Decoration Through Time

William Overington

She walks out onto the very back of the stage, to our left. She walks forward past the small orchestra. There is a microphone for her on a stand near the front of the stage, to our left. Two backing singers, one male, one female, are already at a microphone half way back on the stage to our right. She reaches her microphone. Her arms are straight by her side. The lights go down around her. She, in her long dress, is illuminated by a spotlight; orchestra and backing singers are bathed in turquoise light. She speaks.

"Hello everyone. I'd like to sing a new song, with lyrics written in England in February and March of 1998. It's called 'Decoration Through Time'."

She waits for the orchestra to start the performance. Quietness. She knows that the backing singers will first sing two lines, then she will sing alone and the whole audience will be focused on her every word. She remembers the directions to sing slowly and meaningfully. We see the conductor raise his baton, though he is behind her and she does not see him. She hears the music start.

          Delight in the decorations
          Which have survived through time
As a potter makes a work of art
With hand movements like mime
The methods are so similar
To those of ancient time
Though time flows ever onwards
Not to return again
Though days are gone for ever
Some ceramic things remain
          Though those days are gone for ever
          Some ceramic things remain
As a builder digs foundations
Some pottery in the ground
Once used, long broken and forgotten
In modern times is found
Collected now as history
Remains of times long passed
For though those days are gone in time
Their artists work still lasts
          For although those days are gone in time
          Their artists work still lasts
Clay that was so pliable
Fire that was so fierce
Ceramic made from both of them
Survives so many years
Delight in the decorations
Which time will never tire
Deliberate choice made there and then
Sealed in the clay by fire
          By deliberate choice made there and then
          Sealed in the clay by fire
 

As the orchestra plays the final notes of the music she knows that the performance is almost, though not yet quite, over, yet her part is complete. As the music stops, she will learn the reaction of the audience.

Song lyrics written by William Overington in February and March 1998
Creative setting written by William Overington in May 1998
Copyright 1998 William Overington