Lincoln Cathedral

Publisher: Cypress Choral Music

Year: 2021

For: SATB with Piano

Duration: 5:00

Lincoln Cathedral was commissioned by the Nova Scotia Choral Federation
with support from the Estate of Robbie Smith, as part of the Robbie Songs Project – a Nova Scotian songwriter’s legacy.

For this beautifully poignant song, I brought in a gentle and floating piano accompaniment that reharmonizes some of the melody differently from Robbie’s original harmonies. I have a few different ideas about who the narrator of my arrangement could be, and encourage performers to come up with their own interpretation and meaning. To help with this, I also suggest listening to the original recording by Naming the Twins, Robbie and Kathleen’s duo group, to compare and contrast with my arrangement. You can find recordings of both of these below.

This arrangement is available from Cypress Choral Music. I have two other arrangements available of music by Robbie Smith: Let’s have some music (also available from Cypress), and Spanish Fisherman, available here on laurahawley.ca.

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View/listen to a rolling score video prepared by Cypress

Listen to the recording by the Cypress Studio Singers
Cypress Choral Music ·

Listen to the original recording by Naming the Twins

Words by Robbie Smith

I heard you were married in Lincoln Cathedral
Crowds in the courtyard, bells in the steeple
Carted and carried and brought to the altar
Kissed by your mother, held by your father
Over and over I read your reply -
heard you deny, the love that once filled your eyes
A love that could never die - so brightly it filled your eyes
How could it ever die, how could it ever die?

Proudly they hailed you in Lincoln Cathedral
The rich and the hungry, young and the feeble
Voices proclaiming undying devotion
Power and glory spanning the ocean

Further and further we drifted apart
Hoping ‘til now that somehow I’d touched your heart

Oh Lincoln Cathedral -ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
Oh Lincoln Cathedral - ah -ah.

Leaving the gateway of Lincoln Cathedral
Off to his palace stately and regal
Chandelier crystal and goblets of silver
Deep spacious rooms where candle-lights filter
Servants awaiting your every command
But you must obey the one who has claimed your hand

Oh Lincoln Cathedral the kingdom applauds
A gift to your people and a blessing from God

Now the great halls are silent in Lincoln Cathedral
Cloistered in darkness safe from the people
And far in the distance a princess is weeping
Hiding a letter still in her keeping
Bound by tradition she’ll sleep by his side
His choice was made and so she must be his bride
Now she must be his bride keeping the truth deep inside
Now she must be his bride - casting her love aside