Plagiarism

The song writer's nightmare: you think you've written a song when all you've done is remember it. Plagiarism is usually inadvertent, but embarassing none the less.

I few weeks ago, Peggy Sullivan, the female lead in Smoke Creek, said she was working on a song about the Grim Reaper and challenged me to write a song on the same topic. In a couple of weeks, I came up with these lyrics and was working on a melody:

Door Number Three
copyright 2004 by Mike Murray

I dreamed a cosmic quiz show with loads of precious gear
On the stage behind the floodlights three doors, windows clear
The MC shouted "Choose one", I calmly took a look
Door One a pile of money, Door Two a stack of books

BUT WHO'S THERE A'WAITING BEHIND DOOR NUMBER THREE
DRESSED ALL IN BLACK WITH EYES YOU CAN'T SEE
A BONY FINGER BECKONS TO YOU AND TO ME
STANDING THERE A'WAITING BEHIND DOOR NUMBER THREE

A choice of wealth or wisdom, well, I knew which way to go
I'd sung all the old songs about a fool and his dough
"Money can't buy happiness", Oh, that line's so true
I rushed up on the platform to Door Number Two

CHORUS

That's when I had this problem I didn't understand
The door wouldn't open, the knob twirled in my hand
At last I read the notice and it caused my heart to freeze
The sign said "Out of Order -- use Door Number Three".

CHORUS (twice)

I was feeling pretty good about these lyrics and the idea behind them, and I e-mailed a copy to my brother. He shot back,

“Looks good. You can use the melody from Jimmy Buffet's "Door Number Three".

Well, I wasn’t aware of Buffet’s hit song, of the same title, which was co-written by Buffet and Steve Goodman:

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


DOOR NUMBER THREE

Oh I took a wrong turn, it was the right turn
My turn to have me a ball
Boys at the shop told me just where to stop
If I wanted to play for it all
I didn't know I'd find her on daytime TV
My whole world lies waiting behind door number three

I chose my apparel, wore a beer barrel
And they rolled me to the very first row
I held a big sign that said "Kiss me I'm a baker,
and Monty I sure need the dough!"
Then I grabbed that sucker by the throat
Until he called on me
Cause my whole world lies waiting behind door number three

And I don't want what Jay's got on his table
Or the box Carol Merrill points to on the floor
No, I'll hold out just as long as I am able
Until I can unlock that lucky door
Well, she's no big deal to most folks
But she's everything to me
Cause my whole world lies waiting behind door number three

Oh Monty, Monty, Monty, I am walking down your hall
God be, I lost my seat but I'm not a man to crawl
No I didn't get rich you son of a bitch
I'll be back just wait and see
Cause my whole world lies waiting behind door number three

Yes my whole world lies waiting behind door number three

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So, his song’s got the same lyrical hook, essentially the same plot (the protagonist is looking for love instead of wisdom, Door Number Three is what he's choosing rather than Two, but it’s close enough for discomfort).

Now, is there anything I can do to save my lyrics? I could call it “Door Three Revisited”, I could rewrite it as “Door Number Four”, but, no matter what, it will appear that I stole Buffet & Goodman’s idea.

Seems my only chance is to make my song a commentary on theirs.