“Lily’s Eyes” is a pivotal song from the musical drama The Secret Garden, based on the Frances Hodgson Burnett classic of the same name. The song was composed by Lucy Simon. The musical revolves around a ten year old girl named Mary Lennox who discovers herself and a means to happiness. Lily lives with her uncle Archibald after losing her family and friends to cholera. However, Archibald is deeply in mourning over the loss of his beloved wife Lily, and Mary is warned she may never see him. However, willful and determined she will upset any expectations of the house members. She is determined to enter Lily’s garden which is secretive and has been walled off since her death. Mary cannot find a key for the garden and asks for a “bit” of earth. This request catalyzes powerful memories in Archibald. With a storm raging outside, he and his brother, Dr. Neville Crane sing “Lily’s Eyes.” The song is about how Mary reminds them of Lily and also represents Neville’s confession that he, too, loved his brother’s wife.
“Lily’s Eyes” is a duet that was performed at the concert by Rico Serbo and James Sergi. The two men perform the song powerfully. Archibald’s performance is powerful and resonant. His mood during the duet mirrored a man’s who might be experiencing not only the loss of his irreplaceable beloved, but also the powerfully beautiful but poignant mood of rediscovery of that love in Mary’s eyes. His deep baritone voice and somber but poignant mood greatly enhanced the piece. The brother’s performance was good because the tones of his tenor voice were perfectly suited to a man who is also experiencing a loss and recognizing the rediscovery of love and life in Mary’s eyes. It is perfect, because, lighter than the baritone of Archibald it is more accurate of a man’s sense of loss who has only loved a woman from afar. His loss is not as great as Arch
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