Finding the treasure within to promote good mental health through creative talent - that's the message the group of musicians called “Hidden Gems Hampshire” are singing about in the song "Rise Higher" which is being launched at Southampton General Hospital for World Mental Health Day on 10th October 2024
My name is and I’ve been asked by Mr Buoyant to send you this song.
The song is centred around Stevina Southwell's award winning poem “Surviving Rejection”.
Stevina told Voice FM: "This a reflection of my own life experiences of rejection, not being heard, feeling worthless and the struggles with mental and physical health which may resonate with many.
However the poem is also about hope and pushing through adversity and being an overcomer which I believe many people need to hear and be encouraged.
On the back of the poem I have written a song called “Rise Higher” and the musical composition by Fragile Lucy."
The premise of the song/anthem is to give hope and galvanise a community of musicians in the Southampton & Hampshire area to create a movement through song that is associated with good mental health and well-being, bringing healing and the potential to save and change lives.
Various musicians from Southampton and Hampshire have worked on this project that have also had mental health problems; they have given their time and talents for free.
Listen to and download the song below (lyrics at end of post)
Stevina is giving the song as a gift to Southampton for many reasons - "Since the age of 10 I’ve always loved poetry especially when it rhymes. My maternal grandfather Harry also loved poetry and incidentally were one of the first families from the Caribbean to live in Woolston.
In 2017 I self published a Christian poetry book and proceeds where to help with the homeless and our outreach my church Victory Gospel Church was involved in.
During lockdown on my many walks I wrote the poem “Surviving Rejection” I entered into a poetry competition and to my amazement it won. At this point I was recovering from Covid having spent nearly a month in Hospital.
People liked the poem as it resonated with so many.
I’d worked in various mental health settings over a decade ago and it was my dream to marry poetry within mental health. For my counselling dissertation I wrote in poetic form and got a 1st. I mention this because all through school I was told I wasn’t good enough, pretty enough, not clever enough etc….
Someone put me in contact with Mark Carter of Fiesta Community Radio.
Mark put me in contact with Fragile Lucy, a very talented musician, pictured in the middle with rapper Hype n Hood on the left and the manager Matt O’Donnell of Untapped Talent Studio’s in Southampton
Lucy contacted Hype n Hood as she had worked with him before and Mark made the connection with Untapped Talent. I have to say Matt is one of the nicest and patient people you would wish to meet.
The Friday Girls’ Choir from Brokenhurt lead by the lady in the middle with red shoes and red scarf. Cynthia is a good friend of mine and these lovely ladies travelled from Brockenhurst to record at Untapped Talent. There’s me on end very far right in the blue and white dress.
On the very left next to is Ophelia Watson Head of experience of care Solent NHS. Ophelia is involved with the Patient and Care Race Equality Framework (PCREF) which looks at the mental health of the BAME community within the NHS.
Through Ophelia’s contracts within the NHS our logo and poster was designed by Nonnie Arnott. Ophelia also arranged the launch date in conjunction with the Southampton University Hospital mental health day event.
Song inspired by the award winning poem
“Surviving Rejection” Written by Stevina Southwell
Rise Higher: by Stevina Southwell
Song Lyrics
Rap
Un-wan-ted child, steeped in rejection;
Cry-in out, for some sort of affection.
Like rubbish, thrown into a bin;
Just because of someone else’s sin.
Any kind a love had been eluded;
Doors were locked and I was excluded.
Was I born, for such a time as this?
Pause
And then a voice says!
Chorus X 2
“Come up child, I’ll raise you high-er
You’re the one I looked for, you’re a survivor!
I will, pull you from the brink;
I will, never let you sink.”
Rap
Voices condemning me, and push-in me down;
Expecting me to fail and drown.
“Not good enough!” rings in my head;
I look in the mirror; my image I dread.
No perseverance in my soul;
I’m in the pit like a heap of coal.
Was I born, for such a time as this?
Pause
And then a voice says!
Chorus X 2
“Come up child, I’ll raise you high-er
You’re the one I looked for, you’re a survivor!
I will pull you from the brink;
I will never let you sink.”
Rap
Amongst the gravel and the grit;
Life seems pointless, I have to admit.
I find it hard to catch my breath;
I feel my best friend, would be death.
Un-wan-ted child, steeped in rejection;
Cry-in out, for some sort of affection.
Was I born, for such a time as this?
Pause
And then a voice says!
Chorus X 2
“Come up child, I’ll raise you higher
You’re the one I looked for, you’re a survivor!
I will pull you from the brink;
I will never let you sink.”
Pause
Higher! Higher! Higher! Higher!
Bridge (Key change choir)
“Come up child you’re valuable to me;
The chains that bind you I set you free.
I’ve seen your tears, in the depth of your despair.
Now come on child you must persevere.”
Instrumental
Harmony/ Chorus
The more they push me, I will rise;
I was born to survive.
I’ll wipe away all of your tears;
Liberate you from all of your fears.
I’ll lift you from the dark abyss;
Born for such a time as this. Such a time as this, Such a time as this.
Pause
I raise you, I raise you, higher!
Chorus (Choir)
“Come up child, I’ll raise you higher
You’re the one I looked for, you’re a survivor
I will pull you from the brink;
I will never let you sink.”
Chorus (Choir)
“Come up child, I’ll raise you higher
You’re the one I looked for, you’ll inspire;
I’ll lift you from the dark abyss.
Born for such a time as this.”
Fade
Higher! higher! I raise you higher, higher, higher, I raise you higher…
