"Lilly of the Valley" - New Birth Brass Band

SONG: “Lilly of the Valley” (PDF)
ALBUM: New Orleans Second Line!
YEAR: 2006
LABEL: Mardi Gras Records

The lily appears throughout the Catholic tradition as a symbol of, essentially, new birth. The virgin-white flower blossoming among its scorned surroundings suggests a ray of hope and beauty from a glorified provider, as celebrated in the fleur de lis. A reassurance that all this too shall pass, placing one’s faith in the lily of the valley is an act of defiant strength.

Recommended reading: Roll With It: Brass Bands in the Streets of New Orleans by Matt Sakakeeny. Published by Duke University Press.