I Cannot Tell

by Traditional
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Lyrics

I can not (C)tell

how he whom an gels (F6)wor ship

should stoop to (C)love

the peo ples of the (Gsus4)earth,

or why as (C)shep

herd he should (C7)seek the (F6)wand ’rer with (F)his mys (G)te (C)ri

(F)ous (C)pro mise (F)of new (C)birth.

But this I (C)know

that (F)he was born of (C)Ma ry

when (G9)Beth l’em’s (C)man

ger (F)was his on ly (D7)home,

and that he (C7)lived

at (F9)Na za reth and (C7)la (F)boured

and (D7)so the (C)Sa viour, Sa viour (G)of the world is (C)come.

I can not

(C)tell

how he whom an gels (F6)wor ship

should stoop to (C)love

the peo ples of the (Gsus4)earth,

or why as (C)shep

herd he should (C7)seek the (F6)wand ’rer with (F)his mys (G)te (C)ri

(F)ous (C)pro mise (F)of new (C)birth.

But this I (C)know

that (F)he was born of (C)Ma ry

when (G9)Beth l’em’s (C)man

ger (F)was his on ly (D7)home,

and that he (C7)lived

at (F9)Na za reth and (C7)la (F)boured

and (D7)so the (C)Sa viour, Sa viour (G)of the world is (C)come.

I Cannot Tell β€” Piano Accompaniment Track

4 people have learned this song

Free piano accompaniment for "I Cannot Tell" by Traditional. Sing along or play your instrument over the backing piano. Toggle the vocal melody on/off, change key to fit your voice, adjust tempo. Key of C, 66 BPM.

Tip: Press play and sing the melody on top of the piano. If the original key (C) sits too high or low for your voice, use the transpose control to shift the accompaniment into a comfortable range β€” the backing moves with you. Need a pitch reference? Tap the mic icon to bring the vocal melody in.

Try other practice modes:

About β€œI Cannot Tell”

How do the bar-notation visuals help sing "I Cannot Tell" with this backing?
Each chord change drops as a colored bar across the staff, scrolling in real time so you can see exactly when the harmony shifts. Helpful for hitting entrances and judging when to breathe β€” especially on phrases that don't begin on beat 1 of "I Cannot Tell".
What key is the piano accompaniment for "I Cannot Tell" by Traditional in?
The backing track is in C at 66 BPM. If that doesn't sit in your vocal range, use the live transpose control to shift up or down semitones β€” the accompaniment moves with the new key automatically.
Can I sing over "I Cannot Tell" with this accompaniment?
Yes β€” that's exactly what it's built for. The vocal melody is muted by default so you can sing freely. Need a pitch reference? Tap the mic icon to bring the melody back in at a lower volume.
Is this a karaoke version of "I Cannot Tell"?
Effectively yes β€” it's the piano-only backing for "I Cannot Tell", with no vocals. You can also slow it down to practice tricky verses, then bring it back to full tempo.
Can I use "I Cannot Tell" as a backing track for my instrument?
Absolutely. Singers, guitarists, violinists, wind players, and instrumental practice in general all work β€” the piano holds the harmony so you can carry the melody on whatever instrument you play.
Can I download the accompaniment for "I Cannot Tell"?
Yes β€” registered users can download MIDI + MusicXML (open in any notation software). PDF sheet music is also available for the full arrangement.
Who wrote "I Cannot Tell"?
"I Cannot Tell" was originally performed by Traditional. This piano accompaniment is an arrangement of that song, designed for sing-along and play-along use.
What other backing tracks by Traditional are available?
Other accompaniments by Traditional: "All Through The Night", "Don't Dilly Dally On The Way", "La Cucaracha (The Cockroach)". Same toggle-the-melody, change-the-key setup.
How do I use "I Cannot Tell" as a backing track?
Just press play β€” the piano accompaniment runs from start to end, no vocals. Sing, hum, or play your own instrument over it. Use the mic icon to add a vocal melody as a pitch reference, and the speed control if you want a slower practice tempo.
Can I change the key of "I Cannot Tell" to fit my voice?
Yes β€” the original is in C, but the player has a live transpose control so you can shift up or down semitones until the melody sits in your vocal range. The piano accompaniment moves with the new key automatically.

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