Flow, my tears

Like others of Dowland's lute songs, the piece's musical 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 Orlando di Lasso motet or Luca Marenzio madrigal (this type of motif was common in Elizabethan music to signify grief), in addition to other borrowings in the piece. Anthony Boden calls the song "probably the most widely known English song of the early 17th century." ==Variants==

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. ==Lyrics==

{{Verse translation|lang=emen|italicsoff=yes Exilde for euer: Let mee morne Where nights black bird hir sad infamy sings, There let mee liue forlorne. Downe vaine lights shine you no more, No nights are dark enough for those That in dispaire their last fortuns deplore, Light doth but shame disclose. Neuer may my woes be relieued, Since pittie is fled, And teares, and sighes, and grones my wearie dayes, my wearie dayes, Of all ioyes haue depriued. Frōm the highest spire of contentment, My fortune is throwne, And feare, and griefe, and paine for my deserts, for my deserts, Are my hopes since hope is gone. Harke you shadowes that in darcknesse dwell, Learne to contemne light, Happie, happie they that in hell Feele not the worlds despite. 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 last 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, 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, 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. == In other media ==

Lines 8–10 are quoted in the 1974 Philip K. Dick novel Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said, the title of which is also an allusion to the song. ==Footnotes==