Hello everyone.

How are you today? I hope you're feeling really good.

My name is Ms. Afzal.

I'm feeling really good today because we are going to be looking at a song by Lord Kitchener.

We're gonna be looking at a song called "Sweet Jamaica", so I like to pause a video here while you go off and get your copy of the song lyrics and I will wait for you.

Okay, you're back.

You have your copy of the song lyrics.

Hopefully you have some creativity, some enthusiasm, some ideas, maybe some curiosity for good measure.

Let's get started with our lesson.

The outcome for today's lesson is, I can explore the meaning of a song.

We have some keywords in our lesson today.

Let's go through them, my turn, your turn.

Imagery.

Perspective.

Theme.

Context.

Okay, let's find out what these words mean.

Imagery is the use of vivid and sensory language that appeals to the reader's senses, creating vivid mental pictures and enhancing the emotional impact of the poem.

Perspective is the point of view or position from which the artist writes influencing the way events or ideas are portrayed and understood.

Theme is a big idea, topic, or message that recurs within a text and the context is the setting or background that helps us to understand something better.

Let's be on the lookout for these keywords.

Let's think carefully about them.

They'll be coming up in our lesson today.

Our lesson today is called, Considering Perspective in "Sweet Jamaica".

It has two parts to it.

First of all, an introduction to the song and next exploring perspective.

Let's begin with the introduction.

"Sweet Jamaica" was written by Aldwyn Lord Kitchener Roberts in London 1952, 4 years after his arrival on the Empire Windrush.

Aldwyn Roberts was born on April the 18th, 1922 in Arima, Trinidad and Tobago.

Roberts adopted the stage name Lord Kitchener after the British military figure, Horatio Kitchener, which was a common practise among calypsonians.

In 1948, Aldwyn migrated to England aboard the Empire Windrush.

His arrival coincided with a period of significant change in Britain, and we can see an image of Lord Kitchener on our screens there.

Perhaps he's about to go and play the song "Sweet Jamaica" to an audience somewhere.

Before we explore the song, it is useful to understand some of the references and unfamiliar language contained within it.

Bugging means annoying or bothering.

A ration book is a booklet issued during times when it was challenging to get hold of items. Ackee and saltfish, a traditional Jamaican dish made from the fruit ackee and salted cod.

And we can see an image of a ration book there on our screen, and some ackee and saltfish.

Hmm, looks delicious.

Montego Bay is a well-known tourist destination in Jamaica, famous for its beaches.

Oh my goodness, I want to be there now.

West Indians is an antiquated term, it's like an old term, it's not really used now so much, linked to British Empire rule, to refer to people from the Caribbean.

Passage is the cost or ticket for travelling from one place to another.

These are just some of the unfamiliar words and references.

You may wish to explore the meaning of others using a dictionary.

Before we read the lyrics, we're going to listen to the song.

So pause the video now while you play the song, "Sweet Jamaica".

Okay, so you have heard the song "Sweet Jamaica".

How does the song make you feel? Pause the video and share with someone nearby how the song makes you feel.

Let's hear from Andy.

"The Calypso style is upbeat, however, Lord Kitchener mentions lots of negative imagery such as rationing.

He mentions almost dying from starvation.

It made me feel sad that things have not worked out as he had hoped." There's quite a contrast there, Andy.

Thanks for sharing that.

It is the upbeat music, but then what he's sharing about and singing about is really quite negative.

Now I'd like you to read the lyrics.

To begin, read the song's lyrics silently in your head.

Then read out loud.

You might like to read it with a partner, alternating every two lines and reading the chorus together.

So pause the video here while you read the lyrics twice, the first time silently and the second time out loud.

Okay, so now you've read the lyrics.

What were your first impressions of the lyrics, I'm wondering, and what did you notice when reading? So pause the video here and share with someone your first impressions of the lyrics to "Sweet Jamaica" and what you noticed when reading.

Let's hear from Jacob.

"I immediately noticed Lord Kitchener mentioning how he misses his life in Jamaica.

His view of London has changed significantly in the years since he sang "London Is The Place For Me".

He mentions that when people ask him about his life in London, he's unable to offer them an answer." Yeah, thanks for sharing that contrast, Jacob, between his view of London in this song and then his view of London in his song, "London Is The Place For Me".

Really, it's changed such a lot in four years.

Check for understanding, true or false.

The song contains lots of positive imagery about London.

Pause the video while you decide if this is true or false.

Well done if you selected false, and now I'd like you to justify your answer.

Choose from one of the two statements.

