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Shakespeare's Sonnet XCI

words and music by Paige Powell    ©2017 Paige E. Powell

1. Some glory in their birth, some in their skill

    Some in their wealth, some in their body’s force

    Some in their garments, though new-fangled ill

Some in their hawks and hounds, some in their horse

Bridge:  And every humour hath this adjunct pleasure

  Wherein it finds a joy above the rest

  But these particulars are not my measure

  All these I better in one general best

   (Intro chords)

2. Thy love is better than high birth to me

    Richer than wealth, prouder than garments cost

    Of more delight than hawks or horses be

    And having thee, of all ladies’* pride I boast

(Bridge)  (Intro chords)

3. Wretched in this alone, that thou mayst take

  All this away, and me most wretched make

Tag:    Wretched in this alone, that thou mayst take

  All this away, and me most wretched make

*Shakespeare says "men's"

The Madrigal style music goes well with Shakespeare's Sonnet XCI (which is number 91). I got it out of my mother's "Complete Works of Shakespeare" she had in college and saved all these years.

As a member of the Songwriters’ Association of Washington (SAW), I often attended the monthly Songwriter’s Toolbox workshop. During one meeting, our president, Jay Keating said he had visited the Folger Library, located in nearby Washington, D.C. and suggested a concert of original songs using Shakespeare’s words, written by SAW members. Jay said they were interested and had been looking for a way to inspire young people with Shakespeare’s works. Responding to the assignment, my mother loaned me her very old “Complete Works of Shakespeare” book from college, with well-worn pages and a black leather cover. The sonnets were downright depressing — until I came to number XCI (number 91), which was a winner! I sing Shakespeare’s sonnet XCI in it’s entirety, repeating lines 5 – 8 as if it were a chorus. I did feel the need to change “men’s” to “ladies” in the 12th line, which I didn’t like doing, but I am a lady who is singing the song.

More about "Shakespeare Sonnet XCI" from Paige's Blog (click on the title)