When Warwick Veterans Memorial High School sophomore Matthew Smith stood up to speak during Monday night’s public hearing regarding the potential re-purposing of the school, he surprised the audience by leading a portion of the Vets Concert Choir in a song, urging the School Committee to turn down the recommendation. 

Vets Chorus teacher Nancy Kennedy explained that the chorus students had been looking for a way to express their feelings on the proposed re-purposing and came up with the idea to sing a song. A group of the students wrote new words to a folk song called “Homeward Bound”; they had performed a version of the song at their Harvest Concert last month. 

American composer Marta Keen originally wrote the song and music, and the chorus performed an arrangement by Jay Althouse. 

“We didn’t have time to learn a new song so we decided to write new lyrics to this one. It is one of our favorites, the students love to sing it with emotion,” explained Kennedy in an e-mail. “We hope to have touched the School Committee’s hearts.”

Smith performed the opening baritone solo, and was joined by sophomore tenor Tyler Nordin for a duet portion, followed by one-third of the Vets Concert Choir. 

The lyrics they composed and sang are as follows:

In the quiet misty morning, when the air has grown cold

Veterans High School shines at sunrise with our colors blue and gold.

In the twilight of the evening when we all have gone inside,   

Veterans High School stands in glory we are strong in Hurricane pride.

Bind me not to Pilgrim, chain me not to Toll Gate

Set me free to be a Veteran, stop this plan – it’s not too late.

This is our home Veterans High School and we sing to save our school.                 

We’re united, strong and hopeful that you won’t shut down our school.

Then the wind will set us racing as our journey nears its’ end

And this path we’ll be retracing when we’re Veterans bound again.

Bind me not to Pilgrim, chain me not to Toll Gate

Set me free to be a Veteran, stop this plan – it’s not too late.

In the twilight of the evening when we all have gone inside,

Veterans High School shines in glory, 

We stand strong, in Hurricane pride.

Click the link below to hear their song. 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152072056058809&set=vb.324869223808&type=2&theater