Song about convict life
Forty Grains of Barley (SAT/Lyrical Ballad)
(Level – Medium Difficulty)
This song is a poignant, melancholy introspection; the private sorrows of an Australian First-Fleet convict. His whole life has been one of hardship, and he finds himself somewhere beautiful, yet still in chains, physically and emotionally. It is a SAT choral arrangement, entirely unaccompanied, with rich modal harmonies. You’ll need your ears well tuned, but the sound is very wistful and moving when it all comes together! (Sound sample: Bars 1-71 only) Check out the full score or lyrics below, while you listen. As of 13/03/2022, this is a chance for your choir to present the premiere performance of this new piece – make sure you send me a recording!
*After flat-fee payment and downloading you can make as many copies of this score as you need for your choir.
$25.00
Lyrics
Forty Grains of Barley – LYRICS (C. Mayers)
(A Convict’s Thoughts)
Stolen - from my home I was,
Thrown across the sea;
Forty grains of barley brought me here,
To this land, unfriendly.
Toil – before me,
Heat, and strain;
Cold and want behind,
Caught, between two worlds I find myself;
Neither of them kind.
If I could strike my reaching hand,
If I could dust my palm,
Forty grains of barley had never done me harm.
I thought to feed my hungry child,
I thought to feed my wife,
Instead I fed the trade in souls and cast away my life.
Without these chains I could raise my head high,
Watch the bright birds, study the sky,
If I were free, mem’ries might fade, ‘rest in the shade –
And smoke in peace.
Ev’ry day – I must endure,
I dream of my release.
If I could strike my reaching hand,
If I could dust my palm,
Forty grains of barley had never done me harm.
I stole to take my rightful share,
To feed my little girl,
Forty grains,
Forty grain ,
Forty grains of barley –
Stole my entire world.
Sample Score
