The Elizabethan madrigal had the characteristics of the English popular poetry of the 16th century, but was also influenced by Italian literature and music. John Dowland’s poetry is melancholic and desperate. The context is quite morbid, and the composer used two different polyphonic patterns. The homophony enhances the quiet and peaceful aspect of the 6/8 times. The rhythm of a lullaby is similar to the idealised vision of death. This is an easy sheet music to sing. However, you should be careful to sing long sections correctly and right to the end. The rhythm of the penultimates measures of each part have to be accurate for the hemiola. Be careful to the ancient spelling like “I needs” instead of “I need.”