St Pancras Song

by Paul Ayres

This piece was written as the first and last number in a music education project at St Pancras Parish Church in 2004, the 1700th anniversary of the saint's death. Students from music colleges worked with children from primary schools to create pieces of music that told the story of Pancras.

PROLOGUE

Seventeen hundred years ago
An amazing story of a boy called Pancras

He was left an orphan, he was left alone
Had to make a journey, had to go to Rome

Had to find a new life, had to grow up fast
Found a new religion, how long would it last?

Hiding from the Romans, danger everywhere
Christians persecuted, feeling very scared

When they came for him, what did he say? …
When they threatened him, what did he say? …

He was not ashamed,
he could tell right from wrong
He was not afraid, he could tell false from true

What did Pancras say? What did Pancras do?
What did Pancras say? What did Pancras do?
What did Pancras say? What did Pancras do?

EPILOGUE

Seventeen hundred seconds ago
We began our story of a boy called Pancras

Sometimes we are lonely, sometimes we’re alone
Sometimes we are moving, far away from home

Sometimes we are bullied, sometimes we are strong
Will we do the right thing, right instead of wrong?

Sometimes we are hiding, danger everywhere
Feeling persecuted, feeling very scared

If they come for us, what would we say? what would we do?
If they threaten us, what would we say? what would we do?

Would we be ashamed?
could we tell right from wrong?
Would we be afraid? could we tell false from true?

What would we say? What would we do?
What would I say? What would I do?
What would you say? What would you do?

• choral - high voices accompanied