"Sweet Jamaica" was written in 1952, 4 years after Aldwyn Robert's arrival on the Empire Windrush.

Lord Kitchener describes how people from the Caribbean were unable to find employment in London.

Pause the video while you select from one of these two statements to justify your earlier answer.

Both statements are true, but it's the second statement that is related in justifying your earlier answer.

Well done if you selected this statement about Lord Kitchener describing how people from the Caribbean were unable to find employment in London.

"Sweet Jamaica" is a fixed verse song.

It contains four verses each with eight lines.

The verses follow an AA, BB, CC, DD, rhyme scheme.

A chorus follows each verse.

It has some minor changes from the beginning of the song to the end, and a chorus, as is a noun, is a part of a song that is repeated several times.

I'd like you to refer to the choruses.

What effect do you think having the chorus repeated has on the reader or listener? Pause the video while you refer back to the choruses and share your answer to this question with someone nearby.

Let hear from Izzy.

"The repetition of the chorus highlights the main message about missing Jamaica and creates a rhythm that makes the song more memorable." Yeah, thank you so much for sharing that, Izzy.

Aldwyn Roberts had spent time in Jamaica before migrating to England on the Empire Windrush.

I'd like you to refer to the lyrics, discuss one reason that Lord Kitchener gives for his change in perspective.

Pause the video while you refer to the lyrics and find a reason why Lord Kitchener changes his perspective.

Okay, I wonder what you came up with.

Let's see what Ayesha has for us.

"Lord Kitchener says that he misses the climate in Jamaica, especially during the winter months.

He mentions the sun and the beaches at Montego Bay." Thanks for sharing that, Ayesha.

And we can see, oh my goodness, there must be a number of very beautiful beaches on this island.

And we can see on our screen that Montego Bay is on the northern coast of Jamaica.

Must be such a beautiful place.

We could say that Lord Kitchener is feeling nostalgic, which is showing sentimental longing for past experiences or times.

Check for understanding.

Which of the following statements are true? And refer to the lyrics for support.

The chorus tells readers and listeners how much Lord Kitchener is enjoying his time in London.

Lord Kitchener describes missing Jamaica.

Many people from the Caribbean regret their decision to leave their home countries.

Pause the video while you decide which of these statements are true.

Well done if you selected the last two statements.

A theme is a big idea, topic, or message that recurs within a story.

Identifying themes within a text involves inference.

Themes are not explicitly stated within a text.

There are a few ways to identify themes.

Considering actions and characteristics of the speaker and people they mention in the song.

Identifying repetition, actions, emotions, traits.

And searching for deeper meaning using inference.

Considering the overall message of the song.

So these are some of the ways that we can identify themes within a song.

Two of the most prominent themes in the song are nostalgia and homesickness.

The song expresses a deep longing for Jamaica, highlighting Lord Kitchener's regret over leaving the Caribbean.

What other themes do you think are shown within the song? Pause the video and share with someone nearby any other themes you think are shown within the song.

I wonder what other themes you came up with.

Other themes in "Sweet Jamaica" might include migration, identity, hardship, struggle, regret, and belonging.

There are many possible themes that can be drawn out from the song and readers may interpret themes and their importance differently.

Check for understanding.

Which of the following tell readers and listeners that Lord Kitchener was feeling nostalgic? Nostalgic is sentimental longing for past experiences or times.

He misses the traditional dish of ackee and saltfish.

He describes how food is rationed.

There were food shortages at the time.

He describes the sun shining every day in Jamaica.

Pause the video while you decide which of these told reader and listeners that Lord Kitchener was feeling nostalgic.

Well done if you selected the first and the last statement, he misses the traditional dish of ackee and saltfish and describes the sun shining every day in Jamaica.

Oh my goodness, imagine being in a place where the sun shone every day.

Wow.

And now it's time for your first task.

I would like you to listen to the song and then discuss the song with your partner, and use these questions as prompts to support your ideas and discussions.

What do you think was the artist's purpose for writing the song? Which theme do you think is most prominent and why? So pause the video here, listen to the song, and discuss your answers to these questions with someone nearby.

Okay, it's great to be back with you.

How did your discussion go? I hope it was interesting.

Let's hear from June.

"I think Lord Kitchener wanted people from the Caribbean to carefully consider migrating as things were so different to what he originally thought." And Sophia, "I think the theme of regret is most prominent.

Lord Kitchener describes how his memories want him to fly back to Jamaica." Thanks for sharing those answers and sharing what his purpose could have been and one of the prominent themes.

