Pick Your Own

William Overington

A day in the English countryside. She is starring in a creative writing scenario wherein a television company has decided to make a television programme series called English Volksmusik which is to be shown on Thursday evenings. She has been contracted to perform two songs. One will be in the studio, but this one is to be filmed on location, here in this large 'Pick Your Own' orchard where people can visit, pick fruit from trees and then pay for them and take them home. The phrase 'Pick Your Own' is a play on words as 'pick' can mean to pick the fruit from the tree and also 'pick' can mean to choose which individual fruits one wishes. In a 'Pick Your Own' orchard one does both of these. Usually she sings alone, except perhaps for backing singers, but today she is to be part of a duet with another female singer. This is the idea of the television company who wish to produce an English language version of the volksmusik programmes that are often on German television. A fairly regular feature of such programmes are female duets, singing, often with a combination of singing and walking, fairly fast songs with catchy, swing along lyrics. The television company wishes to give this German style presentation to the programme. The idea is not to create a programme of English Folk Music, but to create an English language version of German Volksmusik. Indeed, many of the musicians are over here from Germany, including the five member band that is here in the fruit orchards today with her. She and the other singer have practised the song in the studio and have had a walk through of their route amongst the rows of apple trees. This is a fairly fast song with catchy, swing along lyrics. Several camera crews are here, some static, some in motion. Several takes may be necessary, but now it is time for the first filmed performance. They are to start walking so that they line up with the 'Pick Your Own' sign just as they start to sing. The director indicates to start walking. They walk. The introductory music will be short, then they will be off!

          (And a volksmusik clarinet swing)
Pick your own
The notice states
In an orchard
Or estate
Pick an apple
Pick a pear
In the rural
Country air
Leave the bustle far behind
Pick some fruit
Just unwind
Very soon
It will be clear
Pick your own is here!
          (And the music takes off with a clarinet swing)
          (Just trying to give it a volksmusik zing)
          (Then it swings back and forth like a bird on the wing)
          (And we're ready again for the singers to sing)
Apples, cherries, plums and pears
Pick some fruit
Lose your cares
In the orchards you can go
See just where
Apples grow
Walk around amongst the trees
Choose your fruit
As you please
You will find
Once you've begun
Pick your own is fun!
          (And we're back once again with the clarinet swing)
          (Trying once more for a volksmusik zing)
          (Once again back and forth like a bird on the wing)
          (And the singers wait to sing)
So you see
It's really great
Picking fruit
On an estate
Rural England
Air is clear
Pick some fruit
It's not too dear
Spend some time
Upon the land
Ask a friend
To lend a hand
See the fruit
Where it is grown
And you can pick your own!
          (And the volksmusik style with clarinet swing)
          (Now ends us with a zing!)
 
Song lyrics and creative setting written by William Overington
Copyright 1998 William Overington