If you want to use a poem from an old poet in your song lyrics, what do you have to do to get that okayed if?

the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is dead? He died in 1882 I know that if an author is still alive you can obtain permission that way to use their verse as lyrics.. but if they are dead, how do you use the poem legally?

If you want to use a poem from an old poet in your song lyrics, what do you have to do to get that okayed if?
Some works are in the public domain, so you don't need permission. Other works by dead authors are still owned by heirs or publishers. Check a book of Longfellow's poetry (you should be able to find one in the bookstore or in the library) and see if there is a copyright - you'll find it on the first information page after the title page - and that will tell you who to contact for permission to use the poem.
Reply:Though you still want to check, the general rule for when something enters the public domain is by going to the time the author died and adding 75 years. There are some exceptions. The link below has some goes over some of the basics.
Reply:Longfellow is in public domain, you lucked out =)

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