Song Writing Summer Camp 2024

Fighting Words Song Writing Summer
Camp 2024
Empowerment’s Legacy
Big Mash Up & Fries

The German Story
By Shane, Sadhbh, Riley & Maria
Liezel: Hi?
Gunther (throws up): Hi
Liezel: Are you alright?
Gunther: Ja, ja, ja
Liezel: I’ll ask daddy to clean that up
Gunther: Agh, no, I will clean it up *cleans it up with money*
Liezel: Erm… it isn’t working… I will get a mop!
Gunther: *starts crying*
Liezel: *tries to open the door but it’s locked*
Pans to the parents who are listening, looking into the room

Liezel: *sighs and slumps against the door*
Gunther: I’m really sorry, I thought this would go better
Liezel: No, it’s alright…
Gunther: Gunther.
Liezel: Nice to meet you, Gunther
Gunther: *nods*
Liezel: Oh, well Gunther, I’m sure in a few years we’ll be happily
married and this will be a funny story at one of our fancy
garden parties!
Gunther: (glumly) Ja
Awkward silence
Liezel: I don’t want to get married!
Gunther: Me neither!
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Both: Wait… what?
Chorus
Liezel: I am Liezel the third
As chirpy as a bird
My life’s work and worth is
unheard
Gunther: Gunther I am, though the sixteenth
one at that
A wretch I am, a sad
thing for a man
Verse 1
Liezel: I don’t want to marry
I want to sing and dance
And not give into my parents rants
I just want to live my life
Not be anyone’s wife
Gunther: my parents have always dictated
I wish we weren’t related
I want to make strudel
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Buns and cake
For if I can’t bake
I’ll have a heart ache
Chorus
Liezel: I am Liezel the third
As chirpy as a bird
My life’s work and worth
Unheard
Gunther: Gunther I am, though the sixteenth
one at that
A wretch I am, a sad
thing for a man
Verse 2
Liezel: I don’t want to get married
I would rather be buried
Gunther: I want to be a baker
Not a money maker
Both: and we’re in this together
I guess it’s forever
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Average Dublin Story
By Evan, Luke and Sylvie
Sinead walks in, infuriated, holding a piece of paper.
Sinead: (reading out paper) “Dear Deirdre O’Neill, you have
been cordially accepted into the University of Oxford on a
sports scholarship.” Deirdre, what the hell is this?
Deirdre, who is currently packing her bag, is caught off
guard.
Deirdre: Sinead// I was gonna tell you but// that was in my
room, why were you rooting around in my stuff?
Sinead: Don’t deflect! When were you going to tell me and
Mom? When you’re already living in Oxford? She’d bedridden
already, you’re going to give her a heart attack!
Deirdre: (under breath) Well at least I’d finally be doing
something with my life.
Sinead: I’m sorry?!
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Deirdre: I SAID AT LEAST I’M NOT A COLLEGE DROPOUT
SINEAD! I can’t take care of Mom anymore. I’m sorry.
Verse 1:
Sineād: It brings me to tears (Em)
That you will not be here (C)
To help me take care of our mother dear (G)
You are so young and naïve (Em) that you fail to see (C)
Oxford won’t treat you (G) as well as you believe (Am)
Chorus:
Sineād: Before it was you
It was me
You’re not the only
One who gets
To have dreams
Deirdre: You’re clearly not listening
To anything I wish
It’s not my life’s dream
To spend my life in this ditch.
Together: We’ve been stuck with this curse forever
But we always thought we’d be stuck here together.
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It seems our journey together is simply at the end
Of its long tether.
Verse 2:
Deirdre: For the last eighteen years
I have lived here in fear
That all I’ll end up as
Is like mother dear.
I cannot just stay here to nurse.
Only here to wait until she ends up in a hearse.
Chorus:
Sineād: Before it was you
It was me
You’re not the only
One who gets
To have dreams
Deirdre: You’re clearly not listening
To anything I wish
It’s not my life’s dream
To spend my life in this ditch.
Together: We’ve been stuck with this curse forever
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But we always thought we’d be stuck here together.
It seems our journey together is simply at the end
Of its long tether.
Moment of silence.
Sinead: Please leave.
Deirdre: What?
Sinead: I can take care of Mom. We’ll be OK. Just please get
out there and live. For the both of us.
Deirdre: Thank you.
Deirdre runs off the stage.
Everyone take a bow.
END
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11

