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22 Mar 01 - 09:37 AM (#423117) Subject: Look What They've done To My Song, Ma From: jeepman (inactive) 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
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22 Mar 01 - 09:54 AM (#423131) Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Look What They've done To My From: MMario Would this http://ds.dial.pipex.com/g.seyfang/sparkle/songs/doneto.htm be what you're looking for? |
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22 Mar 01 - 10:04 AM (#423149) Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Look What They've done To My From: GUEST,Roll&Go-C Haven't seen that song in years. Thanks! Looks like there's a typo in the first verse: "have" instead of "half". |
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22 Mar 01 - 12:50 PM (#423278) Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Look What They've done To My From: jeepman (inactive) 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 |
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22 Mar 01 - 12:52 PM (#423281) Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Look What They've done To My From: Morticia hope you're better soon JM |
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22 Mar 01 - 01:25 PM (#423313) Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Look What They've done To My From: Bert Didn't Melanie also sing a verse in French. |
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22 Mar 01 - 02:13 PM (#423382) Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Look What They've done To My From: BEK Yes! Melanie did sing a verse in French. I always thought that was an excellent illustration of the song itself.
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22 Mar 01 - 05:47 PM (#423536) Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Look What They've done To My From: Murray MacLeod 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 |
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22 Mar 01 - 05:52 PM (#423542) Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Look What They've done To My From: jeepman (inactive) Great info Murray MacLeod. You are no doubt a transplant from the old Scotland? Jim |
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22 Mar 01 - 05:59 PM (#423549) Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Look What They've done To My From: mousethief I was under the impression that Melanie wrote it. Her last name is Safka. Here's a link to her website: Here's the lyrics as per Lyrics World:
Look What They've Done To My Song, Ma
Look what they've done to my song, Ma
Ils ont changé ma chanson Ma
Look what they've done to my song, Ma
Well it's the only thing I could do half right
Look what they've done to my song, Ma! ------------------------- Alex |
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22 Mar 01 - 06:21 PM (#423571) Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Look What They've done To My From: Murray MacLeod 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
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22 Mar 01 - 06:34 PM (#423582) Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Look What They've done To My From: mousethief Chanson is feminine. |
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22 Mar 01 - 06:42 PM (#423594) Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Look What They've done To My From: Murray MacLeod I stand corrected Murray |
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22 Mar 01 - 06:45 PM (#423599) Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Look What They've done To My From: mousethief But it looks masculine, I'll grant you that. |
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22 Mar 01 - 08:29 PM (#423665) Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Look What They've done To My From: jeepman (inactive) Murray, I haven't been to Scotland but my ancestors were. McDevitts and Thomas Jman |
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24 Mar 01 - 02:08 PM (#424955) Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Look What They've done To My From: Bedubya 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 |
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24 Mar 01 - 02:16 PM (#424960) Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Look What They've done To My From: catspaw49 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 |
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26 Jul 11 - 08:44 PM (#3196218) Subject: Songwriter: What Have They Done To My Song, Ma? From: Genie 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 |
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26 Jul 11 - 11:37 PM (#3196304) Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords: Look What They've Done To My Song From: Joe Offer 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:
-Joe- |
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27 Jul 11 - 12:14 AM (#3196317) Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords: Look What They've Done To My Song From: BrooklynJay 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 |
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27 Jul 11 - 03:57 AM (#3196360) Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords: Look What They've Done To My Song From: Darowyn 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 |
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27 Jul 11 - 07:13 AM (#3196462) Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords: Look What They've Done To My Song From: BrooklynJay 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 |
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27 Jul 11 - 07:25 AM (#3196469) Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords: Look What They've Done To My Song From: threelegsoman 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 |
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31 Jul 11 - 05:45 PM (#3199317) Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords: Look What They've Done to My Song From: Jim Dixon 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. |
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31 Jul 11 - 06:03 PM (#3199320) Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords: Look What They've Done to My Song From: Jim Dixon 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?" |
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01 Aug 11 - 10:26 AM (#3199695) Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords: Look What They've Done to My Song From: KB in Iowa 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. |