Introduction:
This
is the outcome of many hours of hard work and collaboration between me
and my friend Rasieka Jayatunga. She is a very good poet and has
published poems mainly in Sinhalese but has written many in English too.
She is a recently retired Paediatrician living in Birmingham with her
husband Dr Ajantha Jayatunga.
She
wrote the lyrics and I composed the song and then added music from my
Yamaha Genos. I then created the video and uploaded to YouTube.
After
many iterations, this was the final version to go public. When you do
this sort of thing, it tests your patience to the limit but at the end,
you have a reasonable product. There comes a point when we had to
decide, "that's it, no more tinkering".
I hope you and our viewers will appreciate our effort which we describe as:- Inspired
by Mother Nature’s revival and produced to infuse hope & happiness
to those under lockdown during Covid 19 global pandemic in Spring 2020.
The link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPvC16Ys-Kc
When time stood still
Sunshine is beaming in bright golden rays
As days follow nights and nights follow days
Time to reflect and much time to pray
There’s hope for a new dawn, as Nature is breathing,
When time, when time stood still
Daffodils are dancing in many hues of yellow
Bluebells are blowing in the far meadow
Cherry blossoms carpeting fields fresh and new
There’s hope for happiness, as Nature is blossoming,
When time, when time stood still
Young lambs are bleating on fields far & near
Leaves in deep woodlands unfold without fear
Bird song echoes as freely they roam
There’s hope for tomorrow, as Nature is resting
When time, when time, stood still
The Ozone now replete with the air flowing clean
The Oceans now thriving with sea life are green
Waterfalls cascading majestic & free
There’s hope for a future, as Nature is healing
When time, when time, stood still
As Man follows and obeys the laws,
His misery will cease, his misery will pass
As nothing lasts forever, as nothing ever lasts
There’s hope for a New World, as Nature rejoices
When time, when time stood still
When time, when time stood still
Lucky, thanks for posting it so soon. Could I advice viewers to click on the link for the best experience and watch it full screen, ideally on a laptop or desktop rather than a smartphone. The embedded version is fine for a quick look too.
ReplyDeleteWhat I do is, watch it full screen on a large Smart TV on Youtube. In fact, I watch most Youtube stuff (including this)on my TV.
ReplyDeleteThese days, I am watching a teledrama called "Thanamalwila Kollek". Speedy might like that.
Mahen and Rasieka
ReplyDeleteA timely reminder of hope as the world slowly dismantles the lockdown for life to return to what we had before this scourge. I enjoyed immensely the montage and the sequence of stunning images of the beauty around us. They are still there for us to enjoy when times get better. Poems have the tremendous capacity to reach the parts that prose cannot. I do enjoy the lyrics enormously. They indeed capture the mood so well for our release. Mahen, I like the melody and the arrangement on the Genos and you do sing it with feeling. I appreciate and admire the talent, expertise and the resolve to put it all together and take us all on this magical journey.
Our many healthcare workers who fight the virus in the frontline, often with no proper protective equipment, put their lives at risk. Several have lost their lives fighting a virus that does not care. We must remember them and their families, gratefully.
Today is VE Day. I must take the liberty to digress and to remember the heroes who fought in WWII. Many men and women went to war so that we can live in freedom without tyranny and oppression. Many of them gave their lives for us and never returned home. We thank them all and remember them with much gratitude.
Mahendra, your tuneful music and comforting voice, accompanying beautiful nature's views brings joy to the heart. What is special is the whole effect of calming, reassurance and optimism all of which we need at this moment and all the days of our lives. We owe you a special Thank You! We are honoured to count you among our batch mates and as I read our Blog I cannot help feeling so proud to belong to this very special batch of '62! Thanks again, from Zita
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Mahendra and Rasieka for the excellent production.Both Rasieka and Ajantha were my students in Colombo She was my first registrar at Ruhuna . She headed a RCPCH committee to find placements for paediatric trainees from overseas in the UK. Many paediatricians from Sri Lanka were trained in her unit at Sandwell.
ReplyDeleteIn recognition of her services, I proposed her name for a Honourary Fellowship by our college the SLCP,few years ago.
Sanath
ReplyDeleteI salute and respect your magnanimity in recognising the services of Sri Lankan doctors who have worked abroad. I trust Rasieka was conferred the Fellowship.
Yes she most definitely got it (Nihal,when I propose, no one dare not oppose!)
ReplyDeleteSanath, I was aware that you knew them but didn't realise they were your students. As you stated, Rasieka has done a tremendous amount to help post graduate students coming to England for 20 years or more. Both of them are also involved with the Meththa Foundation for rehabilitation of amputees. You have given a lot of personal support to Meththa and we are most grateful to you. As Nihal says, what you have done for your Motherland and continue to do so, is most admirable. Well done Sanath!
ReplyDeleteThank you Mahendra for your sentiments. I visited the MRF facility in Maho few years ago and I was very impressed with the work that they are doing. Straight away I decided to open a monthly standing order for Rs. 10,000 .After the Eelam war ended Dr Panagamuwa (my neighbour and colleague in Karapitiya), started this project in Mannar ,to attend to the civilian victims of land mines who were amputees. After emptying that reservoir he opened similar facilities in Maho and Mannakulam. Now the amputees are victims of RTAs and diabetics.I encouraged Sriani Fernando to visit this facility in Maho few years ago. She was so impressed that after returning to the US, she encouraged her colleagues belonging to the North American Sri Lankan Doctors Association to donate USD 10,000, which was greatly appreciated. Accepting Pana's invitation, I happen to be the current Patron of MRF. During your next visit to Sri Lanka, I would strongly encourage you to visit the MRF facility in Maho.
ReplyDeleteI have visited the Mankulam faciity Sanath in 2015 and was very impressed by the service they provide. As you know I am part of the Meththa group in the UK and we raise a considerable sum of money at our Annual "retreat" and a lot of us provide regular donations via direct debits. Dr Panagamuwa is one of the most selfless men I have ever come across. One thing I like about the Organisation is that it is totally open with no ethnic or religious barriers. We are of course very grateful for your valuable support.
DeleteCongratulations Mahen and Rasieka,
ReplyDeleteThis is brilliant.Kanthi and I watched and listened enthralled.Your efforts have certainly borne fruit.
The visuals were magnificent and the lyrics so meaningful.The reviving nature needs to be acknowledged and appreciated
We look forward to many more.
Mahen , You’ve done it again ! A fine display of your multiple talents together with Rasieke’s.
ReplyDeleteI know just how much toil and ‘tinkering’ it takes to get it together - well done.
A wide screen is the way to fully enjoy the beautiful images.
Thanks to you both.
Dear Mahen,
ReplyDeleteI listened again with my eyes closed,focusing only on the vocals and music.
It was brilliant.Congratulations once again for a virtuoso performance.
Thanks Kumar, Kanthi, Sanath, Zita, Rohini and anybody else 8 missed. Glad you liked it. Makes it all worthwhile.
ReplyDelete