Have You Seen But a White Lily Grow?

(Words by Ben Johnson - Music by Robert Johnson, time of James I)

Words:
Have you seen but a white lily grow,
Before rude hands have touch'd it?
Have you mark'd but the fall of the snow,
Before the earth hath smucht it?
Have you felt the wool of beavor?
Or swan's down ever?
Or have smelt of the bud of the briar?
Or the nard of the fire?
Or have tasted the bag of the bee?
O so white,
O so soft,
O so sweet is she, so sweet is she;
O so white,
O so soft,
O so sweet, so sweet, so sweet is she.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• music
• voice
• solos
• piano

[ManonVarendaz]

I'm sorry but even though you have a nice voice you should work on hitting the right notes. I don't mean that you're always off but too often. This ruins the song. This sounds stupid but if you cover your mouth with your hand and lead the sound to one ear it gets a lot better. Of course that's only for practice. It helps hearing yourself like others do and you automatically correct yourself.

[lapianissimo]

@ManonVarendaz - Thank you. I know, and I'm working on it! Thanks for the idea. I do have a hard time hearing it at times, perhaps because I'm concentrating on other things, or perhaps because a note is a bit high for me, or I'm scared of it. I will try your practice tip. :)

[operadiva14]

very good job accompanying yourself. i can't do that but either way. i am currently learning this is song. try using a lighter sounding voice. it sounds like your pushing and it does not sound as pretty as it would with your lovely voice if you make if soft and light. also the scale in the beginning could be fixed a bit, its a bit rough but take a breath b4 lily so that you have enough breath to get to that high f and it would just sound lovely. very nice piano playing

[lapianissimo]

@operadiva14 - Thank you for your tips and all!

[ChrisWatson1664]

You sing beautifully.

The music is by Henry Purcell: this song is one of my favourites. He did other great settings of Elizabethan poets, including Shakespeare's 'Full Fathom Five', but you're probably familiar with that.

[lapianissimo]

Thank you.

No, I've not heard that song; I may look it up sometime.

[TheCelinemusic]

not good its baaaaaaaaaaad sooooooooooo bad i sing this song too an its a beautiful song but you...

[doutoreinstein]

que carreira.. e mais lento

canteei esta no recital de canto da universidade UFCG

ela e realmente linda visite meu canal

[ThePeZiN]

Make it your own as well. Dont Copy..Just sing it your way..

[ThePeZiN]

Well, Im singing this for voice lessons. You have a great voice. Sing with with your mouth open on the Oh so white, oh so soft, oh so sweet,so sweet so sweet is she. you can Hit that F if you will just open you mouth and Belt it. Start really soft with each oh so white and get louder with the every oh so or whatever. Keep tempo right. those are just some tips my voice teacher gave me. (: Great Job though.

[crazy8anana10]

yes it starts like this,

white grows the lily red grows the rose

here lies my laddie see how he grow.

so on. just google the first part and u'll find the lyrics to the song.

[kkallebb]

The music is not by Purcell, it's by Robert Johnson.

[IceyRunescape]

this isn't quite the song i was looking for, but i am glad i found it, it was great =D

if any of you have seen Legend Of The Seeker, Kahlan sings a lullaby to the listener, and it goes i think.. "white grows the lily, red grows the rose" and then it's cut off... i wanted to hear the whole thing, anyone have any ideas?