I hope you enjoyed sharing your answers too.

And now let's move on to exploring perspective.

Between the release of "London Is The Place For Me" in 1948 and "Sweet Jamaica" in 1952, several significant changes occurred in Lord Kitchener's life and lives of Caribbean people in the UK.

Securing good employment was often challenging due to racial discrimination and the limited availability of suitable jobs.

Those with advanced qualifications such as teachers, engineers, and nurses, frequently had to accept jobs that did not use their skills or experience.

That must have been so frustrating.

Many people from the Caribbean struggled to find decent housing, often having to live in overcrowded and poor quality accommodation.

People from the Caribbean had to adjust to British culture, which was often very different from what they were used to, causing feelings of isolation and homesickness.

Despite these challenges, people from the Caribbean formed tight-knit communities to support each other and preserve their culture.

Much of this is celebrated now in the present day through events such as the Notting Hill Carnival.

And we can see an image of someone taking part in the carnival, looking amazing.

I'm very lucky to have been at this carnival a few times and I really hope that if you haven't been, one day, you'll get to go.

It's something very, very special.

Check for understanding, true or false.

All people from the Caribbean were respected upon arriving in England.

Pause the video and decide if this is true or false.

The answer is false.

And now I would like you to justify your answer.

Choose from one of these two statements.

Many people from the Caribbean experienced racial discrimination and struggled to find suitable housing.

People from the Caribbean formed tight-knit communities to support each other.

Pause the video while you decide which of these statements more directly justifies your earlier answer.

Both of these statements are true, however, it's the first statement that more directly justifies your earlier answer.

if you selected this statement.

Compared to the description of London, Lord Kitchener's view of Jamaica is positive.

The chorus uses the following words to describe Jamaica.

Heaven, a place of ideal happiness and peace.

Saviour, someone, or something that can save someone else.

Darling, a tonne of endearment expressing affection and love.

Do you think these descriptions are positive or negative? Pause the video and tell someone nearby.

Thanks for sharing your answers.

I can imagine that most of you put these around more of the positive end of things.

Heaven, saviour, and darling, are all quite positive words and terms. Check for understanding.

Match these words to their definitions.

Saviour, heaven, darling.

And the definitions.

A place of ideal happiness and peace.

A term of endearment, expressing affection and love.

Someone or something that can save someone else.

Pause the video while you match these words to their definitions.

Well done if you connected saviour to someone or something that can save someone else.

Heaven, is a place of ideal happiness and peace.

And darling is a term of endearment, expressing affection and love.

Well done if you made these connections.

And now it's time for your task.

Having explored the context and themes of the song and the perspectives of people from the Caribbean, we can better understand the song.

I'd like you to refer to the chorus.

Why do you think Lord Kitchener refers to Jamaica in this way? And you could refer to the song or the lyrics in your response.

So pause the video here and share with someone nearby.

Why do you think Lord Kitchener refers to Jamaica in this way? Okay, great to be back with you.

So, I wonder what you came up with.

Why do you think Lord Kitchener refers to Jamaica in this way? Let's hear from Alex.

"Lord Kitchener refers to Jamaica as heaven because he feels a deep connection to the Caribbean and sees it as a place of happiness and comfort compared to the challenges he faces in London." Thanks for sharing that answer, Alex.

Can really see such a contrast between how he feels from the Caribbean and how he feels in London.

Here's Lucas, "By calling Jamaica his darling, he shows how much he misses it and how important it is to him.

It's like a loved one or member of his family." Yeah, it's really quite moving, isn't it, hearing that? Thank you, Lucas.

And thank you for sharing your perspectives on why Lord Kitchener refers to Jamaica in this way.

In our lesson considering perspective in "Sweet Jamaica", we have covered the following.

"Sweet Jamaica" was written by Aldwyn Lord Kitchener Roberts in London in 1952, 4 years after his arrival on the Empire Windrush.

"Sweet Jamaica" shows a change in perspective from Lord Kitchener after he had spent some time in London.

The song creates negative imagery in its lyrics, portraying themes of regret, nostalgia, and homesickness.

Many people from the Caribbean face discrimination, employment challenges, housing issues, and other barriers.

By exploring the context, themes, and perspectives, we can gain a better understanding of the song.

Thank you for joining in with this lesson.

It was really interesting to hear your take on this song, "Sweet Jamaica", especially as it's in such contrast to the earlier poem we've looked at, "London Is The Place For Me", also by Lord Kitchener.

I look forward to exploring Lord Kitchener's poetry with you further in another lesson.

Bye for now.