My Love

The Passionate Shepherd to His Love
Christopher Marlowe

My Love
Justin Timberlake

Come live with me and be my love,
And we will all the pleasures prove
That hills and valleys, dale and field,
And all the craggy mountains yield.

There will we sit upon the rocks,
And see the shepherds feed their flocks,
By shallow rivers to whose falls
Melodious birds sing madrigals.

There I will make thee beds of roses
And a thousand fragrant posies,
A cap of flowers, and a kirtle
Embroider'd all with leaves of myrtle;

A gown made of the finest wool
Which from our pretty lambs we pull;
Fair linèd slippers for the cold,
With buckles of the purest gold;

A belt of straw and ivy buds,
With coral clasps and amber studs;
And if these pleasures may thee move,
Come live with me, and be my love.

Thy silver dishes for thy meat
As precious as the gods do eat,
Shall on an ivory table be
Prepared each day for thee and me.

The shepherd swains shall dance and sing
For thy delight each May-morning:
If these delights thy mind may move,
Then live with me and be my love.

Ain't another woman that can take your spot my-

If I wrote you a symphony,
Just to say how much you mean to me (what would you do?)
If I told you you were beautiful
Would you date me on the regular (tell me, would you?)
Well, baby I've been around the world
But I ain't seen myself another girl (like you)
This ring here represents my heart
But there's just one thing I need from you (say "I do")

[Chorus:]
Yeah, because
I can see us holding hands
Walking on the beach, our toes in the sand
I can see us on the countryside
Sitting on the grass, laying side by side
You could be my baby, let me make you my lady
Girl, you amaze me
Ain't gotta do nothing crazy
See, all I want you to do is be my love
(So don't give away) My love
(So don't give away) My love
(So don't give away) Ain't another woman that can take your spot, my love
(So don't give away) My love
(So don't give away) My love
(So don't give away) Ain't another woman that can take your spot, my love

Ooooh, girl
My love
My love

Now, if I wrote you a love note
And made you smile with every word I wrote (what would you do?)
Would that make you want to change your scene
And wanna be the one on my team (tell me, would you?)
See, what's the point of waiting anymore?
Cause girl I've never been more sure (that baby, it's you)
This ring here represents my heart
And everything that you've been waiting for (just say "I do")

[Chorus:]
Yeah, because
I can see us holding hands
Walking on the beach, our toes in the sand
I can see us on the countryside
Sitting on the grass, laying side by side
You could be my baby, let me make you my lady
Girl, you amaze me
Ain't gotta do nothing crazy
See, all I want you to do is be my love
(So don't give away) My love
(So don't give away) My love
(So don't give away) Ain't another woman that can take your spot, my love
(So don't give away) My love
(So don't give away) My love
(So don't give away) Ain't another woman that can take your spot, my love

Ooooh, girl
My love
My love

[T.I.'s rap:]
Alright it's time to get it JT
I don't know why she hesitates for man
Shorty, cool as a fan
On the new once again
But, still has fan from Peru to Japan
Listen baby, I don't wanna ruin your plan
If you got a man, try to lose him if you can
Cause the girls worldwide throw their hands up high
When they wanna come kick it wit a stand up guy
(Trust me) You don't really wanna let the chance go by
'cause you ain't been seen wit a man so fly
Baby friends so fly I can go fly
Private, cause I handle my B.I.
They call me candle guy, simply because I am on fire
I hate to have to cancel my vacation so you can't deny
I'm patient, but I ain't gonna try
You don't come, I ain't gonna die
Hold up, what you mean, you can't go why?
Me and your boyfriend we ain't no tie
You say you wanna kick it when I ain't so high?
Well, baby it's obvious that I ain't your guy
Ain't gon' lie, I feel your space
But forget your face, I swear I will
St. Bart, St. Bulla anywhere I chill
Just bring wit me a pair, I will

[Chorus:]
I can see us holding hands
Walking on the beach, our toes in the sand
I can see us on the countryside
Sitting on the grass, laying side by side
You could be my baby, let me make you my lady
Girl, you amaze me
Ain't gotta do nothing crazy
See, all I want you to do is be my love
(Love) My love
(Love) My love
(Love) Ain't another woman that can take your spot, my love
(Love) My love
(Love) My love
(Love) Ain't another woman that can take your spot, my love

Ooooh, girl
My love
My love

Analysis

First off, this was a toughie. Music isn't my strong suit, so the idea proposed to me of relating a Marlowe poem to a contemporary musical artist was daunting. But, as my wonderful griflriend suggested, Justin Timberlake (of all the people on planet Earth) came out with a song not too long ago that had some pretty reasonable similarities to a particularly famous poem.

Personality wise, I would be astounded to find any commonalities. But one thing is very much common between these two forms of art - both are basically love poems by people writing about their complete infatuation towards someone. Bloody hell, there's even moments were the lyrics and poem share similar scenery: outdoorsy. Marlowe writes about sheep and attending to his regular outside chore life but yet enjoying some nice food time, and Timberlake references a peaceful walk barefoot on the peace; walking across the countryside.

Both infuse a sense of beauty in the environment, a tranquility brought about by this presence. And a nice thing to say about Timerlake - and it's nice to say something positive in lieu of negative in this day 'n age of singers - he seems to be more romantic about the subject instead of the more blatant, 2007-2009 "Yo, I wanna sex you! Sex! Sex! Sex! Sex you up! Sex you up on my dirty hump! Did I mention I like sex?" