Participants will:
- Learn a bit about folk traditions of repurposing popular songs, religious
songs, nursery rhymes, etc. - Discuss issues that they care about
- Have a go at rewriting lyrics of a popular song to address the issue they
care about - Perform their songs
Participants will develop:
- Knowledge about the folk traditions of repurposing popular songs,
religious songs, nursery rhymes, etc. - An understanding of the power of songs and music to bring people
together for change - Songwriting skills and the confidence to put these into practice
- Potentially a new creative hobby!
Materials
Flipchart paper or large sheets of paper, flipchart/marker/felt-tip
pens, musical instruments if you have them.
Preparation
Make sure you are familiar with some well-known songs or nursery rhymes, which will be used and adapted in the session. If you can play a musical instrument, such as a guitar, work out a simple accompaniment to a
couple of these songs.
What to do:
Open up with a discussion about songs and the role they play in shaping collective viewpoints. Songs are used in Woodcraft Folk, in religion and in a variety of secular contexts (e.g. the National Anthem or football anthems) to
signify a sense of belonging, or togetherness. Talk about the longstanding folk tradition of taking a popular song and reusing the tune. A good example of this is the song Solidarity Forever, the tune of which was an 18th or early 19th century hymn in the USA and was then used as the tune for the abolitionist song John Brown’s Body, the Union song from the American Civil War Battle Hymn of the Republic and finally International Workers of the World song Solidarity Forever.
Many of our folk songs come from similar roots, in popular songs, nursery rhymes, or hymns and songs of religious observance. Explain that this session will be an opportunity to create songs about something
we care about. Ask participants what they might like to write about and discuss the issues involved. Share a few well-known songs such as popular songs, religious songs, nursery rhymes and songs from the Woodcraft songbook. Split the participants into groups to look at repurposing a well-known song with lyrics around an issue that the group cares about.
Leave time at the end of the session to share the songs.