Flow my tears

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For the Philip K. Dick novel, see Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said.

Flow my tears is a lute song (specifically, an "ayre") by the accomplished lutenist and composer John Dowland. Flow my tears is Dowland's most famous ayre,[1] and became his signature song, literally as well as metaphorically: he would occasionally sign his name "Jo. Dolandi de Lachrimae". Like others of Dowland's lute songs, Flow my tears' form and style are based on a dance, in this case the pavan. It was first published in The Second Booke of Songs or Ayres of 2, 4. and 5. parts (London, 1600). The song begins with a falling tear motif, starting on an A and descending to an E by step on the text "Flow my tears". This may have been borrowed from an Orlande de Lassus motet or Luca Marenzio madrigal, in addition to other borrowings in the piece.[2] Anthony Boden calls the song "probably the most widely known English song of the early 17th century."[3]

There have been many instrumental versions of this song, most entitled Lachrimae (or Lachrymae, literally "tears"). In this case the instrumental version was written first, as Lachrimae pavane in 1596, and lyrics were later added.[4] It is believed that the text was written specifically for the music, and may have been written by Dowland himself.[5] Lachrimae exists in over 100 manuscripts and printings in different arrangements for ensemble and solo.[6] The Lachrimaes tend to be much more abstract than other music based on dance forms of the time, and do not completely follow the structure of the standard pavan in terms of length of phrases; they are also more contrapuntal.[7]

Instrumental versions by Dowland include Lachrimae for lute, Galliard to Lachrimae for lute and Lachrimae antiquae (1604) for consort. Dowland also published Lachrimae or Seaven Teares (London, 1604), a collection of consort music which included a cycle of seven Lachrimae pavans, which were based on the falling tear motif, but were less related to Flow my tears. Thomas Morley set the "Lacrimae Pauin" for the six instruments of a 'broken consort' in his First Booke of Consort Lessons (London, 1599).

More composers have written pieces based on both the Lachrimae and Flow my tears, including Victoria Bond who wrote "Old New Borrowed Blues (Variations on Flow my Tears)",[8] and Thomas Tomkins,[9] while John Danyel's Eyes, look no more pays clear homage to the piece,[10] as does John Bennet's Weep, O Mine Eyes.[11]

[edit] Text and recording

Flow, my tears, fall from your springs!
Exiled for ever, let me mourn;
Where night's black bird her sad infamy sings,
There let me live forlorn.
Down vain lights, shine you no more!
No nights are dark enough for those
That in despair their lost fortunes deplore.
Light doth but shame disclose.
Never may my woes be relieved,
Since pity is fled;
And tears and sighs and groans my weary days
Of all joys have deprived.
From the highest spire of contentment
My fortune is thrown;
And fear and grief and pain for my deserts
Are my hopes, since hope is gone.
Hark! you shadows that in darkness dwell,
Learn to contemn light
Happy, happy they that in hell
Feel not the world's despite.

[edit] References

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Greer
  2. ^ Holman
  3. ^ Boden, pg. 322
  4. ^ Greer
  5. ^ Caldwell, pg. 429, note
  6. ^ Holman
  7. ^ Holman
  8. ^ Bonaventura
  9. ^ Boden, pg. 323
  10. ^ Scott
  11. ^ Brown
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