Music and lyrics composed by Anna Rusbatch
Arranged for orchestra by Anna Rusbatch, Jim Pywell and Jacy De Sousa
Arranged for orchestra by Anna Rusbatch, Jim Pywell and Jacy De Sousa
Slave Chant |
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Ain’t got no soul, I want my freedom - Ain’t got no strength, ain’t got no freedom
I’ve lost my life, I’ve lost my freedom - Wishing I could fly away
I’ve lost my life, I’ve lost my freedom - Wishing I could fly away
I Touch Your Eyes |
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I touch your eyes, so you can see - the wonders of the world, the wind in the trees
I touch your ears, so you can hear - the voice inside your heart when choices aren’t clear
Your inner voice will guide you when it’s cold and dark
Stay strong, believe and hope, we’ll never be apart
I touch your lips, so you can speak - to help you realise the dreams that you seek
I raise your chin, hold your head high - be proud of who you are don’t frown or cry
Your inner voice will guide you when it’s cold and dark
Stay strong, believe and hope, we’ll never be apart - we’ll never be apart
I touch your ears, so you can hear - the voice inside your heart when choices aren’t clear
Your inner voice will guide you when it’s cold and dark
Stay strong, believe and hope, we’ll never be apart
I touch your lips, so you can speak - to help you realise the dreams that you seek
I raise your chin, hold your head high - be proud of who you are don’t frown or cry
Your inner voice will guide you when it’s cold and dark
Stay strong, believe and hope, we’ll never be apart - we’ll never be apart
Off On a Journey |
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Off on a journey with my head held high - to the horizon through the sea and sky
A great adventure, eyes open wide - the chance of failure’s, more than I can abide
I’ll raise my chin, hold my head high I don’t know where you are but I will try
To find you on the seas, united once again
Together like old times, together ‘til the end - together ‘til the end...
A great adventure, eyes open wide - the chance of failure’s, more than I can abide
I’ll raise my chin, hold my head high I don’t know where you are but I will try
To find you on the seas, united once again
Together like old times, together ‘til the end - together ‘til the end...
Heave Ho |
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Sailors - Heave Ho!
Victorians - Off you go Beggars - Spare a penny Sir? Sailors - Heave Ho! Victorians - Off you go Beggars - Spare a penny Sir? |
Sellers - Will you buy? Will you buy?
Sellers - Will you buy? Will you buy? Sellers - Will you buy? Will you buy? Victorians - Leave me alone! Sailors: HEAVE HO ! |
Chase Scene
John de Conquer |
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John de Conquer, of feather and flesh - could walk on the waves of sound
He was a saviour, a symbol of hope - for the slaves in the ships that he found
His spirit would follow them, guide and protect them from horrors that lay in store
He is the albatross, graceful and strong - and will be forever more
Walking with wings, walking the waves - walking the winds that filled the sails
Following silently, flying majestically - hoping to rectify human betrayal
He was a saviour, a symbol of hope - for the slaves in the ships that he found
His spirit would follow them, guide and protect them from horrors that lay in store
He is the albatross, graceful and strong - and will be forever more
Walking with wings, walking the waves - walking the winds that filled the sails
Following silently, flying majestically - hoping to rectify human betrayal
Trouble Don't Last Always
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Everyday I’m dreaming, whilst sweeping and cooking and cleaning,
Dreaming of the life I left behind - it doesn’t have any meaning anymore
Life here in this mission, has given me the ambition
To provide the life I left behind, for the kids who find their way into our lives
I’m so glad trouble don’t last always, I’m so glad trouble don’t last always,
I’m so glad trouble don’t last always, my troubles will fly away
I’m so glad trouble don’t last always, I’m so glad trouble don’t last always,
I’m so glad trouble don’t last always, my troubles have set me free
My troubles have set me free
Dreaming of the life I left behind - it doesn’t have any meaning anymore
Life here in this mission, has given me the ambition
To provide the life I left behind, for the kids who find their way into our lives
I’m so glad trouble don’t last always, I’m so glad trouble don’t last always,
I’m so glad trouble don’t last always, my troubles will fly away
I’m so glad trouble don’t last always, I’m so glad trouble don’t last always,
I’m so glad trouble don’t last always, my troubles have set me free
My troubles have set me free
