Here's a fb friend's take on it:
So he playfully quotes an Australian standard in the flute intro to a song which is a huge worldwide hit, the biggest thing in his life he will be remembered for. A publisher after a buck ensures that instead he will be remembered for plagirism (debatable) and pretty much destroys his life in the process. I hope the publisher thinks it was worth it.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17767264
