I fell in love with this song after hearing it in Nobody (with Bob Odenkirk)
Don’t let me be misunderstood-Nina simone

And I couldn’t get it out of my head. Listened to it, sang along. And then the other night I just started writing and singing this bluesy piece.
None of it the same, but when I got to the chorus it just came out so much the same.

Just a few words changed

Just a man

I’m just a man,
That’s all I am,
Good or bad,
But I try to sail within the grey,

Not an Angel,
Not a devil,
Just a winsome lad,
Playing the cards that come my way,

And I’ve never done a wrong,
If I have had the option,
Did what was right if I could choose,

I played my cards,
And some I’d win and lord I’ve lost some,
But never more, than my soul could afford to lose,

And when they weigh my soul,
I hope, and lord I pray,
I found more right than wrong,
At the end of the day,

I’m just a man who’s intentions are good,
Although my actions all could be misunderstood,
A wand’ring soul who many times has lost his way,
But let me be judged,
Oh let me be judged,
By the way the cards fall when I make my final play,
Oh ohhhhhhh

I sleep at night,
Just fine and I don’t worry,
I don’t lose sleep over my sins,

Know I’ll be weighed one day,
But I ain’t in no hurry,
Each dawn I try to make amends,

I’ve faced the storms,
And paths I’ve chosen,
I own up to,
But all my steps, So far are fair,

The crown weighs heavy,
But I’ve shouldered all the burdens,
Even when it seems too much to bear,

Oh let me breathe free air,

I’m just a man who’s intentions are good,
Although my actions all could be misunderstood,
A wand’ring soul who many times has lost his way,
But let me be judged,
Oh let me be judged,
By the way the cards fall when I make my final play,
Oh ohhhhhhh

Now, although the rest of it is different, that chorus, the chords of those first two lines are damn near identical. And I knew I was thinking of that song, so it isn’t really my own. But it is, too, because the rest of it is original.

So, what do you call that? A tribute? Plagiarism?

Not trying to claim it as mine completely, but that’s part of me in there as well that I didn’t get from anyone else. I’m torn

This post was edited on 3/26/22 at 3:00 am

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Posted by Kafka

I am the moral conscience of TD

Member since Jul 2007

155813 posts

Posted on 3/25/22 at 8:26 pm to fr33manator

quote:
In late 1969, "Come Together" was the subject of a copyright infringement claim brought against Lennon by Big Seven Music, who was the publisher of Chuck Berry's "You Can't Catch Me".[46] Morris Levy, the owner of Big Seven Music, contended that it sounded similar musically to Berry's original and shared some lyrics (Lennon sang: "Here come ol' flattop, he come groovin' up slowly", and Berry's had sung: "Here come a flattop, he was movin' up with me"). Before recording, Lennon and McCartney deliberately slowed the song down and added a heavy bass riff in order to make the song more original.[47] The case was settled out of court in 1973, with Levy's lawyers agreeing that Lennon would compensate by recording three Big Seven songs for his next album.

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Posted by fr33manator

Baton Rouge

Member since Oct 2010

134154 posts

Posted on 3/25/22 at 9:01 pm to Kafka

Well, if I ever make a thing, I’ll throw Nina Simone a dime

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Posted by auggie

Opelika, Alabama

Member since Aug 2013

31295 posts

Posted on 3/26/22 at 1:05 am to fr33manator

Just sample it, do some scratchin, make some fart sounds, have some girls sing back up, a kickin arse bass, nobody cares what you borrow, it was appropriated anyway.

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Posted by PJinAtl

Atlanta

Member since Nov 2007

14273 posts

Posted on 3/26/22 at 6:36 am to fr33manator

I don't know what to call it, but I'd say it falls in that "something else" category. Didn't Hootie get sued by Dylan or his publishing company for using a couple of his lines in Only Wanna Be With You?

Also, I think Marley ended up having to give credit to Curtis Mayfield after restructuring or interpreting a couple of lines from People Get Ready in One Love?

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