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‘The Struggle My Name is Pan’

sung by Errol Greenidge
composed by Errol Greenidge

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“The Struggle My Name is Pan”
Errol Greenidge
Provided with the expressed permission of the composer(s)

click here for lead sheet

LYRICS

Verse 1

My name is Pan I’m the Mystery Man
My name is Pan music from the garbage can
My name is Pan I was born in Trinidad
We are original in carnival, steel bands and calypso
And limbo.
My name is Pan I’m the Mystery Man
My name is Pan, music from a garbage can,
My name is Pan, I’m a self made man
With all my problems, dirty names people call me
With all my problems, thank God my mommy helped me
Growing up as a little boy playing pan was my joy
I would ask Santa for a pan for my toys
My daddy will object, “playing pan is for bad boys.”

Chorus 1

Pan solo

Verse 2

A boy I was bad I was not
Playing pan was better than smoking pot
I would hide my sticks when I go to practice
To avoid getting licks.
My mommy would say go, but don’t let your daddy know.

Chorus 2

Pan solo

Verse 3

Rain falling, thunder, lightening
I’ll sneak away to go practicing
As being a mystery has caused my suffering
Please ease my pain and put me in the ring so I can play and sing.

Chorus

Pan solo

Verse 4

Pan jamming, rhythm from the iron chiming
Music from the steel symphony vibrating my whole body
Hi people, pan music is roots,
Hi people, this is really the truth
Hi people, I want you to know
That Trinidad and Tobago is steel bands and calypso.

Verse 5

Pan solo

My name is Pan, my name is Pan, my name is Pan
I am the Mystery Man

Verse 6

My name is Pan, my name is Pan, my name is Pan
I am the Mystery Man

Pan solo

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Errol Greenidge

Errol Greenidge was born and grew up on the twin-island republic of Trinidad and Tobago. A precocious young man, Errol always displayed an interest in music and at an early age he became an admirer of the steel pan.

Errol (The Mystery Man-The Singing Pan Man’s) musical roots originated with his father who played several instruments and his uncle who played the steel pan while he was still in the crib; and progressed to his purchase of an Echo Super Vamper harmonica ¡n his early youth. As he grew older, Errol began to play the pan in secret, because playing pan in those days was something that only “bad boys” did. To conceal his activities, he would hide his pan sticks in the waist of his pants under his shirt when he went to practice.

Errol started his own steel band at the age of 12 that played under the sobriquet “Bell Stars”. Throughout his youth, he played for several steel bands in Trinidad, including San Juan All Stars and East Side Symphony where he played the amplified tenor pan under the arranger Renrick Walker. He also tuned and arranged for the Public Transport Bus Company. Eventually Errol (The Mystery Man-The Singing Pan Man) came to the United States to pursue his music interest.

Errol (The Mystery Man-The Singing Pan Man) began composing, writing lyrics, arranging, singing and continued playing the steel pan. He participated at B’s Calypso Castle, on Fulton Street in Brooklyn, NY in 1981 along with other calypsonians including Explainer, Duke, Blueboy and many others. In 1983 Errol competed in the Calypso Tent at The Prestige Caterers ¡n Brooklyn, NY.

Errol was called upon by Carlos Lezama several times to judge and/or adjudicate the Labor Day Panorama at the Brooklyn Museum. The Mystery Man- The Singing Pan Man started teaching young children to play the steel pan throughout the years. In fact, two of those children were the daughter of Ms. Hazel John, Orisha, and Collins who is now a pan arranger in New York City. Errol also played at various charity events.

After many years of being a strong and very involved patriarch, Errol has decided to toss his hat into the ring and pursue his strong musical interest. This Mystery Man — Singing Pan Man has released his current CD that is evocative of his strong love of music and the steel pan. Check out The Struggle - MY Name is Pan today.