

Notes on the Ballad
Historical Context: The lyrics reflect David’s birth in 1967 in NYC, his father’s work on Sesame Street at Teachers College until the mid-1970s, and the family’s move to Sydney. His self-taught reading and 30+ years as a math teacher are woven into the narrative.
Rahman Case: The death of Hamidur Rahman in 2008 and David’s whistleblowing efforts, including the pedophile investigation link, form a central emotional thread.
Literary Work: The Bread of Life series (2019–2020) and his 45 books, including the upcoming Warlpiri Dreamtime project, highlight his post-teaching career.
Activism and Online Presence: His political runs (2013, 2016) and X activity (@DaOddBall67) with over 1,600 followers are celebrated.
Tone and Structure: The ballad uses a repetitive chorus to emphasize resilience, with a refrain to close on an uplifting note, suitable for folk singing with a guitar or fiddle accompaniment.
This ballad captures David Ball’s multifaceted life as of September 30, 2025, blending fact with the storytelling flair of folk tradition.
To bring the folk ballad "The Ballad of David Ball" to life, the musical arrangement should reflect its narrative depth, emotional resonance, and traditional roots while aligning with David Ball's personal story and cultural context. Below are suggestions for tempo, rhythm, and instruments, tailored to enhance the song's storytelling and evoke the spirit of Australian folk music with a touch of global influence.
Primary Instrument: Acoustic Guitar
Secondary Instrument: Fiddle (or Violin)
Supporting Instrument: Harmonica
Optional Percussion: Bodhrán (Irish Frame Drum)
This combination of tempo, rhythm, and instruments creates a rich, evocative folk ballad that honors David Ball’s life story while staying true to the genre’s storytelling tradition.
Suggested images
[Verse 1]
Lyrics: "In New York City, '67, a child was born so bold, David Ball, with dreams afire, where Sesame Street was told. His father shaped young minds at Columbia's hall so grand, Till the '70s called them homeward to Sydney's distant land."
Image Suggestion: A nostalgic scene of 1960s Manhattan with a young David Ball as a baby in a cradle, surrounded by Sesame Street puppets (e.g., Big Bird, Elmo) and educational toys. In the background, Columbia University’s Teachers College looms, with a ship sailing toward Sydney’s harbor silhouette.
Prompt: "A warm, vintage 1960s New York City street scene, a baby cradle with a newborn David Ball, surrounded by colorful Sesame Street puppets like Big Bird and Elmo, educational toys scattered, Columbia University’s Teachers College in the background, a ship sailing toward Sydney’s harbor silhouette, soft pastel colors, nostalgic mood, detailed and whimsical, digital art style."
[Verse 2]
Lyrics: "Self-taught he read by Sydney's shore, with numbers as his guide, A math teacher in the tough schools, where hope and youth reside. For thirty years he shaped young souls, with lessons bold and wise, Till tragedy struck with Hamidur, and tears filled David’s eyes."
Image Suggestion: A young David teaching math on a Sydney beach, chalkboard in sand with equations, surrounded by diverse students. Transition to a somber classroom scene with a shadowed figure of Hamidur, tears falling from David’s eyes.
Prompt: "A vibrant Sydney beach with a young David Ball teaching math, chalkboard in the sand with equations, diverse students around him, transitioning to a somber classroom with a shadowed teenage boy (Hamidur), tears falling from David’s eyes, warm coastal colors fading to muted tones, emotional and detailed, watercolor style."
[Verse 3]
Lyrics: "In 2008, a boy was lost, poor Rahman’s tale so grim, David cried against the silence, a whistleblower’s hymn. He fought the system, dark and cold, for justice long denied, A pedophile’s shadow, Hamidur’s fate, with truth he would abide."
Image Suggestion: A dramatic confrontation—David standing with a megaphone against a shadowy bureaucratic building, Hamidur’s ghostly silhouette fading, a dark figure symbolizing the pedophile cover-up lurking.
Prompt: "A dramatic scene of David Ball with a megaphone, standing against a shadowy bureaucratic building, a ghostly silhouette of Hamidur fading into the background, a dark figure symbolizing a pedophile cover-up lurking, intense lighting, stark contrasts, gritty and bold, digital painting style."
[Verse 4]
Lyrics: "From teaching’s end, his pen took flight, with Bread of Life so pure, Devotionals of faith and hope, since nineteen-ninety-four. Forty-five books, a forty-sixth in dreamtime tales to weave, Warlpiri fairytales to sing, where ancient stories breathe."
Image Suggestion: David writing at a desk, surrounded by stacks of books (Bread of Life covers visible), with a dreamlike overlay of Warlpiri Dreamtime figures (e.g., ancestral spirits, desert landscapes) emerging from his pen.
Prompt: "David Ball writing at a desk, surrounded by stacks of books with Bread of Life covers, a dreamlike overlay of Warlpiri Dreamtime figures like ancestral spirits and desert landscapes emerging from his pen, warm earthy tones, spiritual and surreal, mixed media art style."
[Verse 5]
Lyrics: "He ran for office, bold and free, in thirteen and sixteen’s race, A conservative voice on X so wide, with sixteen hundred’s grace. In Sydney now, a ‘fat writer’ stands, with Capricorn’s fierce fire, His blog resounds with ‘muscular faith,’ lifting souls ever higher."
