Here We Are - The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Project

This episode hears from Val Dijkman and Shirley James, two of the Here We Are project songwriters,  talk about their experiences of being in the project and being involved in writing the moving song 'Feather.' And arranger Corrina Hewat discusses her reaction to first hearing Feather and then how she went about creating her stunning arrangement.

You can watch the video of the performance of Feather at 
https://youtu.be/Zr6IS_El1NE

 FEATHER (a song created from The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Project - Here We Are) 

Lyrics by Shirley James, Val Dijkman, Andrew Lorrain-Smith, Sophie Bancroft and The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Group 
Music by Sophie Bancroft and Val Dijkman 
Choir arrangement by Corrina Hewat 

We played in the burn catching trout for the tea 
Alone in the woods just you and me 
Together we grew like Adam and Eve 
And the children arrived with laughter 

A feather floats down, without a sound 
As I sit here and remember 
Is it you, can you see the memories of you and me 
A feather floats down 
I miss you 

We travelled the world enjoyed being free 
Discovering more about you and me 
The grand-children came our lives became full with time to enjoy them growing 

A feather floats down....... 
You were never supposed to leave 

Seasons pass by, our garden grows on 
I sit by our tree still hearing our song 
Chill in the air but love keeps me warm as I treasure our time together 

A feather floats down, without a sound 
As I sit here and remember 
Is it you, can you see the memories of you and me 
A feather floats down 
I miss you 

HERE WE ARE - The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Project 
saw Sophie Bancroft guiding a group of Pathhead Choir members aged 60+ to write original songs for The Pathhead Choir to perform. These songs were then arranged and notated for the choir by Pathhead Music Collective musicians and arrangers, rehearsed and performed by The Pathhead Choir, conducted by Sophie and choir co-leader Gina Rae, with Dave Milligan on piano. The choir gave three concerts around the Lothians in June 2023, performing eight new, original pieces. 

Full information about the project, and sheet music and choir arrangements can be found at https://autumnvoices.co.uk/projects/the-pathhead-choir/ 

This episode hears from arranger Tom Lyne about his experience of being involved in Here We Are and writing his quirky arrangement for Beach Escape, and  from Helen Horsfall,  one of the Here We Are project songwriters,  who talks about her experience of being in the project and being involved in writing the song 'Beach Escape.'

You can watch the video of the performance of Beach Escape at 
https://youtu.be/z_a5U-TrQ0Y

 BEACH ESCAPE (a song created from The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Project - Here We Are) 

Lyrics by Helen Horsfall & The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Group 
Music by Sophie Bancroft 
Choir arrangement by Tom Lyne 

I’m going crazy here, stir crazy here 
Escape away from the day-to-day, dry mouth, clenched jaw, tired eyes, back sore 
Give me the space, wild wind on face, back to everybody’s childhood place 
Escape, let’s escape away to the beach! 

Full palette blues, sand golden hues, sundown reds, psychedelic confuse 
Flags fly high in a pebbledash sky, castles stand so proud and grand 
Escape, let’s escape let’s escape away to the beach! 
I’m Here at the Beach! 

Driftwood fire burns bright with desire, cavernous caves echo thunderous waves 
Sandy towels hide passion fever, salt on the lips, the kisses are quick 
Escape, let’s escape let’s escape away to the beach! 
Kodak moments, salty doughnuts, sunburnt bodies drinking whisky toddies 
Chips get cool, we’ll disappear, back to life with no souvenir 
Escape, let’s escape let’s escape away to the beach! 
I’m Here at the Beach!

 I’m going crazy here, stir crazy here 

HERE WE ARE - The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Project 
saw Sophie Bancroft guiding a group of Pathhead Choir members aged 60+ to write original songs for The Pathhead Choir to perform. These songs were then arranged and notated for the choir by Pathhead Music Collective musicians and arrangers, rehearsed and performed by The Pathhead Choir, conducted by Sophie and choir co-leader Gina Rae, with Dave Milligan on piano. The choir gave three concerts around the Lothians in June 2023, performing eight new, original pieces. 

Full information about the project, and sheet music and choir arrangements can be found at https://autumnvoices.co.uk/projects/the-pathhead-choir/ 

This episode hears various project participants thoughts about the overall project, and hears from some of the songwriter participants about the challenges of collaboration. It also hears from Mags Bryan,  one of the Here We Are project songwriters,  talk about her experience of being in the project, sharing a piece of her creative writing and being involved in writing the song 'Here We Are.' Arranger Tom Bancroft shares his thoughts about the project and writing the anthemic arrangement of Here We Are which gave its name to the entire project.

You can watch the video of the performance of Here We Are at 
https://youtu.be/8hqCrWjrDM8

 HERE WE ARE (a song created from The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Project - Here We Are) 

Lyrics by Mags Bryan and Val Dijkman with Sophie Bancroft and The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Group 
Music by Sophie Bancroft 
Choir arrangement by Tom Bancroft 

Restless thoughts, restless skies, friends there to empathise 
Time to wander and breathe the air 
Lives woven day by day, crossing paths, we find our way 
Summer sun and winter blues 

Here we are walking together 
Here we are with stories to tell 
Here we are to share the message 
And sing out loud that we’re still here 

Nature’s song, time to sow, learn slowly to let go 
Live each moment to the full 
Friendships so long and deep, memories to make and keep 
Room to laugh and even cry 

Here we are walking together.... 
We are here, see our faces, hear our voices 
Tell the story, share the message, we are here 

Life’s a dance, set us free, speak truth with honesty 
New adventures every day 
Old age, a gift to share, more time for us to care 
Grow our wisdom, give ourselves 

Here we are walking together.... 

HERE WE ARE - The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Project saw Sophie Bancroft guiding a group of Pathhead Choir members aged 60+ to write original songs for The Pathhead Choir to perform. These songs were then arranged and notated for the choir by Pathhead Music Collective musicians and arrangers, rehearsed and performed by The Pathhead Choir, conducted by Sophie and choir co-leader Gina Rae, with Dave Milligan on piano. The choir gave three concerts around the Lothians in June 2023, performing eight new, original pieces.

Full information about the project, and sheet music and choir arrangements can be found at
https://autumnvoices.co.uk/projects/the-pathhead-choir/

This episode hears songwriting group members discuss their involvement in the writing of Face In The Mirror, and  pianist and arranger Dave Milligan talk about his experience of the project.

You can watch the video of the performance of  Face In The Mirror at 
https://youtu.be/3hYtCdKj47Y

 FACE IN THE MIRROR (a song created from The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Project - Here We Are) 

Lyrics by The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Group 
Music by Sophie Bancroft and Tom Lyne 
Choir arrangement by Dave Milligan 

Mirrors swear to tell the truth 
What they see they reproduce 
My face is hard to recognise 
The image here is not quite mine 
Still me reflecting time 
Like a fine red wine that satisfies 

And every line tells a story and every story is well read 
Although the days are sometimes stormy we weather on with no regret 

Contours on the map of life 
Sunkissed toil, laughter lines 
Still a sparkle smiling in my eyes 
I love the face that I can see 
I love the skin that covers me 
My younger self would be surprised 

And every line tells a story and every story is well read 
Although the days are sometimes stormy we weather on with no regret 

My skin, your skin, young skin, old skin, still feel young inside 

If they wrote me off at school 
now they see that I’m no fool 
With all that I have done in life 
My younger self would give advice 
Get balance right, be worldly wise 
Don’t work too hard, find time for play 

And every line tells a story and every story is well read 
Although the days are sometimes stormy we weather on with no regret 

My skin, your skin, young skin, old skin, still feel young inside 

This episode hears from some of the project's songwriting participants about why they were interested in joining the songwriting group, from audience members who attended some of the concerts, and  from Andrew Lorrain-Smith,  one of the Here We Are project songwriters,  who talks about his experience of being in the project and being involved in writing the song 'Grandad's Biscuit Tin.'

