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Now, Oh now, I needs must part

The Frog galliard and the song "Now, Oh now, I needs must part" share the same music by John Dowland. It is thought that Dowland harmonised an existing melody rather than composed music from scratch.
 
 
Now, oh now I needs must part,
Parting though I absent mourn.
Absence can no joy impart;
Joy once fled cannot return;
Sad despair doth drive me hence;
This despair unkindness sends.
If that parting be offence,
It is she which then offends.


Dear when I from thee am gone,
Gone are all my joys at once,
I lov'd thee and thee alone,
In whose love I joyed once.
And although your sight I leave,
Sight wherein my joys do lie,
Till that death doth sense bereave,
Never shall affection die.
Sad despair doth drive me hence;
This despair unkindness sends.
If that parting be offence,
It is she which then offends.


Dear, if I do not return,
Love and I shall die together.
For my absence never mourn
Whom you might have joyed ever;
Part we must though now I die,
Die I do to part with you.
Him despair doth cause to lie
Who both liv'd and dieth true.
Sad despair doth drive me hence;
This despair unkindness sends.
If that parting be offence,
It is she which then offends.

 
The music you hear is "the Frog Galliard" which is in simple binary form with repeats played twice, and so does not quite match the layout of the words opposite which require the form ABAABAAB