Dear Mother |
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(Solomon)
Dear Mother I still look for you, I feel you in the air
Oh Mother I still talk to you, I sense you everywhere
When I am weak and all alone, I recall your words
Of strength and hope and freedom – to keep flying with the birds
S: There are times I feel I’m falling
M: Spread your wings, you’ll soon be soaring
(Mother)
Dear Solomon, my precious boy, know that I’m always here
Watching you, walking with you, I will always be near
Oh Solomon I am so proud of who you have become
Stay strong, have hope, keep flying, keep heading for the sun
S: There are times I feel I’m falling
M: Spread your wings, you’ll soon be soaring
M: I will always be right by your side - S: Every day I dream of your smile
M: In my arms I’ll cradle you tight - S: I am strong I will not lose this fight
S: And I’m feeling strong, now, Mother - and I’m standing tall, now, Mother
I will always fly, high, Mother - I’m on my way, strong I will stay
I’m on my way, strong I will stay
Dear Mother I still look for you, I feel you in the air
Oh Mother I still talk to you, I sense you everywhere
When I am weak and all alone, I recall your words
Of strength and hope and freedom – to keep flying with the birds
S: There are times I feel I’m falling
M: Spread your wings, you’ll soon be soaring
(Mother)
Dear Solomon, my precious boy, know that I’m always here
Watching you, walking with you, I will always be near
Oh Solomon I am so proud of who you have become
Stay strong, have hope, keep flying, keep heading for the sun
S: There are times I feel I’m falling
M: Spread your wings, you’ll soon be soaring
M: I will always be right by your side - S: Every day I dream of your smile
M: In my arms I’ll cradle you tight - S: I am strong I will not lose this fight
S: And I’m feeling strong, now, Mother - and I’m standing tall, now, Mother
I will always fly, high, Mother - I’m on my way, strong I will stay
I’m on my way, strong I will stay
Karibu Stonetown |
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Break Free
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Hear me, I’m lonely, it’s only me, set me free
Oh, life isn’t fair; this is more than I can bear
Alone in this silent world, misunderstood and never heard
I wanna break free, I wanna break free, I wanna break free, I wanna break free
These chains are dragging me, dragging me, dragging me, dragging me,
Dragging me down, down, down
Oh, life isn’t fair; this is more than I can bear
Alone in this silent world, misunderstood and never heard
I wanna break free, I wanna break free, I wanna break free, I wanna break free
These chains are dragging me, dragging me, dragging me, dragging me,
Dragging me down, down, down
Rote Learning |
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(Kids): Well Bishop Smythies it’s like this you see - we’ve been learning our A B C
Ay is ‘ah’ and ‘ah’ is Ay - animals and aunties arriving all day
Bee is ‘buh’ and ‘buh’ is Bee - big boat sails, billowing in the breeze
(Wheelie/Scoot): Yeah, and BIG boooooo... (Kids): WHEELIE/SCOOOOT!!
Cee is ‘cuh’ and ‘cuh’ is Cee - cats and caterpillars, climbing trees
(Jane): Very soon children you’ll be able to read / (Kids): Like the long, tall grass by the mangrove trees?
Well, yes, they’re reeds, they’re a noun, they’re a thing - we’ll learn the verb, TO read something
But the words sound the same, that’s silly, that’s wrong / When you learn to read, you’ll see where they belong
R.E.E.D “reed” / R.E.E.D “reed” / Good, R.E.A.D “read”, repeat / R.E.A.D “read repeat'
(Miss T): R.E.A.D “red”, repeat / (Kids): R.E.A.D “reed” / NO! R.E.A.D “red”
Eh? But you just said R.E.A.D was “reed” / Well, it is: If it’s the verb TO READ, then it’s spelt R.E.A.D and you pronounce it “reed”. But if it’s the past tense – if you did it yesterday, if you did it a minute ago, if you did it a year ago - it's past tense - it's the same spelling, you just pronounce it differently. Understand?
Huh?? I don’t get it! Miss T? / Yes? / What colour is this? / Why, it’s red of course / So, do you spell this R E A D too? / No, no child, not the colour - the colour red is spelt R.E.D / Eh? Not R E A D then? / No, not for the colour, dear / Oh! Miss T? / Yes boy? / Where do you come from in England? / I come from a town in the South of England called “Redding” (Reading) / Redding? And how do you spell this? / Erm, R E A D I N G / What? Like “reeding”? Redding? Reeding? Redding? Reeding? Redding? Reeding? I don’t get it, this is stupid...
(Jane): Erm, right (clapping her hands), class dismissed (Kids): YAY, woohoo, hurray!
Ay is ‘ah’ and ‘ah’ is Ay - animals and aunties arriving all day
Bee is ‘buh’ and ‘buh’ is Bee - big boat sails, billowing in the breeze
(Wheelie/Scoot): Yeah, and BIG boooooo... (Kids): WHEELIE/SCOOOOT!!
