Schoolgirl's touching tribute song to the NHS workers 'saving the world' keeps spirits up around the UK

A South Shields schoolgirl’s touching tribute song to NHS workers is keeping spirits up among those fighting coronavirus around the UK.
April Lister, 9, has written a tribute song to NHS workers.April Lister, 9, has written a tribute song to NHS workers.
April Lister, 9, has written a tribute song to NHS workers.

The song, written and performed by nine-year-old April Lister of Mowbray Road, has become the soundtrack to night shifts in hospitals across the country.

The Westoe Crown Primary School pupil, wrote her own lyrics to the backing music of Elton John’s Your Song as a tribute to the NHS workers on the frontline of the crisis - inspired by her own mum, a practice nurse at a GP surgery in South Shields.

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After her mum shared the video with NHS colleagues online, the song has now been viewed thousands of times with messages flooding in from doctors and nurses all over the country saying April is ‘keeping spirits up’ and calling her an ‘inspiration’.

“I have had messages from so many doctors and nurses on wards on night shifts, saying they have been playing it to boost moral,” said mum, Maggie Pyle.

“Someone has even asked if they can use the song for the weekly clap in their village, when their local pub brings speakers outside and plays a song to everyone.”

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April is hoping to see her song shared widespread enough to become a charity single and raise money for the NHS Charities Together fund, which is supporting those staff and volunteers caring for Covid-19 patients.

April and mum, Maggie Pyle a practice nurse in South Shields.April and mum, Maggie Pyle a practice nurse in South Shields.
April and mum, Maggie Pyle a practice nurse in South Shields.
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“April is delighted with the response. It’s given her something to focus on, she really wants to make a difference,” said Maggie.

“We are so proud of her, it’s such a lovely thing that she has done.”

She added: “As a nurse I would just say to everyone please stay at home and protect our NHS staff.”

Here’s the lyrics in full to April’s NHS tribute song, to the music of Your Song, by Elton John:

April and mum, Maggie Pyle a practice nurse at a GP surgery in South Shields.April and mum, Maggie Pyle a practice nurse at a GP surgery in South Shields.
April and mum, Maggie Pyle a practice nurse at a GP surgery in South Shields.

It's a little bit scary, the world from inside

I have nothing but admiration and pride

I don't have the power, but believe me if I did

You deserve all the praise for helping people to live

So excuse me for weeping, for all the good that you do

Dressed in your scrubs, green or blue

Anyways the thing is, what I really mean

You are the bravest people, I've ever seen

And you can tell everybody this is your song

It may be quite simple but when it's all done

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I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind that I've put down in words

How wonderful life is, 'cause you've saved the world

You are all heroes

That never say no,

I'm just a girl watching with pride and awe

I know it's not much,

But it's the best I can do

My gift is my song and we're so proud of you

Ohhh ohhh, ooohhh ooohhh, ooohh, ooohh, oooh, oooh ooohh

And you can tell everybody this is your song

It may be quite simple but when it's all done

I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind that I've put down in words

How wonderful life is, now you've saved the world

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