Melanie: What Have They Done to My Song, Ma

Today is the birthday of Melanie Safka (b. 1947), a.k.a. “Melanie”. She had a number of hits in the early 70s but this is the one I remember. For a brief while it was on everyone’s lips and then it sort of sank out of the public consciousness. Even when I was a kid I had a sort of sentimental streak, and this song appealed to me even at the age of six. The tune never left my head even after not hearing since the mid 70s.I always remembered it as “Look What They’ve Done To My Song” but that’s how the chorus goes. Listening to it now is blowing my mind. I may have to cover it!