Released: October 10, 2006
Featuring: Edin Karamazov
Songwriter: John Dowland
Producer: Edin Karamazov Sting
[Verse 1]
Can she excuse my wrongs with Virtue's cloak?
Shall I call her good when she proves unkind?
Are those clear fires which vanish into smoke?
Must I praise the leaves where no fruit I find?
No, no, where shadows do for bodies stand
Thou may be abused if thy sight be dimmed
Cold love is like to words written on sand
Or to bubbles which on the water swim
[Chorus 1][x2]
Wilt thou be thus abused still
Seeing that she will right thee never?
If thou can't not overcome her will
Thy love will be thus fruitless ever
[Verse 2]
Was I so base, that I might not aspire
Unto those high joys which she holds from me?
As they are high, so high is my desire
If this she deny, what can granted be?
If she will yield to that which reason is
It is reason's will that love should be just
Dear, make me happy still by granting this
Or cut off delays if that I die must
[Chorus 2][x2]
Better a thousand times to die
Than for to live thus still tormented
Dear, but remember it was I
Who for thy sake did die contented
Can she excuse my wrongs with Virtue's cloak?
Shall I call her good when she proves unkind?
Are those clear fires which vanish into smoke?
Must I praise the leaves where no fruit I find?
No, no, where shadows do for bodies stand
Thou may be abused if thy sight be dimmed
Cold love is like to words written on sand
Or to bubbles which on the water swim
[Chorus 1][x2]
Wilt thou be thus abused still
Seeing that she will right thee never?
If thou can't not overcome her will
Thy love will be thus fruitless ever
[Verse 2]
Was I so base, that I might not aspire
Unto those high joys which she holds from me?
As they are high, so high is my desire
If this she deny, what can granted be?
If she will yield to that which reason is
It is reason's will that love should be just
Dear, make me happy still by granting this
Or cut off delays if that I die must
[Chorus 2][x2]
Better a thousand times to die
Than for to live thus still tormented
Dear, but remember it was I
Who for thy sake did die contented
more tracks from the album
Songs from the Labyrinth
- Can She Excuse My Wrongs?
- ...And Accordinge As I Desired Ther Cam a Letter...
- ...Men Say That the Kinge of Spain Is Making Great Preparation...
- Walsingham
- The Most High and Mighty Christianus the Fourth, King of Denmark, His Galliard
- ...From Thence I Went to the Landgrave of Hessen...
- Fantasy
- Forlorn Hope Fancy
- ...And from Thence I Had Great Desire to See Italy...
- ...After My Departure I Caled to Mynde Our Conference
- ...Then in Time Passing on Mr. Johnson Died...’
- Ryght Honorable: As I Have Bin Most Bounde Unto Your Honor...
- Weep You No More, Sad Fountains
- Flow, My Tears (Lachrimae)
- Have You Seen the Bright Lily Grow
- The Lowest Trees Have Tops
- Fine Knacks for Ladies
- Come, Heavy Sleep
- Come Again
- Wilt Thou Unkind Thus Reave Me
- Clear or Cloudy
- In Darkness Let Me Dwell
- My Lord Willoughby’s Welcome Home
From the albums
- Songs from the Labyrinth (2006)
- B-Sides & Rarities (2007)
Sting popular songs
- Shape of My Heart
- Englishman in New York
- Desert Rose
- Fields of Gold
- Fragile
- Russians
- It’s Probably Me
- If I Ever Lose My Faith in You
- Brand New Day
- Seven Days
- Mad About You
- A Thousand Years
- Soul Cake
- I Can’t Stop Thinking About You
- If You Love Somebody Set Them Free
- All This Time
- When We Dance
- If It’s Love
- The Last Ship
- Fortress Around Your Heart
- Children’s Crusade
- Moon Over Bourbon Street
- Synchronicity I
- Giacomo’s Blues