From: Lily, Act II, Scene I
Category: Opera Aria
Instrumentation: voice, piano
Original Scoring: Voice and orchestra
Arrangement: Piano part arranged from the orchestral score
Duration: 4.5 minutes

How Can These Hands is sung by Lily after she finds herself forced to work in a hat shop. Confronted with the practical demands of labor, she realizes that she does not possess the skills required for the work now expected of her.

The aria reveals Lily’s displacement from the social world she once knew and the harsh reality of her changing circumstances. Baxter’s setting gives voice to her humiliation, confusion, and vulnerability while maintaining the lyrical intensity of the opera’s vocal writing.

This aria requires dramatic sensitivity and emotional honesty. The singer should convey Lily’s shock and helplessness while preserving the musical line and dignity of the character.