This edition was prepared by James Gibb — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Come, lovers, follow me
Staff Notation • Secular, Madrigals
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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.
SSAT · Brian Russell
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Come, lovers, follow me by Thomas Morley — Lyrics
Come, lovers, follow me,
and leave this weeping, follow me,
see where the lovely god sweetly lies asleeping;.
Soft then, softly for fear we wake him,
and to his bow he take him,
O then if he but spy us,
whither shall we then fly us?
And if he come upon us,
Out well away,
then are we woebegone us.
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About Come, lovers, follow me
Thomas Morley's Come, lovers, follow me is a secular English madrigal for SSAT voices. The text paints a vivid, playful scene, urging lovers to follow the sleeping god of love. It describes a delicate dance of caution and desire, with a growing sense of urgency as the singers warn of the potential consequences should the god awaken. The music would have reflected this dramatic narrative, moving from gentle persuasion to a more rapid, almost panicked, conclusion. This piece exemplifies the intricate part-writing and expressive word-painting characteristic of the English madrigal tradition.
