John Dowland
John Dowland
John Dowland
John Dowland
John Dowland
John Dowland
John Dowland
John Dowland
John Dowland
John Dowland
John Dowland
John Dowland
John Dowland
John Dowland
John Dowland
John Dowland
John Dowland
John Dowland
John Dowland
John Dowland
John Dowland
John Dowland
A lute
“Flow My Tears” is an aire (“ayre”) or lute song composed by late English renaissance lutenist and composer John Dowland (1563-1626). It was originally composed as an instrumental under the name Lachrimae pavane in 1596, and became Dowland’s signature tune. It is believed that Dowland wrote...
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 condemn light
Happy, happy they that in hell
Feel not the world's despite.