Dear Pope,
Thank you for your advice... (advice form the Pope!!)
the lyrics are copyrighted as a separate work.. with a new title (suggesting the original).
My hope is to haggle and get some sort of agreement that allows me a modest portion of earnings (perhaps only after a certain $ value has been achieved).. I am quite prepared to enjoy the 'honour' if not the riches of a collaboration with jazz royalty - however, cannot feel comfortable about giving away all rights to my lyric forever.
As I am also a composer, I can easily simply create another melody to suit these lyrics... though I enjoyed the idea of the creating of a song for singers from a well-known instrumental, and my lyric is particularly effective for the work in question, But I am toying with that as one choice...
I have no intention of ever trying to claim a share of the composer's instrumental... only to retain some rights and earnings on my lyric contribution.
However, the person i am dealing with - who helped obtain the acceptance of the 'adaptation' - is unwilling or unable to negotiate....
perhaps a lawyer would get farther... another option to consider (if I can afford it).
thanks for the 'Satin Doll' link... I hadn't been aware that the Strayhorn estate had taken action against Ellington.... I can't blame them...
'collaboration' can get pretty messy, I guess... and one suspects Strayhorn did not get the credit he deserves...
Good luck on your CD... enjoyed the track on your web-site!! Thanks again for your info and suggestions.
carol