What Have They Done to My Song Ma


"What Have They Done to My Song Ma" is a song by Melanie. It was released in 1970 as the B-side of her "Ruby Tuesday" single and included on the album Candles in the Rain. The single reached the number 39 in the UK.
Other artists have recorded the song as "Look What They've Done To My Song Ma", after the song's first line, and this title is used on the Music page at Melanie's own website.

Cover versions

recorded a successful German version of the song in 1971 and Ray Charles released a cover in 1972. The song has also been covered by many other artists, including Nina Simone, the New Seekers, and Billie Jo Spears.
Dalida recorded the song in French and Italian and released both version as singles. Czechoslovak singer Helena Vondráčková recorded it in 1971 as "Kam zmizel ten starý song" with Czech lyrics by Zdeněk Borovec. Jeanette did an English/French version in 1973. Yugoslav rock band Bajaga i Instruktori released a cover of it with lyrics in Serbian, called "Vidi šta sam ti uradio od pesme, mama", in 1985.
It was used in the 1970s as a commercial for Lifebuoy soap, and in the 1980s as a commercial jingle for Ramada Inn and for Oatmeal Crisp cereal. In October 2012, Miley Cyrus released a video of her own acoustic version of the song as part of her Backyard Sessions series. In 2015, Melanie joined her to duet on the song in addition to "Peace Will Come ".
Another copy version was made by Jack Wild which appeared on his album «Everything’s coming up Roses», released in 1971.