You can watch the video of the performance of Grandad's Biscuit Tin at 
https://youtu.be/zFsr4DpckUc

 GRANDAD'S BISCUIT TIN (a song created from The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Project - Here We Are) 
Lyrics by Andrew Lorrain-Smith and The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Group 
Music by Sophie Bancroft 

Too high for the kids, 
too high for myself 
Grandad’s tin sitting high on the shelf 
I try to stay full of things that taste sweet 
Things that I would choose to eat 
I’m battered and scratched and a little bit faded 

I sit here and watch the young growing up 
It seems to me they hurry too much 
Running around, feet off the ground 
Wasn’t that how I was found? 
I’m battered and scratched...... 

Listen my friends 
Let me tell you what I see from here 
It’s not the cards you get but more how you play 
Sometimes you win, 
other times you just walk away 
With an act of kindness every day 

So here I am now sitting up high 
Mem’ries filled with flavour and smiles 
Doing nothing is fine, 
I’m savouring time 
Not quite full but satisfied 
I’m battered and scratched...... 

Listen my friends...... 

Too high for the kids 
Too high for myself 
Grandad’s tin sitting high on the shelf 
I try to stay full 
Of things that taste sweet 
Things that I would choose to eat 
I’m battered and scratched...... 

HERE WE ARE - The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Project saw Sophie Bancroft guiding a group of Pathhead Choir members aged 60+ to write original songs for The Pathhead Choir to perform. These songs were then arranged and notated for the choir by Pathhead Music Collective musicians and arrangers, rehearsed and performed by The Pathhead Choir, conducted by Sophie and choir co-leader Gina Rae, with Dave Milligan on piano. The choir gave three concerts around the Lothians in June 2023, performing eight new, original pieces. 

Full information about the project, and sheet music and choir arrangements can be found at https://autumnvoices.co.uk/projects/the-pathhead-choir/ 

This episode hears about Jean Durrand's,  one of the Here We Are project songwriters,  experience of being in the project and being involved in writing  'I Remember.' It also features beautiful creative writing pieces written from lines in 'I Remember' by Val Dijkman and Shirley James, and hears from Gina Rae about writing her arrangement of this amazing song.

You can watch the video of the performance of I Remember at 
https://youtu.be/fB8WYwkosGA

 I REMEMBER (a song created from The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Project - Here We Are) 

Lyrics by Jean Durrand with Sophie Bancroft, Val Dijkman and Shirley James and The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Group 
Music by Sophie Bancroft 
Choir Arrangement by Gina Rae 

Beautiful blue, terracotta smooth, holes worn through by the sea 
Close my eyes, carry me back to the tide 
Hold you in my pocket, feel you in my hand, link to where I belong 
Close my eyes, carry me back in time 

Take me there where the salty air 
And white spray catches my breath 
Wild and free when you call to me 
I remember…. 

Lazy summer days, cooling waves, gold sand, glistening skin 
Close my eyes, carry me back to the tide 
What will be, shaped by the sea, bringing clarity to my mind 
Close my eyes, carry me back in time 

Take me there where the salty air....... 

On a shore full of promise treasures can be found 
Far beyond where the land meets the sea 
Where the birds fly up high and sunlight paints the sky 
Waves bring me moonbeams 

Take me there where the salty air 
And white spray catches my breath 
Wild and free when you call to me I remember…. 

HERE WE ARE - The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Project 
saw Sophie Bancroft guiding a group of Pathhead Choir members aged 60+ to write original songs for The Pathhead Choir to perform. These songs were then arranged and notated for the choir by Pathhead Music Collective musicians and arrangers, rehearsed and performed by The Pathhead Choir, conducted by Sophie and choir co-leader Gina Rae, with Dave Milligan on piano. The choir gave three concerts around the Lothians in June 2023, performing eight new, original pieces. 

Full information about the project, and sheet music and choir arrangements can be found at https://autumnvoices.co.uk/projects/the-pathhead-choir/ 

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This episode sees Here We Are project leader  Sophie Bancroft and Ken Cockburn, from Autumn Voices , discuss how the Here We Are project started. It also hears from various choir members about their love of being in The Pathhead Choir, and  Sue Lewis,  one of the Here We Are project songwriters,  talks about her experience of being in the project and being involved in writing the song 'Tree Of Life.'

