This edition was prepared by Stefan Schwarz — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Awake, Sweet Love
Staff Notation • Secular, Lute songs
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2 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
SATB · Brian Russell
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Awake, Sweet Love by John Dowland — Lyrics
1. Awake, sweet love, thou art return'd:
My heart, which long in absence mourn'd,
Lives now in perfect joy.
Let love, which never absent dies,
Now live for ever in her eyes,
Whence came my first annoy.
Only herself hath seemed fair:
She only I could love,
She only drave me to despair,
When she unkind did prove.
Despair did she make me wish to die;
That I my joys might end:
She only, which did make me fly,
My state may now amend.
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About Awake, Sweet Love
John Dowland's Awake, Sweet Love is a beautiful example of English secular part-music from the lute song era. This SATB arrangement captures the intimate and expressive nature of the original. The music reflects the text's journey from sorrow and despair in absence to the profound joy of reunion. The composer masterfully portrays the lover's intense emotions, moving from the depths of woe when his beloved proved unkind, to the ultimate happiness upon her return. The interplay of the four voices creates a rich texture, supporting the poignant narrative of enduring love and its eventual, triumphant reward. It is a testament to Dowland's skill in setting words to music.
