re: Worst songs from your lifetime

Upon further research, Paul has allowed GA(y) Tech to skip paying for use of the Ramblin' Wreck arrangement in perpetuity.

On the other hand, McCartney also bought the rights to Wisky's fight song in 1981.

The following is from a NYT article from Feb. of 1981:

McCartney Keeping Rights to Wisconsin's State Song

A follow-up: Paul McCartney has turned down a request by the Governor of Wisconsin that he turn over to the state the rights to the official state and university song, On, Wisconsin.

Last month Gov. Lee S. Dreyfus had written to Mr. McCartney, one of the three surviving Beatles, suggesting that he make a gift of the song rights "in honor of your former colleague, who was so tragically murdered." (John Lennon)

Mr. McCartney obtained all rights to On, Wisconsin some years ago when he bought the E. H. Morris Music Company of New York. Governor Dreyfus's request for rights to the song, which became his state's official song in 1959, was rejected this week by Lee V. Eastman, who is Mr. McCartney's New York lawyer and his father-in-law.

In behalf of Mr. McCartney, the lawyer said the song was part of a group of important old college tunes published "as an entity." He said that "it would be a great disservice for On, Wisconsin to separate it" from such songs as The Buckeye Battle Cry, Rambling Wreck from Georgia Tech, and Notre Dame Victory March.

Besides, Mr. Eastman said, On, Wisconsin pulls in much less in royalties than the other college songs because of the University of Wisconsin's perennially poor football team.

"I should have told Governor Dreyfus that instead of worrying about songs, he should work on getting them a good football team," Mr. Eastman said.