Simon of Cyrene:
Step by step and step by stumble
on the long, long way
How did I come to this?
Lugging lumber! Chafes and cuts!
First that wooden cross was his,
now it’s mine, I must be nuts.
Hey, you there! Simon of Cyrene!
He stumbled down in pain.
Then some Romans drew me near,
said before I could complain:
"Help this loser over here!"
Hey, you there, Simon of Cyrene!
Fine! Let me make the climb,
bear his cross. I can, I will.
He will get it back in time
on the execution hill.
Text: Hendrik Jan Bosman, 2014
Music: Willibrord Huisman, 2014
Translation: Hendrik Jan Bosman, 2017
On the way they met a man from Cyrene named Simon, and they forced him to carry Jesus' cross.
This part is set for a single choir SATB, walking very slowly.