Ageless Words Friday: John Dowland’s “Weep you no more, sad fountains”

For this week’s Ageless Words, I quote again one of John Dowland’s songs; a chanson – c. 1603 – from his Third Booke of Songes.

Weep you no more, sad fountains;

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

Sleeping.

Sleep is a reconciling,

A rest that Peace begets.

Doth not the sun rise smiling

When fair at e’en he sets?

Rest you then, rest, sad eyes,

Melt not in weeping

While she lies sleeping,

Softly, now softly lies

Sleeping.

(Third Booke of Songes, 1600, no.15) [1]

In this piece, Dowland's predilection to grant text rhythms mastery over musical rhythms reaches its zenith. The entire text presents the conceit of a man speaking to his eyes, two sad fountains, telling them how useless it is to weep when their Beloved is asleep and does not notice their tears. Already in the first phrase, Dowland allows the singer's rhythm to wander freely within each measure, as if his very vision were blurred by tears. Yet the effect intensifies. At the close of each stanza, as the text fixates upon the uncaring woman asleep, the composer completely breaks down the musical meter. Seven sequential times the melody sings a descending fourth motive, each time utterly isolated in its rhythm from the similarly disjunct rhythms of the accompanimental lines. Once again, the virtual tears in the text create in Dowland's hands a palpable blurring of the musical reality. Weep you no more, sad fountains has been acclaimed the gem of all Dowland's songwriting.[2]

To listen to some recordings of the song, visit the Classical Archives here, or for more Dowland music, visit their composer page here or visit http://www.johndowland.co.uk/.

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[1] The lyrics quoted here has been taken from the CD booklet of “Songs from the Labyrinth”.

[2] With thanks to the All Music Guide. This paragraph is © 2008 All Media Guide, LLC. All Music Guide is a registered trademark of All Media Guide, LLC.