You can watch the video of the performance of Tree Of Life at 
https://youtu.be/cRUAqy56tTA

 TREE OF LIFE (a song created from The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Project - Here We Are) 

Lyrics by Sue Lewis with Sophie Bancroft and The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Group, 
Music by Sophie Bancroft 

You are drawn to me, my life, my age, my strength 
My ancient wisdom 
For I have seen more days 
Than you will ever know. 
Seeded, I begin as you do 
and my skin is scarred by life 
a life drawn in lines that show only when broken 

Rooted, to touch the sky 
Rooted, to spread my arms 
Rooted, in the soil I bend the battering winds 
The earth my holdfast 
But we all break sometimes 

Find healing in the green, the red, the gold 
of turning seasons 
And like me find renewal, 
autumn, fall and spring 
Until I stand no more
I lay here on forest floor 
Tho living yet the sleeping dragon
filling children’s dreams 

Rooted, to touch the sky......... 

You are drawn to me, my strength, my age, my life 
my ancient wisdom 
Long years I offer shelter 
to the young and old 
Though you’re drawn to me 
you don’t see the role I take 
to cleanse and to heal 
our beautiful world 

HERE WE ARE - The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Project saw Sophie Bancroft guiding a group of Pathhead Choir members aged 60+ to write original songs for The Pathhead Choir to perform. These songs were then arranged and notated for the choir by Pathhead Music Collective musicians and arrangers, rehearsed and performed by The Pathhead Choir, conducted by Sophie and choir co-leader Gina Rae, with Dave Milligan on piano. The choir gave three concerts around the Lothians in June 2023, performing eight new, original pieces. 

Full information about the project, and sheet music and choir arrangements can be found at https://autumnvoices.co.uk/projects/the-pathhead-choir/ 

This episode from various participants in the project - choir members, songwriters, arrangers and audience members talk about their experiences of the project, and  also Barbara Hateley,  one of the Here We Are project songwriters,  talks about her experience of being in the project and being involved in writing the song 'Hand-Me-Down.'

You can watch the video of the performance of Hand-Me-Down at 
https://youtu.be/-O_6FZqdycc

 HAND-ME-DOWN (a song created from The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Project - Here We Are) 

Lyrics by Barbara Hateley with Sophie Bancroft and The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Group 
Music by Sophie Bancroft 

The soup-maker stands side by side with her daughter 
Onions, lentils and leeks fill the bench 
“I made this soup long ago with my mother” 
The soup-maker says 

The soup-maker moves in with daughter and family 
Pea and ham soup bubbles hot on the stove 
Wean in the high-chair wears pea and ham face paint 
The soup-maker smiles 

Hand me down, hand me down, I am warmth, nurture and love 
Hand me down, hand me down, I am warmth, nurture and love 

The wean, now a mother, stands by her own daughter 
Mud covered carrots sit on the bench 
“I found them in the garden, can we make some soup?” 
Young soup-maker begs 

Hand me down, hand me down, I am warmth, nurture and love 
Hand me down, hand me down, I am warmth, nurture and love 

The soup-maker lies in her bed in the care home 
Velvet brown, bone marrow broth, brought from home 
steams in a cup that is held by her daughter 
The soup-maker sips 

The soup-maker’s daughter returns to her family 
Holding the cup that was once full with broth 
Now filled with mem’ries of onions and lentils 
The soup-maker’s love 

Hand me down, hand me down, I am warmth, nurture and love 
Hand me down, hand me down, I am warmth, nurture and love 

HERE WE ARE - The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Project 
saw Sophie Bancroft guiding a group of Pathhead Choir members aged 60+ to write original songs for The Pathhead Choir to perform. These songs were then arranged and notated for the choir by Pathhead Music Collective musicians and arrangers, rehearsed and performed by The Pathhead Choir, conducted by Sophie and choir co-leader Gina Rae, with Dave Milligan on piano. The choir gave three concerts around the Lothians in June 2023, performing eight new, original pieces. 

Full information about the project, and sheet music and choir arrangements can be found at https://autumnvoices.co.uk/projects/the-pathhead-choir/