turning tides

(2019)

for massed voices, youth choir and piano

1. a space kept to remember

2. turning tides

3. we used to

4. The whole day long

Commissioned by the Welsh National Opera, as part of their Cradle Project

text

text: Claire Williamson, in collaboration with Swansea Youth Choir, ‘ChoirWorks’ and Musical Memories

a space kept to remember

St Mary’s church a skeleton.
Department stores 
all ruined. 

To cross the rubble
a Bailey bridge was built
assembled by the army
showing-off their skills 

And below Castle Square
there’s bodies underground
a space kept to remember
that some were never found

Barrow boys came
to replace the shattered market:
Carrots, parsnips, shallots, onions
lettuce, radish, celery, scallions

Rebuilding the town
so different then to now:
Baker, butcher, groceries
we’d dress smart to go shopping

We had pride, we had industry
swelling to be a ci-ity
a city with access to the sea
that’s Swansea, that’s Swansea!

turning tides

Turning tides
The past returns
Washed up. Changed. Renewed.
All under the same moon.

We fixed everything
when televisions came out
It was radios 
back when we started...

and irons and kettles
and that sort of thing
anything electrical 
people would bring

And I could think things through,
work it out in my mind.
I’d find the problem, 
the problem I’d find...

I moved from apprentice
to have my own shop
It was 19..
when it stopped.

Back then... no social media
to say what you should and shouldn’t eat
How the earth is distressed
with little time to save the planet

Re-use. Recycle. 
Recycle. Renew.
Make do and mend
has come back again
with the milkman’s rounds
and sorting the bins
it all comes around
a cyclical thing

We had tights, yes,
you’d wear pants on top 
to stop them falling
and/to stop them being a flop. 

Sunday-best worn 
on (the) Mumbles steam-train
We’d be covered in smuts 
by the time we came.

A bikini - delightful
but not made (out) of wool
and hand-me-downs
by the sackfull

Re-use. Recycle. 
Recycle. Renew.
Make do and mend
has come back again
with the milkman’s rounds
and sorting the bins
it all comes around
a cyclical thing

 After mangles and wringers
Reckitts Blue in the tub
Lifeboy for stains
wash-board for the rub

came the automatic
washing machine
we drew up chairs 
just to watch it clean...

round and round and round
a full cycle was fun.
(It was) entertainment
for everyone!

Turning tides
The past returns
Washed up. Changed. Renewed.
All under the same moon.

we used to

Brecon, Abergavenny,
we used to cycle all day
often it rained
all on a Sunday.

We were young lads, quite fit
Fifty miles each way.
Once cycled to Tenby
It would take all day!

We’d let our kids rove
along the Mumbles mile
so many funny stories
(how) they partied in style... 

(and) end up in Cinderella’s
let their hair down,
they still tell the stories...
it was safe then, not now.

Swansea, so friendly
On that we all agree
it’s the home that follows us
as memories flutter back
on the Bay breeze

The whole day long

Do the chores needed
While sun winks in windows.
Pack a picnic: squash,
paste-sandwich – and we’re off!

Jump down at the slip
all day on the beach:
swing boats, swing-boats
swimming and ice-cream

The whole day long
a fabulous time
black face from the oil
but we didn’t mind

Share Big Apple snacks
pop bottles and waffles
or Italian soft-scoop
from Joe’s cafe in Mumbles

Swansea, so friendly
On that we all agree
It’s the home that follows us
as memories flutter back
on the Bay breeze