Andreas Scholl (born November 10, 1967) is a countertenor, a male classical… Read Full Bio ↴Andreas Scholl (born November 10, 1967) is a countertenor, a male classical singer in the alto range. He specialises in Baroque music. His range is akin to that of the celebrated 18th century alto castrato, Senesino, for whom Georg Friedrich Händel wrote his greatest alto roles. Fanfare magazine says: "There are more excellent countertenors before the public today than ever before, but one stands out above all others, as Caruso among tenors a century ago: Andreas Scholl". In 2005, Scholl was the first countertenor ever to be invited to sing solo at The Last Night of the Proms in London.

Black Is The Colour
Andreas Scholl Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Black is the colour of my true love's hair
Her lips are like a rose so fair
She's got the sweetest face and the gentlest hands
I love the ground whereon she stands

I love my love and well she knows
I love the ground whereon she goes
And how I wish the day would come

When she and I can be as one

Black is the colour of my true love's hair
Her lips are like a rose so fair
She's got the sweetest face and the gentlest hands
I love the ground whereon she stands

I go to the Clyde and mourn and weep
Satisfied I never will sleep
I'll write her a letter, just a few short lines
And suffer death ten thousand times

Black is the colour of my true love's hair
Her lips are like a rose so fair

She's got the sweetest face and the gentlest hands
I love the ground whereon she stands

Overall Meaning

The song "Black is the Colour" is a classic Scottish folk song that has been passed down from generation to generation. The song speaks of a deep and abiding love for a woman with black hair and a sweet face. The opening lines of the song set the stage for the rest of the lyrics, as they describe the color of the woman's hair and the beauty of her lips. The second verse describes the depth of the singer's love for his true love, saying that he loves the ground where she stands.

The third verse shifts in tone and talks about the singer's longing for the day when he and his true love can be together. The fourth verse is a mournful lament, as the singer goes to the Clyde River to mourn and weep for his love. He speaks of writing her a letter and suffering death ten thousand times just to be together with her.

The song is a beautiful expression of true love and the depth of emotion that it can evoke. The lyrics are simple but heartfelt, and the melody is hauntingly beautiful. It is a song that speaks to the human experience of love and longing, and has been covered by many artists over the years.

Line by Line Meaning

Black is the colour of my true love's hair
My true love has hair as dark as the night sky.

Her lips are like a rose so fair
My true love's lips are as beautiful as the fairest rose.

She's got the sweetest face and the gentlest hands
My true love has a kind and gentle presence, with hands as soft as a feather.

I love the ground whereon she stands
I deeply adore my true love and every place where she sets foot.

I love my love and well she knows
My love for her is strong and she is aware of it.

I love the ground whereon she goes
Everywhere she walks is special to me for it is graced by her presence.

And how I wish the day would come
I yearn for the day we can be wed.

When she and I can be as one
I long for the moment we can be united as a couple.

I go to the Clyde and mourn and weep
I visit the river Clyde and grieve, letting my tears flow.

Satisfied I never will sleep
I am never content or at ease without my true love.

I'll write her a letter, just a few short lines
I will pen a letter to her, although brief, to express my love.

And suffer death ten thousand times
I would endure any amount of pain or suffering for my beloved.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PINA KOLLARS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Eva R. B.

BLACK IS THE COLOR

Black is the Colour Black is the colour of my true love's hair.
Her face is something wond'rous fair
The clearest eyes and the dearest hands.
I love the grass whereon she stands.
I love my love and well she knows,
I love the grass whereon she goes
And still I hope the time will come When she and I will be as one.
Black is the colour of my true love's hair.
Her face is something wond'rous fair
The clearest eyes and the dearest hands.
I love the grass whereon she stands.

All comments from YouTube:

Alejandra Vernon

11y↑9

This is so absolutely exquisite. I'm not a folk "purist;" a work of art should stand on its own without being compared to something else. This arrangement has its own beauty. It's a singular interpretation, and Scholl takes us to a brand new place with his voice.

Akito

5y↑5

There's something so so beautiful about this that I can even say what.....

Michael Miller

5y↑1

A beautiful arrangement

Edmund StAustell

12y↑2

Some time ago I put up a video of "Barbara Allen Through the Ages" You might find it interesting. I had three versions of the song...the first by Andreas Scholl, the second by Joan Baez, and the third by Mac Wiseman, the country/folk singer. It explores, by its nature, some of the issues you raise.

Edmund StAustell

12y

I never quarrel, my friend, because I never make the mistake of thinking that my judgments are always right:-) There is much to what you say, and I basically agree with you. When we get into very old songs that are included under the general rubric of "folk," arrangements always come into play. The originals would be stark and plain indeed, but certainly authentic. If the song has been sung constantly for centuries, constant "modernizing" arrangements can eventually play havoc with them!

Rachel Macdonald

6y↑2

Love your music... Greetings from Scotland ..

tingleykid

12y

Oh dear! Edmund. I fear we are about to have our first serious quarrel . First I must declare my interests. I adore Herr Scholl's voice, greatly admire his wonderful pronunciation of English, and love his interpretations of most of the ancient, "British" songs. Also, one of my sons has frequent professional dealings with him. Having said that, this item is all wrong. The lush, inappropriate orchestration is overwhelming and he just sings the notes with almost no interpretive accents.

anselmonadir

13y

Fine interpretation ... Appalachian area have very strong and interesting music history.

Paul Ostroff

13y↑2

Awesome! TY for posting.

Helen

Wonderful!! Wundervoll! Danke!

Matthew Cating

11y↑5

I've never heard such pedantic debate over something so perfect.

Eva R. B.

Paul Ostroff

13y

Awesome! TY Edmund for posting.

Maurizio Degani

Wunderbar!!!

Edmund StAustell

11y↑3

Thank you!

Edmund StAustell

11y

Thank you very much; and Happy New Year!

Edmund StAustell

12y

@evony24 Thank you very much. Yes, it's very pretty indeed!

tingleykid

12y

Thank you kind sir, I thought I might have been struck off your list! I have no rooted objection to modernisation done with care and judgement but the sheer lushness of this orchestration seems to my ears to detract from the performance. Perhaps that is why Scholl, most unusually I think, seems not to be as interested in a thought-out interpretation as we have come to expect. (Your first sentence is so characteristic of you that I should have anticipated your reaction. Sorry, and goodnight.

tingleykid

12y

It was most encouraging to read your assessment of the treatment Scholl gives to this ancient song. A month ago I posted a comment which said I felt the orchestration was completely wrong and Scholl sang without attention to the meaning of the lyrics, however no-one else seemed to find anything wrong with it (although Edmund himself found merit in the argument) so I thought I must be mistaken. Have you heard John Jacob Niles' version? It, and scores of others seem closer to the mark than this.

tingleykid

12y

D'accord. Merci.

tingleykid

12y

P.S. and with regard to the first line of your last reply - long ago my wife threatened to have a sign made for my staff to nail on the wall behind my desk. It read "I MAY HAVE MANY FAULTS BUT BEING WRONG IS NOT ONE OF THEM". It brought me back to earth then and still does all these years later when I get uppity and my dear girl reminds me of her threat. Goodnight again.

carolineleiden

I heard a soprano in the making, only 19 years old, do this at a school recital. She still had a natural quality to her voiceand you could hear a pin drop. The whole room was captivated in a magical moment.
Two years later she was a trained soprano and technically very good, but the unique magic of the pure voice of that girl in sneakers and jeans was gone. It was a disappointment. The moral: do not mess with some beautiful natural voice. You take away the personal touch that makes it stand out in a crowd.

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