Black and Gold

Black & Gold was commissioned by Sydney Grammar Preparatory School in 2012 for the end of year 6 graduation ceremony. The school and Paul worked together to organise a poetry competition for all year 6 students and one piece would be chosen as the lyrics for the new work. Oscar Hablmeyer wrote a very insightful yet quirky poem and Paul thoroughly enjoyed setting this interesting text. The result is a piece that resonates with children in upper primary school, particularly those who live in the city. And it challenges adult audiences with it’s interesting perception on the modern life of a child growing up in the 21st Century.

Black & Gold performed by Gondwana Voices in 2013 conducted by the wonderful Jenny Moon.

Themes

Sing a choir favourite Sing a message Sing for an eisteddfod
Duration 4:20 with variation
Key No fixed key centre
Range Ab3 to G5
More info Well suited to theatrics and interesting staging
Price AU$3.00 per copy

Lyrics

B L A C K   A N D   G O L D                        
                           
By Oscar Hablmeyer
                       
Standing in the Black
You have nothing to show
Working hard every day
Try to find an easy way out
And then you do

You want it
You’ll do anything to get it
And then you do

You snatch, you clutch
Become something of trickery
You snatch, you clutch
Working day and night to find it
And then you do

You snatched it, you have it
You clutch it in your arms
You look back at your actions
What has it made you do?
What has it done for you?
Silently you wish as you sink to the floor
Can I have it back, that time in Black?
But you can't

It seems to torment you
You throw it away
Now that you have it
You never want to see it again
Just to have that time in Black
You want it back, you want it back
But you can't
You think
You think
You think
You think

           © Paul Jarman Oscar Hablmeyer 2012