Go, nightly cares

Song Meaning

These lyrics open with a desperate plea, as the speaker begs "nightly cares" to cease their torment. An unseen, crushing "weight hath lyne upon my breast," leaving the speaker feeling "of life bereaved quite." It's a raw, immediate expression of profound exhaustion. This initial anguish quickly pivots into a profound rejection of current existence. The speaker welcomes "sweete death," declaring that their current state is "life, no life, a hell." The tension here lies in the speaker's internal battle, moving from a plea for respite to a defiant embrace of an ultimate escape from a world perceived as "false." The striking repetition of the entire first two stanzas isn't merely for emphasis; it suggests a cyclical struggle or a ritualistic declaration of farewell. This structure amplifies the stark contrast between the "grieved sprite" of the opening and the "heavenly true delight" the speaker anticipates in bidding the "false world farewell." It's a powerful, almost incantatory affirmation of their chosen path. The power of these lyrics comes from the speaker's journey from physical and mental oppression to a defiant, almost serene acceptance of an imagined peace. The archaic language lends a timeless gravity to this existential crisis, making the speaker's ultimate declaration of being "Free from thy cares... for ever blest" resonate as a profound, hard-won resolution.