Lyr/Chords: Look What They've Done to My Song

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords: Look What They've Done to My Song
From: KB in Iowa
Date: 01 Aug 11 - 10:26 AM

I once read (I believe in the liner notes to her greatest hits CD) that the song was her protest about changes dictated by the record companies. She wrote songs and wanted to record them a certain way but was not allowed to release them the way she wanted.

Fittingly, the title of the song was "Look What They Done to My Song, Ma" but the record company did not allow that due to it being grammatically incorrect. The title was therefore changed to "What Have They Done to My Song, Ma"
That is how I remember it anyway.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords: Look What They've Done to My Song
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 31 Jul 11 - 06:03 PM

Sometimes it's hard to tell whether she's singing "they done" or "they've done." I chose to use "they done" in my transcription.

So, does anybody know the story behind the song? I would expect to find it was based on some personal experience of hers. If so, what was the song, and who "turned it upside down?"

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords: Look What They've Done to My Song
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 31 Jul 11 - 05:45 PM

Here's my transcription of Melanie's own recording, which you can hear at YouTube. There is also a video of a live performance here, which is slightly different.


WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO MY SONG MA
As sung by Melanie (Safka)

Look what they done to my song, Ma.
Look what they done to my song.
Well, it's the only thing that I could do half right,
And it's turnin' out all wrong, Ma.
Look what they done to my song.

Look what they done to my brain, Ma.
Look what they done to my brain.
Well, they've picked it like a chicken bone
And I think I'm half insane, Ma.
Look what they done to my song.

I wish I could find a good book to live in.
Wish I could find a good book.
Well, if I could find a real good book,
I'd never have to come out and look at
What they done to my song.

La, la, la, la... (4x)
Look what they done to my song.

Maybe it'll all be all right, Ma.
Maybe it'll all be okay.
Well, if the people are buyin' tears,
I'll be rich some day, Ma.
Look what they done to my song.

Ils ont changé ma chanson, Ma.
Ils ont changé ma chanson.
C'est la seule chose je peux faire,
Et ce n'est pas bon, Ma.
Ils ont changé ma chanson.

Look what they done to my song, Ma.
Look what they done to my song, Ma.
Well, they tied it up in a plastic bag,
Turned it upside down, Ma.
Look what they done to my song.

Ils ont changé ma chanson, Ma.
Ils ont changé ma chanson.
C'est la seule chose que je peux faire
Et ce n'est pas bon, Ma.
Ils ont changé ma chanson.

Look what they done to my song, Ma.
Look what they done to my song.
It's the only thing that I could do all right,
And they turned it upside down, oh, Ma.
Look what they done to my song.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords: Look What They've Done To My Song
From: threelegsoman
Date: 27 Jul 11 - 07:25 AM

Here is a link to my version on YouTube which includes the lyrics and chords, though I strum it rather than picking.

Look What They've Done To My Song

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords: Look What They've Done To My Song
From: BrooklynJay
Date: 27 Jul 11 - 07:13 AM

Dave,

Thank you for the links. Personally, I never considerd Melanie a "one-hit wonder" or anything like that.

But after checking her website and her tour dates for 2011, I see I missed her one performance here in NYC this past April. Guess I've been out of the loop too long.

Aaaarrrrgh...

Jay

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords: Look What They've Done To My Song
From: Darowyn
Date: 27 Jul 11 - 03:57 AM

Melanie has a devoted fan base, many of whom are in the UK or the rest of Europe, and you can find most of her songs on a couple of websites. She also has her own Site with details of her tours etc. I can thoroughly recommend a listen to her more recent songs, as opposed to sticking with "Brand New Key" and "Look W T D T M S"
You'll find the chords you want here:-
Look What.... Chords
This is a Dutch fan's collection.

Melanie's own page is here:-

Melanie's Home Page

I do think that you should try "They Can Find You in Your Dreams" or "I Tried to Die Young" as well though!

Cheers
Dave

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords: Look What They've Done To My Song
From: BrooklynJay
Date: 27 Jul 11 - 12:14 AM

One verse that Melanie sang (but was not in the New Seekers' version) was:

Maybe it'll all be alright, Ma
Maybe it'll all be okay
Well, if the people are buying tears
I'll be rich someday, Ma
Look what they've done to my song

I know I have one of her albums with that song somewhere, but it figures - when you're looking for it, you can't find it. Hopefully, it will turn up - probably when I'm not looking for it.

Meanwhile, the link posted much earlier in this thread is now dead. So, can anyone post the full lyrics and chords?

Jay

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords: Look What They've Done To My Song
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 11:37 PM

It's an interesting phenomenon. I listened to several recordings by Melanie. In all of them, Melanie sang "Look what they've done with my song." On Spotify, some of the Melanie recordings are listed as "What Have They Done To My Song," and some as "Look What They've Done To My Song." I listened to a number of them and none of them sang it as "What have they done..." Go figure.

The Harry Fox Agency, which handles licensing for this and most other songs in the US, covers all the bases. It identifies the song as:

WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO MY SONG, MA, A/K/A LOOK WHAT THEY'VE DONE TO MY SONG, A/K/A LOOK WHAT THEY'VE DONE TO MY SONG, MA

Interestingly, it identifies the songwriter as Melaine Safka (sic), and the singer as Melanie. Harry Fox reminded me that "Melaine Safka" also wrote "The Nickel Song" and "Brand New Key."

-Joe-

Subject: Songwriter: What Have They Done To My Song, Ma?
From: Genie
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 08:44 PM

Apparently, Melanie (Safka) did write the song but under the title "What Have They Done To My Song, Ma?"

