The more we get together,
The happier we'll be.

Subject: RE: Origins: 'The more we come together' copyright
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 06 May 11 - 05:00 AM

Auch Du Lieber Augustin - early 1600's

Several threads in the forum.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Origins: 'The more we come together' copyright?
From: GUEST
Date: 13 May 11 - 09:48 PM

I knew the melody was traditional, but didn't know the original source. Thanks for the reference. As to the lyrics, I will check out Martin then. We are filking the lyrics, so we likely have to homage the lyricist.

At what point of satirizing does the work become yours. Does Weird Al have to pay rights to the original lyrcists? Curious as to what the brain trust here knows.

Subject: RE: Origins: 'The more we come together' copyright?
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 14 May 11 - 02:07 PM

Joe: curious, but on this (UK) side of the water, it's "The more we are together".

Subject: RE: Origins: 'The more we come together' copyright?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 14 May 11 - 02:48 PM

Hmmm. The variations make it seem even less likely that this is a copyright-protected song.
Sounds like folk process to me, all right.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Origins: 'The more we come together' copyright?
From: GUEST,Ann Lovejoy
Date: 14 May 11 - 08:12 PM

On an old Raffi recording it's listed as "traditional"

Subject: RE: Origins: 'The more we come together' copyright?
From: GUEST,Nikki
Date: 17 Feb 20 - 12:08 PM

I found it on a public domain list by Bridge Multimedia.

Subject: RE: Origins: 'The more we come together' copyright?
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 17 Feb 20 - 12:13 PM

Info here. Some already mentioned in the thread.