FWIW, Elton John and Bernie Taupin worked the other way at least some of the time. (Taupin wrote lyrics and then John wrote the music.) That said, repurposing

FWIW, Elton John and Bernie Taupin worked the other way at least some of the time. (Taupin wrote lyrics and then John wrote the music.) That said, repurposing music with new lyrics is very common. For example, the Star Spangled Banner is "new lyrics" for a older English drinking song.