Creative Work
A selection of work from our participants
Nothing's Gonna Hold Us Back
Back in the day, the SAOL participants wrote and recorded three songs - 'I don't care what the people say', 'The night is young' and 'Stronger Woman Now'. You can hear each song by clicking on the title - to add to the experience, some of the lyrics are reproduced below:
"Suddenly we had so much to say, we talked for hours every day
You made me laugh and showed to me all the things that love could be" - from 'I don't care what the people say'.
"I'm tired of painting this town blue. There's so many things I want to do. I'm tired of feeling that I don't belong. Tonight this town belongs to me" - from 'The night is young'.
"I'm a stronger woman now and there's no turning back. I'm a stronger woman now, nothing's gonna hold me back" - from 'Stronger Woman Now'
Don't Forget Me
Dear Son,
Just a line to say I'm living that I'm not among the dead
Though I'm getting more forgetful and mixed up in my head
I've got used to my arthritics, to my dentures I'm resigned
I can manage my bifocals but Lord I miss my mind
For sometimes I can't remember when I stand below the stairs
If I must go up for something or have I just come down from there
And before the fridge so often my poor mind is filled with doubt
Have I put the food away or have I come to take it out?
And there's time when it's dark with my night veil on my head
I don't know if I'm returning or getting out of bed.
So if it's my turn to write to you there's no need for getting sore.
I may think that I have written and don't want to be a bore.
Just remember that I wish for you the whole wide world and more
For your mammy says goodnight now, I will love you evermore.
Ma
Summer
I love the summer
It brings me lots of good memories
All related to my daughter
And all the beautiful days out on the beach
Change
If I could change just one thing
I’d be a millionaire, have lots of bling
I wouldn’t have to worry about a thing
I’d be so rich everyday I would sing
Live the life of a king
But as it goes I am broke
And believe me this is no joke
Maybe though I’ll meet a millionaire
A man with style and flare
Fall in love, into each other’s eyes we’d stare
O to live my life without a care.
The Winter Sun
Well I always love the sun when it shines.
The sun shines through the clouds and it's a softer kind of sun
But shines so nice even though the snow is all over the ground.
I love walking through the snow, the noise it makes
And the way it falls when I walk on it.
I love watching the telly when I see people skiing down the slopes
I always see other people wearing sun glasses
And say to myself “O God, if only that was me and the kids”
Well as I always say, ‘maybe some time’.
Fashion
When I was young I had lovely long hair
Curly
But that was the fashion and fashion meant so much that I went out and worked for it.
Levi’s was what everyone was wearing
Well I had every colour that came out
And as for the shoes and me runners
I would only wear Air-Max and all the top brands.
As my fella’ always says
“You weren’t born with a silver spoon – you had a platinum one”
“It’s not my fault my ma went out and worked”
And he says
“Well, your ma was buying all the robbed clothes”
And I said,
“And why did your ma not buy any?”
And he said
“Any time my ma wanted some, your f***ing ma had them all”