Cee is ‘cuh’ and ‘cuh’ is Cee - cats and caterpillars, climbing trees
(Jane): Very soon children you’ll be able to read / (Kids): Like the long, tall grass by the mangrove trees?
Well, yes, they’re reeds, they’re a noun, they’re a thing - we’ll learn the verb, TO read something
But the words sound the same, that’s silly, that’s wrong / When you learn to read, you’ll see where they belong
R.E.E.D “reed” / R.E.E.D “reed” / Good, R.E.A.D “read”, repeat / R.E.A.D “read repeat'
(Miss T): R.E.A.D “red”, repeat / (Kids): R.E.A.D “reed” / NO! R.E.A.D “red”
Eh? But you just said R.E.A.D was “reed” / Well, it is: If it’s the verb TO READ, then it’s spelt R.E.A.D and you pronounce it “reed”. But if it’s the past tense – if you did it yesterday, if you did it a minute ago, if you did it a year ago - it's past tense - it's the same spelling, you just pronounce it differently. Understand?
Huh?? I don’t get it! Miss T? / Yes? / What colour is this? / Why, it’s red of course / So, do you spell this R E A D too? / No, no child, not the colour - the colour red is spelt R.E.D / Eh? Not R E A D then? / No, not for the colour, dear / Oh! Miss T? / Yes boy? / Where do you come from in England? / I come from a town in the South of England called “Redding” (Reading) / Redding? And how do you spell this? / Erm, R E A D I N G / What? Like “reeding”? Redding? Reeding? Redding? Reeding? Redding? Reeding? I don’t get it, this is stupid...
(Jane): Erm, right (clapping her hands), class dismissed (Kids): YAY, woohoo, hurray!
Paintings of His Soul |
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Elsie: He makes me wonder, what’s in his mind - to scratch his surface, what would I find?
I want to know him, and find out more - will he show me his pictures?
Solomon I wish she knew me, knew how I feel I dream she hears me, could that be real?
My voice fails me, she needs to know - all the paintings of my soul
S: Should I show her all the stories of my life?
E: I wish he’d show me all the pictures in his mind
S: I think I’ll show her all the paintings of my soul
E; I wish he’d show me all the paintings of his soul
S: These are the pictures, inside my mind E: These are the memories, you left behind
Both: We seem much closer, less far apart - this is the journey of your/my heart
(Instrumental – Touch Your Eyes Theme)
S: These are the pictures, inside my mind E: These are the memories, you left behind
Both: We seem much closer, less far apart - this is the journey of your/my heart
S: This is the journey of my heart
I want to know him, and find out more - will he show me his pictures?
Solomon I wish she knew me, knew how I feel I dream she hears me, could that be real?
My voice fails me, she needs to know - all the paintings of my soul
S: Should I show her all the stories of my life?
E: I wish he’d show me all the pictures in his mind
S: I think I’ll show her all the paintings of my soul
E; I wish he’d show me all the paintings of his soul
S: These are the pictures, inside my mind E: These are the memories, you left behind
Both: We seem much closer, less far apart - this is the journey of your/my heart
(Instrumental – Touch Your Eyes Theme)
S: These are the pictures, inside my mind E: These are the memories, you left behind
Both: We seem much closer, less far apart - this is the journey of your/my heart
S: This is the journey of my heart
Freedom |
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Mission Mama: Like an animal, I was chained, stolen away against my will
Like an animal, I belonged, to people fuelled to hate and kill
Mama Felicitas: My life was worthless; I was a thing, to be traded for money
Demoralised, dehumanised, unable to think or breathe
Fighting for freedom, dreaming of freedom, praying for freedom, from my...
My grief, my pain, my loss, this crime of humiliation, loneliness and sorrow
My grief, my pain, my loss, this crime of domination, exploitation, every day
Instrumental
Cecil: I’d lost all hope, I’d lost all feeling, I wished that I’d soon meet my end
Elsie: My own father, betrayed me, no more shall I pretend
Solomon: My silent world is my definition, no one knows my real name
I’m stigmatised, please sympathise, I have the same rights to claim
Chorus and Instrumental
Fighting for freedom, dreaming of freedom, praying for freedom, to live...
My life, my way, my time, today with optimism, honesty and happiness
My life, my way, my time, to stay with the human right just to be me
Now I am free
Like an animal, I belonged, to people fuelled to hate and kill
Mama Felicitas: My life was worthless; I was a thing, to be traded for money
Demoralised, dehumanised, unable to think or breathe
Fighting for freedom, dreaming of freedom, praying for freedom, from my...
