Ode to Libraries
Making Waves choir sing their protest at the savage cuts to public libraries, written for the National Libraries Day February 2013, first performed at Newbiggin Hall Library in Newcastle under threat of closure by the council. This recording was made at “Great North: A celebration of 40 years of Iron Press” at the Cullercoats Fishermans’ Mission on 19 May 2013.
The original song is from the Sound of Music by Rodgers & Hammerstein and the updated lyrics are by Making Waves choir member Cathy Bream. Making Waves is a local cooperative community choir based in Cullercoats, North Tyneside.
The lyrics are:
Stories and pictures and books on all topics
Novels and poetry, romances and classics
Large books for reference and biographies
These are a few of our favourite things.
CDs of music and drama to borrow
PCs to use for your homework tomorrow
Papers to browse and the best magazines
These are a few of our favourite things.
But when the cuts come and the axe falls
And the libraries close
We’ll simply remember our favourite things
And then we shall be – so sad.
Story time sessions for children and babies
Writing groups, book clubs for folk of all ages
Local history and poetry readings
These are a few of our favourite things.
But when the cuts come and the axe falls
And the libraries close
We’ll simply remember our favourite things
And then we shall be – angry!
Lyrics by Cathy Bream & Making Waves choir, Cullercoats, UK Original by Rodgers & Hammerstein, from The Sound of Music Version 2 May 2013
