Brummies write and record with local musician, finding “green calm” in the city of cars
This story is part of our Tales from a Slow Way series, funded by the Pilgrim Trust. Each Tales award includes a contribution to the organisation as well as a project fee to the creative. Chris Roberts’ project donation went to St Germain’s Community & Wellbeing Hub.
Journeys and connection are at the heart of this musical tale, led by Chris Roberts and co-produced with local community members from St Germain’s Community & Wellbeing Hub in West Birmingham. Together they successfully created a “sonic tapestry, illustrating the variety of ways people see and connect with Slow Ways.”
Listen to the song below, have a read of the lyrics and find out more about the project, the people, and the processes involved.
My Backyard
Verse 1
All this darkness
And light is shining on a single flower
And all around us
The world is passing but it’s still here and
From the sky there’s
A rainfall of floating seeds and
In the stillness
An oasis of hidden life.
Chorus
It’s the sacred heart of Birmingham,
All in my backyard;
Behind the wall a paradise;
A sanctum of green calm;
You will always have this part of me,
Where the deers leap beneath the kissing trees;
In the sacred heart of Birmingham;
All in my backyard, in my backyard.
Verse 2
Skyline’s changing,
The city of a thousand trades has,
Fallen silent.
Leaving a reservoir of distant dreams
But now all I see,
Is fisherman casting and sparrow’s skipping
Along the shoreline
Where the Tower Ballroom used to be
Bridge
I hear the echoes down the track
The train line nature’s taken back
Where engines roared under the open sky
Now pushchairs roll, and runners pass you by
Though paying passengers no more
It’s ours and nature’s corridor
These pathways then and now connect
Green arteries we must protect
Chorus
In the sacred heart of Birmingham,
All in my backyard;
Behind the wall a paradise;
A sanctum of green calm;
You will always have this part of me,
Where the deers leap beneath the kissing trees;
In the sacred heart of Birmingham;
All in my backyard, in my backyard.
The story behind the project
Whilst we listen, we look back at Chris’ initial inspiration, and aims for creating a community story alongside St Germain’s. In Chris’ words…
“Some have lived here their whole life and know the area intimately. Others have journeyed thousands of miles, ‘ended up’ here, and have made this area home. I want our community story to deepen the connection between these groups as they learn about each other’s journeys, and about the journeys of the past.”
Some have lived here their whole life and know the area intimately. Others have journeyed thousands of miles, ‘ended up’ here, and have made this area home
“Through music and song, we will tell two parallel stories. First, of the people who currently live here and use our Slow Ways. Second, of past communities using these same routes. There will be as many different stories as there are people in our community, but there will be two main angles.
“For those who have grown up in the area, we will explore early memories of the routes, and how they have seen them change over the years.
“For those newer to the community, we will explore their journey to get here, and their view on the routes as they are now. This inclusive approach will celebrate the diversity of the area and bring together different groups of the community.”
The creative process
“We will write and gather material in several ways. First, we will conduct informal interviews with community members. These will explore either memories of local Slow Ways, or of people’s journeys to our area. Some of these interviews will take place while walking and will be recorded with small clip-on microphones.
“Second, we will gather historical material about the Slow Ways, looking for stories of individuals who used them and for what purpose. Finally, we will take some group walks on Slow Ways and generate lyrical and musical material based on these first-hand experiences.
“As well as being creative tools, I hope that these activities will inspire more people to use the Slow Ways network and other walking routes around the city.
I hope that this piece becomes a sonic tapestry, illustrating the variety of ways people see and connect with Slow Ways
“Overall, I hope that this piece becomes a sonic tapestry, illustrating the variety of ways people see and connect with Slow Ways. I want it to bring together all corners of our community, and to encourage those from more marginalised groups to use Slow Ways more often.
“The story will be told through a song written and recorded with members of the community. As well as sung lyrics, the song will incorporate spoken quotes taken from conversations with community members.
“As an artform, music has the potential to travel far and wide. Even just with the diversity and international connections of the group, the song could easily reach every continent on earth!
“This will be part of a community music project with St Germain’s Community & Wellbeing Hub in Birmingham that I am leading. It aims to improve the physical and mental wellbeing of people experiencing hardship in Edgbaston and Ladywood through community musicking. The sessions are for everyone, with a particular focus on refugees, asylum seekers, and those in temporary accommodation. We will also eat together as part of every session. Just some simple sandwiches and fruit, but sharing a bit of a meal each time really helps groups to bond.
A city of cars
“Birmingham is the city of cars. Many people in the area believe that walking or cycling are simply not options, or are too dangerous. There is progress being made to reclaim walking routes and build new cycle lanes, and this project will provide some creative momentum to this movement. However, I want it to go a step further, showing that these routes are not only functional, but beautiful.
I want it to go a step further, showing that these routes are not only functional, but beautiful
“Despite the reticence around walking, there are good routes. Two that we will explore in this story are the Birmingham-Wolverhampton canal (part of Smebir one) and the Harborne walkway (part of Rowbir two and formally a railway line).
“These routes are both useful thoroughfares into the town centre, or out towards the suburbs, but also have a lot of associated history.
“The area itself is incredibly intercultural and the St Germain’s Community Hub is a meeting point for people of many ethnic, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds (much like a cultural Slow Ways ‘node’). We work regularly with asylum seekers and those in temporary housing, providing a safe space, warm food, and cultural interaction through musicking or other projects. I hope that this project will help people engage with the surrounding area in a new way, and bring this rich cultural diversity into Birmingham’s outdoor spaces.”
Chris Roberts
Chris Roberts is a professional musician, experienced community music leader and trusted member of St Germain’s Community Hub. He has worked in numerous settings to help people tell stories through song, as well as exploring heritage through music.
Chris has also toured the UK and Europe with his folk duo, pop-singer Tanita Tikaram, and as a soloist. He is currently exploring walking as a radical approach to sustainable touring for musicians. For more on his community projects, including recordings, click here.