Is there hope while on remand in HMP Barlinnie?
We knew the conversation couldn’t end with us going round in circles about the frustrations of it, and knew we had to explore it further. Leanne suggested delving into this theme with a group of men on remand at HMP Barlinnie. SISCO run regular recovery cafes at Barlinnie, working hard to build deep, crucial relationships with those striving to overcome addiction or simply seeking a safe space to talk about their struggles while in prison. Leanne took the idea of songwriting to the group, and it was met with instant enthusiasm for it. So in late 2023, we began a series of weekly afternoon songwriting sessions over five weeks.
With musical and songwriting guidance from Louis Abbott, we spent the first two or three weeks engaging in various writing exercises. The group size fluctuated between nine and fifteen men each week – a challenge when trying to ensure everyone’s voice was heard and that the song’s message was something they all agreed on. But this wasn’t our first rodeo. As each person shared their writing, Louis pulled out key words and phrases, displaying them on flipcharts so everyone could see. This approach quickly revealed that for some of the men, “beyond” wasn’t about looking to the future but rather reflecting on things in their past that were beyond repair. It reminded us that themes like this can have various different meanings and lead each of us down different creative paths.
With a collection of lines on the wall, we opened up discussions about what being on remand felt like for those in the room. The consensus was that it was about simply making it through the day. Unlike those who are sentenced, there’s often nothing to count down to. Throughout these conversations, more lines and emotions emerged, and we began to see the structure of verses and a chorus take shape. Louis guided the group in building the song, helping them to tell the story that needed to be told and, most importantly, in the way those in the room wanted to tell it.
The resulting song speaks volumes through its lyrics. Musically, the group wanted an upbeat yet “lazy” sound – a catchy sing-along tune that could easily mask the deep emotional weight of the words (though the impact of the lyrics is unmistakable). The men felt a strong sense of ownership over the song, and for some, it inspired further writing. We often started our sessions by sharing this additional work before continuing with the group song. For us, this is what it’s all about.
One participant was sentenced during the five weeks, receiving a longer sentence than he had anticipated. He shared with us that on the evening of his sentencing, he used the songwriting exercises to process what had happened, even creating artwork to accompany the song (as shown above). Moments like these reaffirm the importance of creativity and why it’s so crucial to provide opportunities for people to experience it.
In the final week, we recorded the song in the prison. We anticipated some hesitation about singing, especially in front of each other, but to our surprise, everyone was eager to participate. The men enthusiastically sang the chorus (and, of course, whistled along!), another testament to the sense of safety and community in the room. While those from SISCO were impressed with how quickly trust was built and a group song initiated and developed, we were equally aware of how much of this success was due to the strong relationships SISCO had built and nurtured before we even stepped in.
You can hear the final song below – ‘(Always) Check In’