quarridors | Filk song: The Changes

Update 2013-04-30: For the 40th anniversary of The Tomorrow People, I re-recorded the vocal to reflect the newer lyrics I wrote based on feedback from Talis and others in the UK Filk community. The song is now slower, makes use of the different vocal qualities my voice is capable of, has a new bridge, a gratuitous key change and a softer ending.

Update 2011-11-02: Now updated with an improved vocal performance (I hadn't warmed up and only did one take yesterday).

Inspired by listening to Talis Kimberley on BBC iPlayer this morning, I wrote and recorded a new song over my (extended!) lunch break.

It's about classic British children's television science fiction and the experience of being a queer teenager. Listen for free here:

http://quarriesandcorridors.bandcamp.com/track/the-changes

The Changes

It isn't easy growing up

Feeling different, feeling new

Understanding where we fit

With the changes we go through

And life is full of turmoil and questions old and new

When it seems the world's turned upside down

What's a teenager to do?

Now they're bending the wheels

Now they're smashing the clocks

They've kicked in the telly

They're blocking the locks

Society's ending

The world's rearranged

Now the pilons are screaming

And everything's changed

Oh we're going through changes

Feeling different, feeling new

Understanding where we fit

And the changes we go through

It isn't easy growing up

Being different, being new

Hiding from the world outside

With the changes we go through

And life is full of turmoil and questions old and new

When it seems the world's turned upside down

What's a teenager to do?

Now the paintings are changing

Now the weather has changed

With blue and green badges

Causing all of the rage

Society's ending

The world's rearranged

Now the colours are fighting

And everything's changed

Oh we're going through changes

Feeling different, feeling new

Understanding where we fit

And the changes we go through

It isn't easy growing up

Asking questions, feeling new

Running from the world around

And the things they put us through

And life is full of struggles and things we mustn't do

When it seems the world's against us

What's a teenager to do?

Now you're coming of age

But it feels like a trap

Now the masters are coming

With their happiness caps

Childhood is ending

The world's been arranged

Now the tripods are rulers

And everything's changed

Oh we're going through changes

Feeling different, feeling new

Understanding where we fit

And the changes we go through

Yeah we're going through changes

Feeling different, feeling new

When you find your life's turned upside down

What's a teenager to do?

Big thank you Talis for inspiring the folk protest song style I'm using here (and probably the tune, I not usually very original with that sort of thing).

You also may be interested in a video I made for PracticalAndrogyny.com about vocal androgyny, where I sneakily included some filk music:

Practical Androgyny - Vocal androgyny in speech and singing

I'd be interested to hear your feedback!