Topic: Three Blind Mice composer question

[Shemoeley Fine]

Any esteemed member know if Three Blind Mice has become pubic domain or is Chauncey Morehouse considered the composer?  I convinced my band mates to do a Latin jazz-salsa version of it for an upcoming gig in August and the festival we're playing will be recording us, hence the need to know about publishing rights, if any.

I hope to get inspired enough to write some lyrics to it and include the names of the 4 principals, I might even be able to work in some titles or famous quotes of the boys into the lyrics, partially español, partially English.

S F

[Dunrobin]

I've never heard of anyone being credited as the composer for Three Blind Mice; every reference I can find shows it as just "Traditional."  Since the nursery rhyme dates from the 16th century, I'm pretty sure it's "public domain" (which would also explain why Columbia would use it for a Stooges theme.)

[Giff me dat fill-em!]

The definition of "tradtional music" (as offered by Wikipedia) is as follows:

Folk music, in the original sense of the term, is music by and of the common people. Folk music is somewhat synonymous with Traditional music. Both terms are used semi-interchangeably amongst the general population ...

So, I'm willing to bet along with Dunrobin that the tune is safely in the public domain.