Sam’s Big Break
By Ava, Kai, Roisin and Noah
Julia: I have a proposition
Sam: What is it?
Julia: I’ve read some of your songs. You have so much potential
that I’d hate to see it go to waste.
Sam: How did you get my songs?
Julia pulls out the lyrics.
Sam: I thought I threw them out!
Verse 1:
Sam: You found these memories
Locked away
Although I thought they
Wouldn’t stay
Julia: The memories you thought
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You’d live without
Your passion ruined
By self-doubt
Chorus:
Both: It’s not too late x4 (harmony)
Verse 2:
Sam: I’ve known you for a long, long time
Ever since we were in our prime
Julia: The year book holds the tales you told
The timing’s right, we’re not yet old.
Bridge:
Julia: It’s your dream to be a musician
It’s time to make your decision
It’s your dream to be a musician
It’s time to make your decision
Chorus:
Both: It’s not too late x4 (harmony)
13

Zero to CEO
By Tuathla, Josh and Michael
Verse 1:
Hi- I’m Lisa- O’Brian
And I’ve- just lost- my job,
Now I have been trying,
A bunch of different things
Cello,
Surfing,
Piano,
Baking,
That one set my house on fire,
Hiking,
Hurling,
Hack n’ slash,
Horror
Now I’m scared of my dryer.
Chorus:
I’m on my way to an interview,
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Cause I’m looking for something new to do.
I’m on my way to an interview.
Verse 2:
The mornings not looking so well,
I woke up in a panic spell.
I got some coffee to perk me up,
I ended with a stained shirt and an empty cup.
Chorus:
I’m on my way to an interview,
Cause I’m looking for something new to do.
I’m on my way to an interview.
Bridge:
When I was a kid
I had such high hopes
But now my life has gone so downhill
I don’t cope.
I’ve moved back to my parent’s house
No boyfriend, no girlfriend, not even a spouse.
It’s all gone so wrong,
I put it in a song.
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Chorus:
I’m on my way to an interview,
Cause I’m looking for something new to do.
I’m on my way to an interview.
Lisa: Excuse me-
OW: I don’t have time for this/
Lisa: Excuse me I’m looking for the meeting room
Riccardo: Boss! You’re finally here!
Lisa: Oh no. I’m-
Riccardo: Late! Right, you are Boss. This way.
Lisa: No, no there’s been a huge misunderstanding.
Riccardo: Yes we know. Don’t worry we’ve already fired the
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driver for making you late.
Lisa: No, no, no. It’s my fault. I… I just wanted to get a-a-a
coffee! Please hire them back.
Riccardo: Ugh, fine! If you need to. Now into the meeting
room you go.
END
17

Neo-Eval Times
By Eoghan, Max and Conall
SCENE 1
King: Derek, dearest son…
Derek: Yes dad?
King: Sit down. Do you know why I called you Derek?
They sit down.
Derek: Cause it’s your name?
King: Well yeah, but the main reason is that Derek is a
strong, caring and promising name.
Derek: Aw cool!
King: So I want you to be King when I die. I’ll make it official
tomorrow.
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Derek: Oh really? Thanks Dad!
Derek jumps up. Daniel enters.
Daniel: What’s happening?
King stands up.
King: Nothing, don’t worry boy!
Daniel: I’M A GIRL!
Song lyrics:
Verse 1: A# A G G
Derek: My older sister Daniel
Just wants to rule the throne
You can tell by her tone
She wants to rule alone
Daniel: My younger brother Derick
Makes me feel sick
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He’s like a little tick
That I just want to flick
Chorus: A# G F
Both: I should rule
Daniel: My brother’s a fool
Both: I am the key
Derek: It should be me
Daniel exits.
Verse 2:
Derek: I’m a great man
I have tons of fans
I should and I can
And I must rule the land
Daniel enters.
Daniel: don’t you know you’re a clown
It should be me with the crown
Soon enough, I’ll be crowned
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With you two in the ground
Chorus:
Both: I should rule
Daniel: My brother’s a fool
Both: I am the key
Derek: It should be me
Daniel: Oh by the way, Dad’s dead.
Derek: What?!
Bob enters.
Bob: Now that King Derek the Second has passed on, Princess
Daniel is heir to the throne.
Derek: What? Dad just said he wanted me to be the next
King!
Bob looks at the two of them.
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Daniel: He never made it official.
Bob: In that case, I present to you, Queen Daniel the First!
Daniel: Make that Queen Danielle the First!
All GASP.
SCENE 2
Daniel is sitting with her feet out, relaxing.
A servant is cleaning her shoes.
Daniel: Clean faster!
The servant squeals.
Derek jumps into the room.
Daniel: Derek!
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Derek: Daniel!
Daniel: What do you want?
Derek: I should be the king, not you.
Daniel: Wanna fight for it?
They pull out the giant fingers. Fight scene begins.
Chorus:
I should rule
You’re a fool
I am the key
It should be me.
Daniel whacks the finger off Derek’s hand. Daniel celebrates.
Daniel: Prepare to…
Daniel sees Derek’s gun hidden in his finger.
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Derek: …die!
Derek shoots. Daniel dies.
Bob enters.
Bob: Derek is the new king!
Bob puts the scarf on Derek’s shoulders. Derek takes it off.
Derek: I don’t deserve this, nobody does. We should empower
the people with rights and public voting.
Daniel: What?
Derek: Go empowerment!
All: We rule!
END
24

