A Scottish college lecturer has written 100 lockdown songs.
Siobhan Argyle, a lecturer at New College Lanarkshire, began writing daily songs after the country entered lockdown and her college closed for face-to-face teaching in March.
Taking inspiration from suggestions by friends and colleagues or Tweets and messages from others in Scottish education, her songs covered a broad range of topics from the lack of biscuits and colleagues' dresscodes in Zoom meetings, to anxiety and loss and social distancing.
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Favourite songs
“People would send me ideas sometimes, which was good as that provided inspiration also,” Ms Argyle told Tes. “People asked for songs for a birthday or special occasion and I just felt so privileged to be able to do that for someone during these challenging times. I think my favourite songs were Work Clothes for the Lazy, There's a Light that Shines on You and I did like the song Waving Goodbye (at the End of a Zoom Meeting). I loved the Scaring Away the Sabre Tooth Tiger that I wrote for Suzanne Zeedyck and I have to say that her work and teaching provided inspiration – much of which seemed fitting to be put to music.”
On Monday, she posted her 100th song. Ms Argyle told Tes she had “no idea” how she managed to write 100 songs. “I don't think I ever thought it was even a possibility. When I reached the 50 song mark, I laughed because I was surprised to even make it that far. I can't explain how it happens – I see a word, a photo or someone tells a story and before I know it, the song is in my head.”
“Some songs I laughed at, some brought out so much emotion but it just seemed like the right song popped into my head at the right time.”
Hitting that milestone of 100 songs has not made the lecturer slow down her efforts, however. “Today, i wrote song 102. I feel a little bit like the Forrest Gump of the song world - I guess I'll carry on while the songs keep popping into my head and I find that inspiration.
“People are amazing, their stories are amazing and the inspiration they provide is worth sharing with others. I was stupidly emotional when I wrote the last song. I have never thought of myself as being particularly good at music and certainly not at song writing, even less so at performing. I just wanted to make people smile and connect through music and to think that that's what's happened. I feel I have achieved what I set out to do. I couldn't ask for more.”
