Leave My Love Alone

Lyrics Based on Shakespeare Sonnet 66

Music by Charles Wolff

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Shakespeare's Text

Tired with all these, for restful death I cry,
As, to behold desert a beggar born,
And needy nothing trimm'd in jollity,
And purest faith unhappily forsworn,
And guilded honour shamefully misplaced,
And maiden virtue rudely strumpeted,
And right perfection wrongfully disgraced,
And strength by limping sway disabled,
And art made tongue-tied by authority,
And folly doctor-like controlling skill,
And simple truth miscall'd simplicity,
And captive good attending captain ill:
Tired with all these, from these would I be gone,
Save that, to die, I leave my love alone.

Research Notes

My Interpretation

Musical Style Considerations

Lyrical Adaptation

Iambic Pentameter Musical Setting

Adapted Song Lyric

Leave My Love Alone

adaptation and music Copyright 1998 Charles Wolff

When I behold a lonely beggar born,
And empty nothing decked to please the eye,
And purest faith unhappily forsworn,
Tired of all these, for restful death I cry.

When maiden purity is strumpeted,
And gilded honor shamefully misplaced,
And strength by limping sway disabled,
And right perfection wrongfully disgraced,

Tired with all these, from these would I be gone
Save that, to die, I leave my love alone.

When art is tongue-tied by authority
And folly, doctor-like, rules over skill,
And simple truth's miscalled simplicity,
And captive good must bow to captain ill,

Tired with all these, from these would I be gone
Save that, to die, I leave my love alone.

Real Audio Clip


Maintained by: Charles Wolff
Last Updated: 4/9/98