Nothing but the Blood in Tonic Solfa
Nothing but the Blood in Tonic Solfa to PLAINFIELD: the solfa with the words, staff notation, the six verses and the refrain, and a piano.
The solfa with the words
| dWhat-dcan-dwash-ra-- | mway-smy-msin?--- |
| dNoth-dingdbutrthemblood-mof- | rJe----dsus;--- |
| dWhat-dcan-dmake-rme- | mwhole-sa--mgain?--- |
| dNoth-dingdbutrthemblood-mof- | rJe----dsus.--- |
| sOh!---mpre--rcious- | mis-sthe-mflow--- |
| rThat---rmakes-dme- | rwhite-ras-msnow-s_- |
| sNo---moth--rer- | mfount-sI-mknow,--- |
| dNoth-dingdbutrthemblood-mof- | rJe----dsus.--- |
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- Key
- G major
- Doh
- G
- Time
- 4/4
- Starts on
- d (G)
- Range
- d to s (G to D, a fifth)
- Tune
- PLAINFIELD
- Words
- Robert Lowry
- Music
- Robert Lowry
Tune PLAINFIELD by Robert Lowry (1826–1899); words by Robert Lowry (1826–1899). Sources and licences.
The solfa line by line
The same solfa as plain text, a line of the hymn at a time, with the words of the first verse under it — easy to copy into your own notes or a message to the choir. To print it, download the solfa as a PDF.
Doh is G · 4/4
Staff notation
The melody on the treble staff in G major, with the first verse under the notes.
The staff is drawn here when you scroll to it.
The words
What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Refrain
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
For my pardon, this I see,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my cleansing this my plea,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Nothing can for sin atone,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
This is all my hope and peace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Now by this I’ll overcome—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Now by this I’ll reach my home—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Glory! Glory! This I sing—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
All my praise for this I bring—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
How to sing it from the solfa
- Find doh first. Play or hum G and sing d r m f s up from it, so the whole choir has the key in their ears before you start.
- Pitch the first note. The tune starts on d (G).
- Count the time. 4/4 means four crotchet beats in each bar. In the grid every cell is half a crotchet: a dash (–) holds the note before it, and _ is a rest.
- Know the notes. The tune uses d r m s — only 4 different notes, so it is a good one for a choir new to solfa. A comma after a note (s,) is the octave below; an apostrophe (d') is the octave above.
New to solfa? Read how to read Tonic Solfa and how to find the doh of a song.
About the hymn
Robert Lowry wrote both the words and the tune; the song was published in 1876.
- Words (1876): Robert Lowry (1826–1899)
- Music (1876): Robert Lowry (1826–1899)
Tune PLAINFIELD by Robert Lowry (1826–1899); words by Robert Lowry (1826–1899).
Questions about Nothing but the Blood
What is the doh of Nothing but the Blood?
In this version, in G major, doh is G. If your choir sings it in another key, doh moves to the new key note and every solfa syllable stays the same — that is what movable doh means.
What note does Nothing but the Blood start on?
It starts on d (G in G major). Find doh first, then sing up or down to d.
Is Nothing but the Blood in the public domain?
Yes. Robert Lowry died in 1899, Robert Lowry died in 1899; the words were first published in 1876 and the music in 1876. Everyone named died before 1955 and both were published before 1929, so the hymn is out of copyright in the UK, the EU, the United States and Nigeria. Modern arrangements and translations can still be under copyright.