My Artist in Residence involvement with the University of Guyana has produced some very fulfilling exchanges, some of which I had expected but there were some surprises which I’ve mentioned before. One of them, as a result of some whim that I can’t recall, was a poem I wrote, after an exchange with some Turkeyen students, entitled We come here to shine, and sent to Vice Chancellor Ivelaw Griffith.
Ever an instigator, the VC promptly suggested that I put the poem to music, which I promptly did, but since the song has to be sung by a student, the Deputy VC, Dr. Paloma Martin, located a young lady, Diana Chapman, to tackle that part.
The next step was for Diana to record the song, but some technical problems, including equipment malfunction at the studio, got in the way. However the project is going forward, with the equipment fixed, and the plan now is to get the recording done during the upcoming week.
Diana is a good vocalist and will sing it in her style, with a drum track of her choice, but to get the interest going I am including here the lyrics of the song:
We come here to shine
(Copyright Dave Martins 2018)
(Verse 1)
We come with our intentions strong
to prove that yes we do belong
to do the work and toe the line
We come here to shine
We come to learn and to prepare
we see the future very clear
the time for us is waiting there
Yes we come here to shine
(Chorus)
We come here from Supenaam, Lusignaan, New Amsterdam
We come from Kingston and Backdam
We come here to shine
We come here from LBI
from Rosignol and from Annai
from Uitvlugt and Karasabai
We come here to shine
(Verse 2)
We come from logee on the ground
Or bottom house in Albouystown
But we won’t let that get us down
‘Cause we come here to shine
We know how hungry belly feel
And why some people turn and steal
We see the wrongs we need to heal
So we come here to shine
(Chorus)
We come here from Supenaam, Lusignaan, New Amsterdam
We come from Kingston and Backdam
We come here to shine
We come here from LBI
From Black Bush Polder, from Annai,
From Buxton and Karasabai
We come here to shine
(Verse 3)
Dont talk to me ‘bout separate
We come here to congregate
and help each other stand up straight
We come here to shine
We know it’s not an easy time
We know we have to bear the grind
We’re here to seek and yes to find
We come here to shine
(Chorus)
We come here from Supenaam, Golden Grove, New Amsterdam
We come from Linden and Backdam
We come here to shine
We come here from LBI
from Providence and from Annai
from Uitvlugt and Karasabai
We come here to shine
We come here from Adventure
Vreed en Hoop and Parika
We come here from Bartica
We come here to shine
