We’re delighted that Karine Polwart has written one of the songs for this February’s workshops. We caught up with her and asked her about her inspiration, the process and who she would like to sing her song. <\/p>\n
The song was inspired by a wee Burns poem called The Wrens Nest<\/em> which goes:<\/p>\n The Robin to the Wren’s nest I came across the poem on a search for stuff about robins and wrens, two of my favourite birds (I write a lot about birds!). To me, it\u2019s about having someone\u2019s back, offering hospitality and space at a time of need, even if you have very little to give yourself. It\u2019s about kinds and humility. And that\u2019s something we need to be minded of. It\u2019s a kind of moral imperative in our time. I\u2019ve deliberately referenced different groups of dispossessed people in the final section, because I think if and how we welcome people from elsewhere to where we are and to what we have is a great test of who we are as people. <\/p>\n The theme came first. I knew pretty quickly that I wanted the phrases \u201cwelcome into the house\u201d and \u201ccome away in\u201d as the lyrical hooks. They\u2019re implied in the wee scene that the poem paints. Once I\u2019d decided on those phrases the structure of the song sort of fell into place. <\/p>\n I\u2019m not sure it\u2019s a new revelation to me. But I was minded of his ability to say such a lot with very little. The Wren\u2019s Nest is quite a profound wee thing for all it only has 8 lines. As a songwriter, that kind of economy is gold dust. <\/p>\n The first glimmer of what the song is about and the final flourish to finish it are both equally satisfying. But possibly the best bit is when the architecture of a song clearly emerges. Once I see that, I know it\u2019s nearly there, and will write itself. <\/p>\n With this song, I\u2019m really hoping that people will sing it in company and pass it along mouth to mouth. It\u2019s essentially a song about togetherness, for sharing and singing together. There\u2019s nothing more gratifying as a songwriter than hearing one of my own songs sung independently of me, by a whole room of people. So, fingers crossed! <\/p>\n
\nCam keekin’ in, cam<\/a> keekin’ in;
\nO weel’s me on your auld pow,
\nWad ye be in, wad<\/a> ye be in?
\nThou’s ne’er get<\/a> leave to lie without,
\nAnd I within, and I within,
\nSae<\/a> lang’s I hae<\/a> an<\/a> auld<\/a> clout<\/a>
\nTo rowe ye in, to rowe ye in.<\/p>\n\n
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