My grief, my pain, my loss, this crime of humiliation, loneliness and sorrow
My grief, my pain, my loss, this crime of domination, exploitation, every day
Instrumental
Cecil: I’d lost all hope, I’d lost all feeling, I wished that I’d soon meet my end
Elsie: My own father, betrayed me, no more shall I pretend
Solomon: My silent world is my definition, no one knows my real name
I’m stigmatised, please sympathise, I have the same rights to claim
Chorus and Instrumental
Fighting for freedom, dreaming of freedom, praying for freedom, to live...
My life, my way, my time, today with optimism, honesty and happiness
My life, my way, my time, to stay with the human right just to be me
Now I am free
Ashamed |
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Elsie: I’m so ashamed of him, I feel so angry
I’m so ashamed of him, I’ve wasted my journey
I just don’t know what to do. I give up, I’m done, I’m through
Mama F: Listen to me my dear, don’t jump to conclusions
Listen to me my dear, it may be an illusion
Elsie: I just don’t know what to do. I give up, I’m done, I’m through
Mama F: Hush now my child, come here to me
Sometimes these things aren’t always as they seem
Don’t trust the anger that you feel within your soul
Keep going, don’t give up, you’re stronger than you know
Cecil: Angry / Solomon: Misery / Elsie: He lied to me / Mother: Listen to me
(repeat, layered with Mama F & Mother below)
Mama F: Hush now my child, hold your head high
Mother: Be proud of who you are, don’t frown or cry
Both: Don’t trust the anger that you feel within your soul
Keep going, don’t give up, you’re stronger than you know
You’re stronger than you know
I’m so ashamed of him, I’ve wasted my journey
I just don’t know what to do. I give up, I’m done, I’m through
Mama F: Listen to me my dear, don’t jump to conclusions
Listen to me my dear, it may be an illusion
Elsie: I just don’t know what to do. I give up, I’m done, I’m through
Mama F: Hush now my child, come here to me
Sometimes these things aren’t always as they seem
Don’t trust the anger that you feel within your soul
Keep going, don’t give up, you’re stronger than you know
Cecil: Angry / Solomon: Misery / Elsie: He lied to me / Mother: Listen to me
(repeat, layered with Mama F & Mother below)
Mama F: Hush now my child, hold your head high
Mother: Be proud of who you are, don’t frown or cry
Both: Don’t trust the anger that you feel within your soul
Keep going, don’t give up, you’re stronger than you know
You’re stronger than you know
Flashback Reprise:
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Albatross Three Themes
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Spirit of the Slaves |
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Anansi the Spider |
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He is sly and he is scary, he is big and really hairy
Watching you with his eight eyes, he is the devil in disguise
Hairy, scary, hairy, scary, Anansi the spider
He is coming, getting closer, he is gonna bite ya!
Watching you with his eight eyes, he is the devil in disguise
Hairy, scary, hairy, scary, Anansi the spider
He is coming, getting closer, he is gonna bite ya!
Butterfly |
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Be gentle with his dreams, be gentle with his soul
His wisdom and his strength, are far greater than you know
Be gentle with his heart, be gentle with his mind
If you take the time to know him, you’ll be surprised at what you find
Like a butterfly, his wings are fragile
Like a butterfly, don’t curb his flight, let him fly with might
Lift him up if he should fall, raise him up and make him feel tall
Like a butterfly, his wings are fragile... like a butterfly
(Repeat from Mama F's perspective - 'I'll be' with the mother's echo)
His wisdom and his strength, are far greater than you know
Be gentle with his heart, be gentle with his mind
If you take the time to know him, you’ll be surprised at what you find
Like a butterfly, his wings are fragile
Like a butterfly, don’t curb his flight, let him fly with might
Lift him up if he should fall, raise him up and make him feel tall
Like a butterfly, his wings are fragile... like a butterfly
(Repeat from Mama F's perspective - 'I'll be' with the mother's echo)
Break Free (reprise) - Fight Scene
Wings of Freedom
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We’re flying with the wings of freedom - we’re touching the stars tonight
We’re soaring on the wings of an eagle - together we can end this fight
We stand united, our heads held high - together we will fight for our human rights
We’re strong together, we’ll fight forever - we’re touching the stars tonight
We’re soaring on the wings of an eagle - together we can end this fight
We stand united, our heads held high - together we will fight for our human rights
We’re strong together, we’ll fight forever - we’re touching the stars tonight
Outro - Bows & Claps - Wings of Freedom / Freedom
Music and lyrics composed by Anna Rusbatch
Arranged for orchestra by Anna Rusbatch, Jim Pywell and Jacy De Sousa
Arranged for orchestra by Anna Rusbatch, Jim Pywell and Jacy De Sousa