Kelven on the Square

I used to visit Christchurch,New Zealand regularly and enjoyed walking in the Square and listening to Kelven Scott, aka “The Blind Busker” His voice was amazing and he played an array of whistles brilliantly, filling the city streets with music. 

Then they had the devastating earthquake. When I returned I could hardly believe what I saw, the city was quite literally flattened. I wandered around what once were well known streets to me and out of the emptiness came an unmistakable sound. Kelven. It was quite an emotional experience. I went to chat to him as I’d done in the past. On the plane in the way home I wrote this song and recorded a rough demo. Upon returning to Christchurch six months later I went to the Square as usual and there he was as ever. I let him hear the song and he was thrilled. That’s his voice at the end of the track as recorded on my phone at the time.

Sadly, Kelven has since passed away. 

This is a tribute to a Christchurch legend.

Kelven on the Square
© Alan G Brydon

V1
As I wandered through Christchurch 
I cried at what I found
It’s old familiar buildings
Had crumbled to the ground
On streets that once were busy
Not a single person stood
Among the piles of rubble 
Concrete steel and wood
 
V2
And through the deathly silence
I heard a haunting sound
From somewhere in the distance
It drifted all around
A voice like silk and satin
And a whistle shrill yet sweet
Over dust and desolation
That was once Christchurch's streets
 
Chorus
Kelven, Kelven, 
Kelven on the square 
The haunting voice and whistles
Of Kelven on the square 
 
V3
I have ne’er seen such resilience 
Yet I wondered how they’d cope
Despite what they had suffered 
Their hearts were filled with hope
And while the people worked together
To make the city new
Through noise of reconstruction
A haunting voice came through 
 
V4
The tourists take his picture 
And film him with their phones 
He’s become and institution 
He’s Christchurch to his bones
And of all your big name singers
There’s no one to compare
With the haunting voice and whistles 
Of Kelven on the square