diff --git a/openlp/plugins/songs/lib/__init__.py b/openlp/plugins/songs/lib/__init__.py
index 407fede8d..1fc6258cc 100644
--- a/openlp/plugins/songs/lib/__init__.py
+++ b/openlp/plugins/songs/lib/__init__.py
@@ -395,12 +395,6 @@ def clean_song(manager, song):
     """
     from xml import SongXML
 
-    if isinstance(song.title, buffer):
-        song.title = unicode(song.title)
-    if isinstance(song.alternate_title, buffer):
-        song.alternate_title = unicode(song.alternate_title)
-    if isinstance(song.lyrics, buffer):
-        song.lyrics = unicode(song.lyrics)
     if song.title:
         song.title = clean_title(song.title)
     else: