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Gaun Yersel Moses!

"Gaun yersel Moses"

Background


There's a message fur you

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Gaun Yersel Moses! started when Tom White was invited to a 'soiree' at which everyone was expected to perform a party piece. Tom decided to make up an amusing song about those attending, as he - modestly - considered himself fairly skilled at composing witty rhymes. He reasoned that if people were to laugh at him anyway, then he may as well attempt to be deliberately funny. A week before the event, he received a call to say that he was expected to perform another piece in the second half. Panic set in with a vengeance!

Tom had seen an old black-and-white film clip of Charles Laughton reading Daniel Chapter 3 from the Bible, which is the story of Shadrack, Meshack and Abednigo. This had really knocked him out - regrettably not permanently - and he had taken to wandering around the house reading aloud in the style of Charles Laughton. Tom decided that for his second 'turn' he would do his own version of the story - but in rhyme and in West of Scotland vernacular. This proved to be a big hit (he says). The 'soiree' then became an annual event. Each year Tom added more poems about Old Testament characters and events.

Tom then staged the entire 'canon' at the Glasgow West End Festival and also performed it for a week at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Following his appearance in Edinburgh, the show was publicised by the Netherbow Arts Centre via their 'Art of the Parish' leaflet, as a result of which Tom has been performing shows for churches and groups throughout Scotland. He has survived every performance.

 
Tom has now reached the stage in his life when he is reluctantly having to come to terms with qualifying for free prescriptions and Winter heating allowances. Despite this he still clings to his childhood dream of making a name for himself as a writer and performer. This crazy notion is based on the sentiments found in the closing verses of his Story of Joseph - Part Three:
 
But Ah'm sure this is true -
There's a message fur you
Whitever the length o yer tooth.
An the message is just
Tae hold fast tae the trust
That ye hud in the prime o yer youth.
Fur the Lord lets ye see,
Through yer dreams, whit can be
If ye'll only huv faith an believe,
An stay true tae yer dream,
Even tho it may seem
An impossible thing tae achieve.
Fur, tho you be the least,
Still yer dreams ur the yeast
That God uses, tae make yer life swell,
Frae a crumb oan the back o
The smallest wee taco -
Tae the Big Enchilada itsel!
 
Performing Gaun Yersel Moses! may not seem at first sight to be a tortilla of any great proportions, but who knows what future great oaks might from this present little acorn grow?
 
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