Lyr Add: Whether Men Do Laugh Or Weep

Subject: Lyr Add: Whether Men Do Laugh Or Weep
From: Stewart
Date: 20 May 03 - 01:54 PM

WHETHER MEN DO LAUGH OR WEEP
Philip Rosseter (c.1568-1623)

Whether men do laugh or weep,
Whether they do wake or sleep,
Whether they die young or old,
Whether they feel heat or cold,
There is underneath the sun,
Nothing in true earnest done.
There is underneath the sun,
Nothing in true earnest done.

All our pride is but a jest,
None are worst, and none are best,
Grief, and joy, and hope, and fear,
Play their pageants everywhere,
Vain opinion all doth sway,
And the world is but a play.
Vain opinion all doth sway,
And the world is but a play.

Pow'rs above in clouds do sit,
Mocking our poor apish wit,
That so lamely with such state,
Their high glory imitate,
No ill can be felt but pain,
And that happy men disdain.
No ill can be felt but pain,
And that happy men disdain.

Philip Rosseter (c.1568-1623) English composer. "A member of the Chapel Royal in 1604. In 1610 with Robert Jones he acquired a license to present plays at the Whitefriars Theatre. His fine lute songs appeared in 1601 a joint publication of 42 songs with Thomas Campion, whose close friend he was. His songs were of the light and lively rather than the serious and profound character. He was represented in Morley's Consort Lessons of 1599."

TUNE: Click Here

Recorded: "Lute Songs" - Peter Pears (Tenor), Julian Bream (Lute),
London Treasury STS5 15556

Cheers, S. in Seattle