Melanie Songs - What Have They Done to My Song, Ma
Melanie - What Have They Done to My Song, Ma


Melanie - What Have They Done to My Song, Ma Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Candles in the Rain
Released: 1970

What Have They Done to My Song, Ma Lyrics


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 turning 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 picked it like a chicken bone
And I think I'm half insane ma
Look what they done to my song

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 la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la

Look what they done to my song
But 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 done to my song

Ils ont change ma chanson, ma
Ils ont change 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
And turned it upside down ma
Look what they done to my song

C'est la seule chose que je peux faire
Et ce n'est pas bon, ma.
Ils ont change ma chanson.
Look what they done to my song ma
Look what they done to my song
It's the only thing I could do alright
And they turned it upside down
Oh ma
Look what they done to my song

Writer/s: MELANIE SAFKA
Publisher: CARLIN AMERICA INC, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

What Have They Done to My Song, Ma Song Chart
  • This folk-pop broadside against the music business was written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Melanie for her Candles in the Rain album. Released as a single in Europe, it was a Top 40 hit in the UK, France and Norway.
  • The New Seekers released a cover as "Look What They've Done to My Song Ma," which peaked at #14 in the US and #44 in the UK. Ray Charles, Nina Simone and Billie Jo Spears have also all recorded versions of the tune.
  • The song was rewritten for a 1980s commercial for General Mills Raisin Crisp Oatmeal with the words "Look what they've done to my oatmeal."
  • In October 2012 Miley Cyrus released a video of her own acoustic version of the song . The Wrecking Ball songstress re-recorded the tune two years later for the movie satire Free the Nipple. Her rendition was produced by Nick Littlemore and Peter Mayes of the Australian dance duo Pnau. According to Melanie it only took two takes for Cyrus to nail the recording.

    Free the Nipple director Lina Esco described Cyrus' version to Variety as "more rock 'n' roll… It's very Johnny Cash. Her voice is so raw, and the song is so raw."