Very little is known of Dowland's early life, but it is generally thought he was born in London, or possibly Dublin. It is known that he went to Paris in 1580 where he was in service to the ambassador to the French court. He became a Roman Catholic at this time, which he claimed led to his not being offered a post at Elizabeth I's Protestant court. (However, he had told nobody of his conversion.) He worked instead for many years at the court of Christian IV of Denmark. He returned to England in 1606 and in 1612 secured a post as one of James I's lutenists. He died in London on the 20th February 1626.
Most of Dowland's music is for his own instrument, the lute. It includes several books of solo lute works, lute songs (for one voice and lute), part-songs with lute accompaniment, and several pieces for viol consort with lute.
He later wrote what is probably his best known instrumental work, Lachrimae or Seaven Teares Figured in Seaven Passionate Pavans, a set of seven for five viols and lute, each based on his well-known song "Flow My Tears". It became one of the best known pieces of consort music in his own time. His pavane "Lachrymae antiquae" was also one of the big hits of the seventeenth century.
Dowland's music often displays the melancholia that was so fashionable in music at that time, typified by a consort piece with the punning title "Semper Dowland, semper dolens" ("Always Dowland, always doleful").
Weep you no more sad fountains
John Dowland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What need you flow so fast?
Look how the snowy mountains
Heaven's sun doth gently waste.
But my sun's heavenly eyes
View not your weeping,
That now lies sleeping
Softly, now softly lies
Sleep is a reconciling,
A rest that peace begets:
Doth not the sun rise smiling
When fair at even he sets?
Rest you then, rest, sad eyes,
Melt not in weeping,
While she lies sleeping
Softly, now softly lies
Sleeping.
In John Dowland's song 'Weep you no more', the singer urges the sad fountains to stop shedding tears because his love is now in a peaceful state. He compares her peaceful state to that of the snowy mountains, which are gently wasted by the sun. However, the singer mentions that his love's heavenly eyes cannot see the sadness of the fountains as she is peacefully sleeping. The song says that sleep is a reconciling thing that brings peace, just like how the sun sets peacefully and rises smiling the next day. The singer urges his sad eyes not to weep and rest while his love is sleeping.
Line by Line Meaning
Weep you no more, sad fountains;
Stop crying, my dear sad friend.
What need you flow so fast?
Why do your tears come out so fast?
Look how the snowy mountains
Observe how gracefully the beautiful snow-covered mountains
Heaven's sun doth gently waste.
Fade away slowly at dusk, under the gentle rays of the sun of heaven
But my sun's heavenly eyes
But the eyes of my beloved, who is the sun for me
View not your weeping,
Do not see your tears now
That now lies sleeping
As she lies asleep
Softly, now softly lies
Sleeping calmly, so gentle
Sleep is a reconciling,
Sleep restores harmony and peace
A rest that peace begets:
A peaceful rest that creates even more peace
Doth not the sun rise smiling
The sun does not rise with joy and tenderness
When fair at even he sets?
When it disappears like beauty fades away in the evenings?
Rest you then, rest, sad eyes,
Take a rest now, my friend with sad eyes.
Melt not in weeping,
Do not dissolve in your tears
While she lies sleeping
While she is lying sleeping now
Softly, now softly lies
Sleeping quietly, peaceful
Contributed by Christian R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@cousinjk
I never thought I'd hear Deller surpassed in the singing of Dowland, but Paul Agnew has done it with his ravishing tone and subtle expression.
@majskolvish
My teacher showed me this when I was studying culture and idea history - I fell in love at once and still listen to it 4 years later.
@maxgregorycompositions6216
Deeply melancholy.
@Diana-km5qj
Thank you for showing the notes and words as the music plays. It makes me appreciate the artistry even more.
@likeatide
How beautifully this song and singer creates a paradox—to move me to tears! Thank you for this posting!
@bertrammeyer6620
Beautiful voice! And the correct dynamics! WOW!
@ikathiggs13
Beautiful phrasing, tone and dynamics ❤️
@raywatts81
So beautiful and haunting. Paul Agnew such a beautiful rendition of this song. You've inspired me to sing again. Thank you.
@velvetchiharu
Damn, it’s been years when are we getting this one on Spotify 😔😔
@summercelestia
What a beautiful voice!