Folk Soundtrack

Folk Soundtrack

Due to our film being a Mockumentary horror, we have decided not to use a soundtrack throughout our film. We decided this due to the fact that when researching and watching other films of the same genre, hardly any used a soundtrack as it ruined the realistic feel. Therefore we made the decision also not to have a soundtrack throughout to stick with the conventions.

However after stumbling across a folk song relating to the history of the cinema and our storyline we felt that we had to do something with the song. Michelle composed her own melody on the guitar to the lyrics and produced our own unique soundtrack. We decided not to use this soundtrack throughout our film but at the very end, playing across the credits. This would leave a lasting impression on the audience as the lyrics tell the whole true story of what happened in Dover Gaol.

Here are the lyrics to the song:

We smuggling boys are merry boys

Sometimes here and sometimes there

No rent nor taxes do we pay,

But a man of war is all our fear.

'Twas on the 21 st of May,

As you will understand,

We sailed out of Boulogne Bay,

Bound for the English land. 

But to our sad misfortune,

And to our great surprise,

We were chased by two galleys,

Belonging to the excise.

Oh then my boys for liberty,

Was the cry of one and all,

But soon they overpowered us,

With powder and with ball. 

They dragged us up to Gaol,

In irons bound like thieves,

All for to serve great George our King,

and force us to the seas. 

The wives for their husbands

Were in such sad distress,

For children round the gaol

Were crying fatherless.

And sure the sight was shocking

For any one to see,

But still the cry came from the mob,

For death or liberty. 

Oh then a hole all in the wall,

Was everybody's cry.

And Lillburn and McCullock's men

were soon obliged to fly. 

For bricks and tiles flew so fast,

From every point you see,

And these poor men from Dover gaol,

They gained their liberty.

And now they've gained their liberty

The long wide world to range,

Long life to the women,

Likewise to the  men.

Here is the very first draft of Michelle's song:

Here is the final song recorded at KETV studios:

As this is supposed to be a traditional Folk song, Michelle used the chords  A,C,G,D the chords used are very common to many traditional Folk songs. She also sang and played the song in a way that conveyed an old sea Shantie feel to retain the theme of the film.

When editing the track we added sound effects that would boost the sea theme. The sound effects we added were of a rough sea, sail boat and a seagull. These sounds subliminally suggest an eerie sea mood to the listener.
We also added Reverb and Delay to the vocals and the sound effects to make the song sound haunting and maintain the mood of mysterious ghost smugglers until the very end of the film.