Say, Love, If Ever Thou Didst Find

Album: Lute Songs (1594)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Or in Olde English: Say loue if euer thou didst finde...

    With couplets like

    And what should that rare mirror be?
    Some goddess or some queen is she...


    This could be mistaken for a love song, but it is actually an ode to Elizabeth I by John Dowland, whose better-known works include "Come Again." We can be sure it is not a love song because the Virgin Queen was thirty years his senior. It is possible he composed such a sycophantic ode because he was angling for the position of royal lutenist, which came up at Elizabeth's court in 1594. If that was the case, his ploy didn't work, although he did enjoy royal patronage in Denmark, and eventually in England in 1612, by which time Elizabeth had been dead for the best part of a decade. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Phone Booth Songs

Phone Booth SongsSong Writing

Phone booths are nearly extinct, but they provided storylines for some of the most profound songs of the pre-cell phone era.

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About Transgenderism

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About TransgenderismSong Writing

A history of songs dealing with transgender issues, featuring Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Morrissey and Green Day.

Danny Kortchmar

Danny KortchmarSongwriter Interviews

Danny played guitar on Sweet Baby James, Tapestry, and Running On Empty. He also co-wrote many hit songs, including "Dirty Laundry," "Sunset Grill" and "Tender Is The Night."

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New York

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New YorkSong Writing

Can you be married in one country but not another? Only if you're part of a gay couple. One of the first famous singers to come out as a lesbian, Janis wrote a song about it.

Richie McDonald of Lonestar

Richie McDonald of LonestarSongwriter Interviews

Richie talks about the impact of "Amazed," and how his 4-year-old son inspired another Lonestar hit.

Kevin Godley

Kevin GodleySongwriter Interviews

Kevin Godley talks about directing classic videos for The Police, U2 and Duran Duran, and discusses song and videos he made with 10cc and Godley & Creme.