I copied the following fron this site: http://www.pdinfo.com/faq.php Interesting!

Any work in the public domain can be freely used by any one in any manner they choose. There is no law which requires you to have any proof of public domain in order to use a public domain work.

The problem is that it is virtually impossible to securely determine that a work is in the public domain in the USA unless you have a copy of the work with a copyright date of 1922 or earlier.

Most recognizable public domain songs have hundreds of arrangements of the song which are still under copyright protection, and in many instances the arranger has significantly changed the melody or lyrics from public domain versions.

So to be confident you are truly using a public domain work, you need to find a public domain version of the work before you begin your project.

A reprint from a source you trust or a photocopy from a library are most adequate. You then work exclusively from your public domain source copy to change and arrange the song as you like to create the music you need for your project.

John smile

Stop analyzing; just compose the damn thing!
http://johnlarenceschick.com/home
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm8486845/resume?ref_=nm_ov_res