Precious Diamond:
Music and lyrics by Walter Bennett with extracts from her Epitaph and finale by John Newton.
This song is a dedication to the life of Emily Jones (nee Bennett 01/06/1978 – 12/08 2007).
Emily was born the middle daughter of three Bennett girls.
The first three verses of the song chronologically traverses her life of 29 years. The final verse goes beyond.
This song, my second composition, came from an unstoppable conviction that, some six years after Emily’s death, it was time to honour her life and to do what I could to put into action our family’s commitment to contribute to efforts to reduce the level of bullying and help those who strive to help children develop the resilience to deal with life's challenges.
When reading the lyrics, note the following:
Unlike mainstream ELM projects that are audition free and fully inclusive, New-born Lullaby is to be sung by an ensemble of invited singers. Experienced singers are welcome to express an interest in participating in this boutique event. In the longer term, the song may be repackaged as part of a documentary/musical/play as a counter-bullying / pro-resilience initiative.
This song is a dedication to the life of Emily Jones (nee Bennett 01/06/1978 – 12/08 2007).
Emily was born the middle daughter of three Bennett girls.
The first three verses of the song chronologically traverses her life of 29 years. The final verse goes beyond.
- She was baptised in the Anglican Christian faith and thrived during infanthood;
- During primary school years she struggled to socialise with peer groups and, as a result, became the target peer disdain and bullying;
- The bullying escalated during junior high school years to an intolerable level of mental and physical abuse. A change of school brought about much improved pastoral care and peer relationships. The move seemed to have worked brilliantly (at a surface level). She graduated in year 12.
- During her stable adulthood years she continued studies to become a qualified in Beauty Therapist. She established and successfully operated two small businesses (floristry, beauty therapy) and married. At this time she was a very gregarious person with a passion for dance and sport aerobics (until told by doctors of a condition that meant she had to cease the sport).
- Her unstable adulthood years were characterised by wide mood swings. She disappeared on her first suicide mission but was coerced back from the brink. She then spent her remaining time in and out of mental health clinics struggling with depression, bi-polar and anxiety disorders during which time she became a born-again Christian.
- She was under the care of a clinic on the day of her death – permission was granted for her to book out for a morning church attendance with her sister. She booked out early, as she had other plans.
This song, my second composition, came from an unstoppable conviction that, some six years after Emily’s death, it was time to honour her life and to do what I could to put into action our family’s commitment to contribute to efforts to reduce the level of bullying and help those who strive to help children develop the resilience to deal with life's challenges.
When reading the lyrics, note the following:
- The words of the Refrain and those of the last line – last verse are taken verbatim from the epitaph inscribed on Emily’s memorial plaque.
- The Finale acknowledges the courage of Emily’s sisters who sang Amazing Grace at her funeral and the poignancy of that moment.
- The melody and words for the Bridge, with which I had been struggling to write, came to me as a flash in a lucid dream the morning after a friend’s death, when vivid thoughts of Emily and my friend were flooding my mind.
Unlike mainstream ELM projects that are audition free and fully inclusive, New-born Lullaby is to be sung by an ensemble of invited singers. Experienced singers are welcome to express an interest in participating in this boutique event. In the longer term, the song may be repackaged as part of a documentary/musical/play as a counter-bullying / pro-resilience initiative.
