Digital Tradition Mirror

Fortune My Foe

(This score available as ABC, SongWright, PostScript, PNG, or PMW, or a MIDI file)
Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

Fortune My Foe

Fortune, my foe, why dost thou frown on me?
And will my favours never greater be?
Wilt thou, I say, forever breed me pain?
And wilt thou ne'er restore my joys again?

Fortune hath wrought me grief and great annoy;
Fortune has falsely stole my love away.
My love and joy, whose sight did make me glad;
Such great misfortunes never young man had.

Appeared in the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book (ca 1550-1620) in a
setting by Byrd. Referred to in Shakespeare (Merry Wives)
RG

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!