Competition

Word processing your creative work is great for only keeping the end result unlike the days of old-fashioned pen and paper, even the tap-tap of the clanking typewriter or smooth electric machine – nothing quite as physical now or needing to use all your fingers. So I thought it would be a good idea to show how a song written about a year ago developed into a song cycle with a narrative about the banking crisis/credit crunch. There is no crossing out (just a spell check), but the reader will be able to see how parts fitted into a new whole, what became a collaboration and subsequent work in progress with American composer, Adam Bruce.


DEALER:

Competition, competition,
Bulls or bears will grow;
Competition, competition,
Bids will come and go.

Everyday the bids flash up,
They’re flashing up on my screen:
Will you buy me? Will you sell?
They’re hanging there in between.

It’s game on a really gripping game on
And it’s always a thrill and chase for me;
And the hope is I can always stick it out
Or I’m back on the shelf, you see,

With competition, competition,
It keeps you on your toes;
Competition, competition,
Bids will come and go.

I mustn’t burn myself out,
But make a fast buck
Then the quicker I’m out…

Competition, competition –
I must live the dream;
Competition, competition,
Bids come fat or lean.

Everyday the bids flash up,
They’re flashing up on my screen:
Will you buy me? Will you sell?
They’re hanging there in between.

It’s game on a really gripping game on
And it’s always a thrill and chase for me…

If competition, competition,
It could flash my dream,
Competition, competition,
Bids come fat or lean.

Competition makes you…
Makes you want to dream…

*
Song One (from The Bull and Bear Song Cycle)
In and out of the Dealers’ Room

CHORUS OF DEALERS:

Everyday the bids flash up,
They’re flashing up on our screens:
Will you buy me? Will you sell?
They’re hanging there in between.

And with competition, competition,
It keeps you on your toes;
With competition, competition
Bids will come and go.

KARL:

It was Jasper, he struck this deal,
No way could I forget
For when you owe someone money
You’re always in their debt.

He said some tycoon wanted this shipping firm,
It will go down; its shares were low.
We can snap them up and sell them high
And it’s all because he’s in the know.

CHORUS OF DEALERS:

And everyday the bids flash up,
They’re flashing up on our screens:
Will you buy me? Will you sell?
They’re hanging there in between.

And with competition, competition,
It makes you live the dream;
With competition, competition
Bids come fat or lean.

KARL:

At first I didn’t know what to say
For he made great play of it;
But when we hit the jackpot we’ll be away
Because as he said if I stay on here
By the age of thirty five I would be burnt out.
And then the money I owe could be paid back,
And there would be plenty of money over
And I could start my own little business.

G. F. Phillips

G. F. Phillips is the printed version in the manner of my signature or otherwise known as Gordon Frank Phillips on my birth certificate, a printer’s son from St Albans. I now live on Tyneside as a tutor in Literature and Creative Writing for the WEA and Newcastle City Learning.