This edition was prepared by David Fraser — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Disdaine me still
Staff Notation • Secular, Lute songs
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Disdaine me still by John Dowland — Lyrics
Disdaine me still, that I may ever love,
For who his Love injoyes, can love no more.
The warre once past with ease men cowards prove:
And ships returnde, doe rot uppon the shore.
And though thou frowne, Ile say thou art most faire:
And still Ile love, though still I must despayre.
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About Disdaine me still
John Dowland's Disdaine me still offers a captivating solo medium voice line, supported by an SATB choral arrangement. This English secular lute song explores the complex emotions of unrequited love. The text poignantly argues that desire, and indeed love itself, flourishes most intensely when not fully realized. The singer declares that true affection is sustained by a degree of longing and even despair, rather than immediate gratification. The music reflects this sentiment, with the vocal part often set against a richer harmonic backdrop from the choir, creating a delicate interplay that underscores the lyrical themes of devotion and the pain of distance. The piece beautifully captures the Renaissance sensibility towards love's delicate balance.