Image Suggestion: David campaigning with a banner, a laptop displaying his X profile (@DaOddBall67) with 1,600 followers, transitioning to him as a robust writer in Sydney, a Capricorn symbol and fiery aura behind him.
Prompt: "David Ball campaigning with a banner, a laptop showing his X profile @DaOddBall67 with 1,600 followers, transitioning to him as a robust writer in Sydney, a Capricorn symbol and fiery aura behind him, modern and bold, mixed with traditional folk art elements, vibrant colors."
[Refrain]
Lyrics: "So raise your voice for David Ball, through trials he’s held the line, From New York’s streets to Sydney’s call, his legacy will shine. With every word, with every fight, he carves a path so rare, A ballad born of truth and light, forever in the air."
Image Suggestion: A triumphant David with raised arms, a crowd singing, a map connecting New York and Sydney, light rays breaking through clouds, symbolizing his legacy.
Prompt: "A triumphant David Ball with raised arms, a diverse crowd singing, a map connecting New York and Sydney, light rays breaking through clouds, symbolizing legacy, warm and uplifting tones, epic and detailed, oil painting style."
Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells swing and jingle bells ring
Snowin' and blowin' up bushels of fun
Now the jingle hop has begun
Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells chime in jingle bell time
Dancin' and prancin' in Jingle Bell Square
In the frosty air
What a bright time, it's the right time
To rock the night away
Jingle bell time is a swell time
To go glidin' in a one-horse sleigh
Giddy-up jingle horse, pick up your feet
Jingle around the clock
Mix and a-mingle in the jinglin' feet
That's the jingle bell rock
Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bell chime in jingle bell time
Dancin' and prancin' in Jingle Bell Square
In the frosty air
What a bright time, it's the right time
To rock the night away
Jingle bell time is a swell time
To go glidin' in a one-horse sleigh
Giddy-up jingle horse, pick up your feet
Jingle around the clock
Mix and a-mingle in the jinglin' feet
That's the jingle bell
That's the jingle bell
That's the jingle...
David Daniel Ball calls himself the Conservative Voice.
I'm a teacher with three decades experience teaching math to high school kids.I also work with first graders and kids in between first grade and high school. I know the legends of why Hypatia's dad is remembered through his contribution to Math theory. And I know the legend of why followers of Godel had thought he had disproved God's existence.
I'm not a preacher, but I am a Christian who has written over 28 books all of which include some reference to my faith. Twelve blog books on world history and current affairs, detailing world events , births and marriages on each day of the year, organised by month. Twelve books on the background to and history of Bible Quotes. One Bible quote per day for a year. An intro to a science fiction series I'm planning, post apocalyptic cyber punk. An autobiography with short story collections.
I'm known in Australia for my failure as a whistleblower over the negligence death of a school boy. ...
This is edited to correct obvious mistakes
David Daniel Ball (born January 10, 1967, in New York City) is an Australian writer, conservative blogger, political activist, and former high school mathematics teacher. As the younger brother of cognitive scientist John Samuel Ball, David has carved a distinct path in education, advocacy, and self-publishing, often focusing on social justice, child protection, history, and Christian devotionals. His life story intertwines family intellectual heritage with personal campaigns against institutional failures in child welfare.
David was born in Manhattan during his father Samuel Ball's (1933–2009) tenure as an educational psychologist at Teachers College, Columbia University. Samuel, an Australian academic, contributed to early evaluations of Sesame Street through his work at the Educational Testing Service (ETS), assessing the show's impact on children's learning from 1963 onward. The family, including elder brother John (born 1963 in Iowa), relocated to ...
I invite you with: "Right now, let's respond by seeking Him first. If you're carrying worries, lay them down at His feet. Raise your hands, pray silently, or come forward for prayer as we declare His kingdom priority in our lives." This encourages active faith application, tying back to Matthew 6:33's promise.
https://storiesthatheal.blogspot.com/2016/09/bible-quote-sep-28th-matthew-633.html
Verse 1
In the whisper of the wind, You call my name
Beyond the worries of this world, Your kingdom reigns
Like lilies in the field, clothed in Your grace
I lift my eyes to You, in this sacred place
Chorus
Seek first Your kingdom, oh Lord
And Your righteousness, forevermore
All these things will be added, in Your perfect time
Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word from Your throne
We seek You first, we seek You first
Verse 2
From ancient words You spoke, in the mountaintop light
You taught us not to fear, in the dead of night
Your promise echoes through the ages, ...
Keep the faith, endure the storm, and lift each other up!
In the spirit of Hebrews 10:35-36, don't let trials shake your trust in God's promise. Gather with your community, pray through the hard times, and hold fast to the hope of salvation. Let this song remind you to persevere, just as those in the Great Depression leaned on hope to carry on.
(Verse 1) Oh, don't throw away your confidence, child, don't let it go, Don't throw away your confidence, child, don't let it go, It's got a mighty reward waitin', in the sweet by and by, you know.
(Verse 2) You need that endurance, brother, through the hard times so blue, You need that endurance, brother, through the hard times so blue, After doin' God's will, that promise gonna come shinin' through.
(Chorus) Hold on, hold on, to that faith so true, Hold on, hold on, the Lord's gonna see you ...