Blandine
November 3, 2025 - 5:14pm — Kfmiller
St. Blandine (162-177) was a fifteen-year-old slave who was arrested by Roman authorities for following Christ. When she refused to give up her faith, she was sentenced to death in an arena. When lions refused to attack her, the soldiers inflicted burns on her then allowed her to be trampled to death by bulls. Blandine’s place of martyrdom, the Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaules, still stands in Lyon, France – the spot where she died is marked by a simple pillar. Her feast day is June 2.
Instrumentation: Voice, accordion, mandolin
Duration: 2’30”
(NOW)
Gm C
A tourist, lost in the city’s back streets
Gm C
Asks directions from everybody he sees
E♭m7 D7 C
But it’s hard when you don’t know the words
Fm C Gm
Or even where you want to go
(177 AD)
Gm C
A slave girl heard the Word and saw the Light
Gm C
But the rulers didn’t want that light to shine
E♭m7 D7 C
So they sent her away to prison
Fm C Gm
And from there to the arena
(NOW)
Gm C
Time passes but he’s no closer to found
Gm C
Frustration hits – he curses every step he takes.
E♭m7 D7 C
He’s out of money and out of range
Fm C Gm
And the sky turns three o’clock dark
(177 AD)
Gm C
The lions left the frail chained girl alone
Gm C
So they burned her and the crowd roared in delight
E♭m7 D7 C
They put the dying slave in a net
Fm C Gm
Then let the wild bulls run loose
(NOW)
Gm C
The rain starts when he’s just a block away
Gm C
Past the corner he sees the ancient stone seats,
E♭m7 D7 C
Reads her story and looks through the fence
Fm C Gm
To see a pillar in the dirt
(177 AD/NOW)
Gm C
As she left, pain lost to a soaring joy
Gm C
Then the tourist feels the rain suddenly stop
E♭m7 D7 C
The girl rose past the crowd and its noise
Fm C Gm
And the tourist now knows his way
(Sheet music attached - please feel free to use. If you would, though, just let me know when you do so. Thanks.)
MP3 Music Playlist:
- Blandine min.mp3
Instrumentation: Voice, accordion, mandolin
Duration: 2’30”
(NOW)
Gm C
A tourist, lost in the city’s back streets
Gm C
Asks directions from everybody he sees
E♭m7 D7 C
But it’s hard when you don’t know the words
Fm C Gm
Or even where you want to go
(177 AD)
Gm C
A slave girl heard the Word and saw the Light
Gm C
But the rulers didn’t want that light to shine
E♭m7 D7 C
So they sent her away to prison
Fm C Gm
And from there to the arena
(NOW)
Gm C
Time passes but he’s no closer to found
Gm C
Frustration hits – he curses every step he takes.
E♭m7 D7 C
He’s out of money and out of range
Fm C Gm
And the sky turns three o’clock dark
(177 AD)
Gm C
The lions left the frail chained girl alone
Gm C
So they burned her and the crowd roared in delight
E♭m7 D7 C
They put the dying slave in a net
Fm C Gm
Then let the wild bulls run loose
(NOW)
Gm C
The rain starts when he’s just a block away
Gm C
Past the corner he sees the ancient stone seats,
E♭m7 D7 C
Reads her story and looks through the fence
Fm C Gm
To see a pillar in the dirt
(177 AD/NOW)
Gm C
As she left, pain lost to a soaring joy
Gm C
Then the tourist feels the rain suddenly stop
E♭m7 D7 C
The girl rose past the crowd and its noise
Fm C Gm
And the tourist now knows his way
(Sheet music attached - please feel free to use. If you would, though, just let me know when you do so. Thanks.)
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Blandine min.pdf | 66.42 KB |
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Comments
Now and 177 AD
I like the juxtaposition of now vs. then (177 AD). I have used a similar device in some of my writings.
Very interesting narrative. I hope you can get someone to sing this.
"The girl rose past the crowd and its noise" – a great line. A view of her ascent.
Richard Schletty | Schletty Design and Music | www.schletty.com
Thanks very much