The Angry Ladybug
By Conall
My name’s Doug
I’m an angry ladybug
I hate ants and gorillas
All my fellas drink juice
Like glug, glug, glug.
I’m the angry ladybug
When I go through town
I don’t get mugged
I don’t make a sound
Keep my feet on the ground.
Angry, Angry!
A-N-G-R-Y
Can’t spell ladybug without lad.
Angry, angry, angry.
Fight me, I’m the angry.
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Someone So Great
By Max
Verse 1:
C
F
Tell me how you cope
Am
G
Show me a little hope
C F
Don’t be shy
Am
G
Come and tell me why.
Chorus:
Am F
You are so okay
C. G
All through the day
Am
F
How could anyone hate
C
G
Around someone so great?
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Verse 2:
C
F
Teach me your ways
Am
G
Of happiness all through the days
C F
You are so bright
Am G
Your heart is a light
Chorus:
Am F
You are so okay
C. G
All through the day
Am
F
How could anyone hate
C
G
Around someone so great?
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Field of Dreams
By Ava
Verse 1:
See me running down the track
Felling strong, ain’t holding back,
Feel the force, fell the pain
Feel the power in my vein.
Chorus:
See me soar, see my fly,
Meet my dreams, I’ll surely try,
Tackle threats if they wake,
Show them all that I’m awake.
Verse 2:
There I stand, hurl in hand,
Whistle blows and then I bound,
Feeling fresh, feeling new,
Show them all what I can do.
Chorus:
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See me soar, see my fly,
Meet my dreams, I’ll surely try,
Tackle threats if they wake,
Show them all that I’m awake.
Bridge:
In the heat of competition, we find our fire,
Pushing ourselves higher and higher,
Through sweat and tears we give our all,
On this field of dreams, we stand tall.
Chorus:
See me soar, see my fly,
Meet my dreams, I’ll surely try,
Tackle threats if they wake,
Show them all that I’m awake.
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Song Writing Needs
Melody, Beat, Rhythm, Percussion
Instrumentation
Ensemble - bass, top line melody, piano (fills out
range)
Guitar (also middle), symbols also fill out frequencies
Composition and making Arrangements using Frequencies
Solo Song Writing:
1) Performing
2) Lyrics, singing melodies
3) Arrangements
-Chord progression, song structure
Story
Lyrics
Storytelling, plot, start-middle-end
Verse and Chorus > choir, multiple people > people join in
Poetry
Refrain > chorus (wraps up end and the name of…)
Bridge
Intro and Outro
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Song Structure
NO RULES!
Prosody – music fits the lyrics = Prose + Melody
Basic Song Structure –
Intro
Sets Mood
Verse 1
Context of story
Introduce song characters
Detailed
Chorus
Sums up the message, aim, what the song writer
wants to get across; general feeling; sing along
part of song
Verse 2
More Detail, middle of the story
Chorus
Bridge
The end of the story. Hooks you back in. Different
instrumental/music changes; adds new
perspective to story
Chorus
Outro
31

Group Empowerment Song
By Everyone
Verse:
When I had to make that change
It scared me in many ways.
Didn’t think I’d get in.
Turns out it was just a phase.
Looking out on the morning
Kind of felt like a warning.
Everybody’s looking wrong
But I know I can be strong.
Chorus:
I don’t want to be brainwashed by the government.
I want my freedom and empowerment.
Verse:
I thought the world was ending
Cause I lost everything.
Felt I was descending
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I was suffocating.
The wealthy own the economy
We must take back our peace.
Take back our autonomy
They took away our lease.
Chorus:
I don’t want to be brainwashed by the government.
I want my freedom and my empowerment.
Verse:
I don’t make a sound
Keep my feet on the ground.
Prodigal son yearns to return
To where he can play the fool.
Thinking he’s King of Atlantis.
High upon castle walls
But first he has to wade in the pool.
To take power is to heed the call.
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Chorus:
I don’t want to be brainwashed by the government.
I want my freedom and empowerment.
Verse:
As they do your dirty work
You stand there watching on your perch.
We see the hatred in your heart
The way you tear others apart.
Chorus:
I don’t want to be brainwashed by the government.
I want my freedom and empowerment.
34

America
By Sabhdh, Michael and Maria
I want some AMERICAN freedom
Cuz’ I don’t need him
I wanna be from New York City
I don’t want my parent’s pity.
AMERICA
Cuz’ it’s so un-generica
It’s so super-erica
I’m gonna name my child Erica
After AMERICA.
AMERICA
This place is angstlich
With no drink or dish
I’m an einwanderin
Rotting through zie bin.
AMERICA
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