Composer

:

John Dowland

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song: Lute Song

Compose Date

:

1603

Publication Date

:

1603

Average_duration

:

3:36

"Me, me, and none but me" is a lute song composed by John Dowland, a prominent English Renaissance composer and lutenist. The song was composed in the late 16th century and was first published in Dowland's collection of lute songs, "The Second Booke of Songs or Ayres" in 1600. The song is written in the key of G minor and consists of four verses, each with a refrain of "Me, me, and none but me." The melody is simple and melancholic, with a slow and mournful tempo that reflects the song's themes of loneliness and despair. The lyrics of "Me, me, and none but me" express the speaker's feelings of isolation and abandonment. The first verse begins with the lines "Me, me, and none but me, / Deserving no reproach, / Alone must bear and be / The martyr of my own approach." The speaker laments that they are alone and must suffer the consequences of their own actions without anyone to share the burden. The second verse continues in a similar vein, with the speaker expressing their desire for companionship and love. "Yet love, if some despair, / Doth not the same remove; / O sweet despair, where care / Himself doth ease, and soothe, and love." The speaker acknowledges that love can bring despair, but also recognizes its power to ease pain and provide comfort. The third verse takes a darker turn, with the speaker contemplating death and the afterlife. "Yet if I die despairing, / No comfort will be sought, / And if I do despairing, / My soul shall suffer nought." The speaker suggests that death may be a release from their suffering, but also acknowledges that despair may follow them into the afterlife. The final verse returns to the theme of loneliness, with the speaker resigning themselves to their fate. "Then hence, fond thoughts, vain wishes, / And fruitless cares, adieu; / For love, I find, wishes, / And sighs, and tears, are but vain, and fruitless too." The speaker recognizes that their desires for love and companionship are futile and chooses to let go of them. Overall, "Me, me, and none but me" is a poignant and introspective song that reflects Dowland's skill as a composer and his ability to capture complex emotions in his music. Its themes of loneliness, despair, and the search for love and companionship continue to resonate with audiences today.

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