Others, e.g., Ray Charles, changed the title to "Look What They've Done To My Song, Ma" when they covered the song.

Genie

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Look What They've done To My
From: catspaw49
Date: 24 Mar 01 - 02:16 PM

Actually, chanson used to be masculine, but after a prolonged stay at a clinic in Sweden came back feminine. Just wanted to clear that up...........

Spaw

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Look What They've done To My
From: Bedubya
Date: 24 Mar 01 - 02:08 PM

Jeepman

Just wanted to say "Thanks" for the post. I had never even thought about playing this song before but the post must have touched a latent nerve somewhere. Took the idea home and started playing and singing it immediately. It was like I had been playing it for years. Even knew all the words. (Probably from long-repressed memory). The wife and cats loved it. Can't wait to try it out on a real audience.

If I start playing "I've Got a Brand New Pair of Rollerskates" next, I'll just shoot myself.

Cheers

bwl

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Look What They've done To My
From: jeepman (inactive)
Date: 22 Mar 01 - 08:29 PM

Murray, I haven't been to Scotland but my ancestors were. McDevitts and Thomas Jman

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Look What They've done To My
From: mousethief
Date: 22 Mar 01 - 06:45 PM

But it looks masculine, I'll grant you that.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Look What They've done To My
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 22 Mar 01 - 06:42 PM

I stand corrected

Murray

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Look What They've done To My
From: mousethief
Date: 22 Mar 01 - 06:34 PM

Chanson is feminine.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Look What They've done To My
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 22 Mar 01 - 06:21 PM

It is a long time since my schoolboy French days, but isn't "chanson " masculine in French? Hence should it not be "mon chanson" rather than "ma chanson"? ( I am well aware that Melanie does in fact sing "ma chanson")

And yes Jim, I am a Scottish deportee .....

Murray

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Look What They've done To My
From: mousethief
Date: 22 Mar 01 - 05:59 PM

I was under the impression that Melanie wrote it. Her last name is Safka. Here's a link to her website:

blicky

Here's the lyrics as per Lyrics World:

blicky

---

Look What They've Done To My Song, Ma
The New Seekers (Safka)

Look what they've done to my song, Ma
Look what they've done to my song
Well it's the only thing I could do half right
And it's turning out all wrong
Look what they've done to my song
Wish I could find a good book to live in
Wish I could find a good book to live in
I'd never have to come out and
Look what they've done to my song
Look what they've done to my brain, Ma
Well they've cook it like a chicken bone
I think I'm half insane, Ma
Look what they've done to my brain

Ils ont changé ma chanson Ma
Ils ont changé ma chanson
C'est le seul chose je peux fais
Est-ce-que n'est pas bonne, Ma?
Ils ont changé ma chanson

Look what they've done to my song, Ma
Look what they've done to my song
Well they've tied it up in a plastic bag
Then turned it upside down
Look what they've done to my song
La, la, la, la...

Well it's the only thing I could do half right
And it's turning out all wrong
Look what they've done to my song, Ma
Oh Mama
Well they've cook it like a chicken bone
Look what they've done to my song, Ma
Look what they've done to my song, Ma
Look what they've done to my song, Ma

Look what they've done to my song, Ma!

-------------------------

Alex

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Look What They've done To My
From: jeepman (inactive)
Date: 22 Mar 01 - 05:52 PM

Great info Murray MacLeod. You are no doubt a transplant from the old Scotland? Jim

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Look What They've done To My
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 22 Mar 01 - 05:47 PM

Melanie now lives in South Florida, headlined the South Florida Folk Festival and played a sell-out concert recently in the Main Street Cafe in Homestead. Martin Simpson was playing our local Festival the same weekend and I took him along to see her. After a while he was invited up to join her on stage and was absolutely sensational. If any Melanie or Martin Simpson fans want a picture of the two of them on stage, PM me with your email address.

Murray

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Look What They've done To My
From: BEK
Date: 22 Mar 01 - 02:13 PM

Yes! Melanie did sing a verse in French. I always thought that was an excellent illustration of the song itself.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Look What They've done To My
From: Bert
Date: 22 Mar 01 - 01:25 PM

Didn't Melanie also sing a verse in French.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Look What They've done To My
From: Morticia
Date: 22 Mar 01 - 12:52 PM

hope you're better soon JM

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Look What They've done To My
From: jeepman (inactive)
Date: 22 Mar 01 - 12:50 PM

I have made a mistake. It was not the Drifters. It was the Seekers who recorded it.

Thanks Mario. You nailed it. By for now Jeepman

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Look What They've done To My
From: GUEST,Roll&Go-C
Date: 22 Mar 01 - 10:04 AM

Haven't seen that song in years. Thanks! Looks like there's a typo in the first verse: "have" instead of "half".

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Look What They've done To My
From: MMario
Date: 22 Mar 01 - 09:54 AM

Would this http://ds.dial.pipex.com/g.seyfang/sparkle/songs/doneto.htm be what you're looking for?

Subject: Look What They've done To My Song, Ma
From: jeepman (inactive)
Date: 22 Mar 01 - 09:37 AM

Jeepman has risen from a bed of misery long enough to ask for music help from the 'catters with talent. I have a very bad cold and sinus problem and probably need all the sympathy I can get.

My WW,(Wonderful wife)of 45 years is looking after me and doing quite well, but at my age and temperment,I can be hard to live with.

What I would like to have are the chords and/or tabs for the above song. Recorded years ago by the Drifters and by MELANIE.

I have to believe this would be a very good Fingerpikin tune.

Going back to bed now. Bye, Jman