Album Description
Both the Rosetta Life charity and the Trimar Hospice will benefit from the sales of this CD single
The three songs on this CD are the product of a series of song-writing workshops that I conducted at the Trimar Hospice in Weymouth during February 2005. I was invited to take part in the project by Rosetta Life, a charity dedicated to helping those facing terminal illness to share their experiences through the medium of art, poetry, film or song. Every Friday morning for six weeks, I worked with half a dozen women who came to the hospice for palliative care as they fought against the effects of breast cancer.
From the Artist
After a couple of weeks of talking about the process of song- writing and a few singalongs, the ‘Friday Girls’ began opening up to the idea of writing a song. Maxine Edgington had the clearest idea of what she wanted to do. In our first one-on-one session, she pulled a framed picture out of her bag and said ‘Look, I’ve been given six months to live. I don’t want to mess about. I want to write the song of this picture’.
About the Artist
When her condition was diagnosed in November 2004, Maxine’s thoughts turned immediately to how she would be remembered, particularly by her fifteen year old daughter, Jessica. Determined that Jess should have positive memories of her after the grieving was over, Maxine commissioned a professional photo shoot which produced beautiful images of mother and daughter smiling together, looking as if they had not a care in the world. This was how she wanted to be remembered. As Maxine says ‘Cancer is terrible, but at least it gives you the chance to put things right with those you love’.
One of these photos, which can be seen on the cover of this CD, was to be the inspiration for Maxine’s song. Over the following weeks, she wrote reams of words, pouring her feelings out onto the page. My job was to take the words that best expressed the sentiments in the photograph and shape them into a song. I provided the melody, but the words are Maxine’s alone. She called the song ‘We Laughed’ In June, I got together with some local musicians and we recorded this CD. The additional tracks feature lyrics written by two of the ‘Friday Girls’, Lisa Payne and Veronica Barfoot. That there is not a shred of self-pity or morbidity in any of these songs is a testament to the spirit of these three women. I found the experience of collaborating with them to be inspirational.
Both Rosetta Life and the Trimar Hospice will benefit from the sales of this CD. Billy Bragg October 2005
Product Description
ROSETTA LIFE FEATURING BILLY BRAGG We Laughed (2005 UK 3-track CD single featuring the Essex-born politica folky punk rocker doing his bit for the Rosetta Life charity. Includes three tracks real-life tracks written alongside Bragg and performedwith members of the hospice. Includes The Light Within and My Guiding Star. Complete with picture sleeve which includes a brief explanation about why Billy undertook this role and what it means to him FRYCD252)
