Keep the Truth Alive

Keep the Truth Alive was commissioned by the South Australian Public Primary Schools Music Festival 2023. It is song two from the new song cycle ‘World of Tomorrow’, a bold new work addressing the impact of technology on a rapidly changing world.

‘In this crazy, hazy, phasey world’, how do we know what is real, what is true, what is fake and what is news?’ This piece explores the challenges of fake news, disinformation, and misinformation, particularly the dangers of algorithms leading us down the ‘rabbit hole’.

As we learn more about the content selection algorithms on social media platforms, we see the impacts they have on our decisions, our purchases, our self-image, our careers, our friendships and even our reputations.  This piece is written through the eyes of young people who are trying to work out what is right and what is wrong, what is age appropriate and what is suitable and not suitable. With so many options to choose from in a world where one can’t ‘unsee’ or ‘undo’ one’s actions, it is important to be aware and cautious when online and not to go down the ‘rabbit hole’.

While we face uncertainty in this online arena, this piece celebrates positive change through awareness and action. It is call to action against hackers, bots, phishing, or deepfakes.

Audio sample courtesy of the South Australian Public Primary Schools Music Festival 

We recommend performing the entire song cycle. The other pieces are

Away From the Screen https://stage.pauljarman.com/composition/away-from-the-screen/

Follow My Own Dream https://stage.pauljarman.com/composition/follow-my-own-dream/

This is our World https://stage.pauljarman.com/composition/this-is-our-world/

Themes

Sing a global story Sing a message Sing the latest Releases
Duration 3:25
Key E minor modulating to F, D and G Major
Range Altos B and Sopranos up to E
More info Features optional pop orchestra arrangement
Price $3.00

Lyrics

K E E P   T H E   T R U T H   A L I V E

By PAUL JARMAN

What is real, what is true, what is fake, what is news?
Well, it’s really up to you
What you read and what you listen to
What you watch, who you follow
All the avenues to choose
I really don’t know what to do!

What is right, what is wrong, what is suitable?
What is really going on?
What is age appropriate?
How am I supposed to know?
You can’t unsee, you can’t undo
There’s only one thing we can do

Don’t go down the rabbit hole 
Don’t swipe your way through life
The truth is out, beyond the screen
Keep the truth alive

What is moral, what is fair, what is bias, do we care?
I guess it’s up to me and you
How we learn to navigate a world
That changes every day
Whatever trending fad is new
We must find a path to truth

Block it out, turn it off, walk away
Look around, don’t look back, seize the day

In this crazy, hazy, ‘phasey’ world
Integrity must thrive
If we keep the truth alive
We must keep the truth alive
Your truth, your life, our fight
Let’s keep the truth alive

PAUL JARMAN 2022