One Common Heartbeat:

Performance and Duplication Rights

There are no royalties or performance rights involved in the performance of the anthem. The original and present intent is for the anthem to be public domain.

The lyrics may be downloaded from this website and copied in whatever way is expedient, as may the leadsheet (See music). The lyrics and the melody were originally copyrighted to prevent people from arbitrarily changing them. The melody can, however, be arranged in any way a performer sees fit, including changing keys, adding a chorus, giving it a rock beat, doing an all-orchestral version of it, etc.

If the piece seems overlong in its two-verse version, the second verse can be omitted from the performance. The CD, available from the Leather Archives and Museum in Chicago, contains both full-length and single-verse versions of accompaniment.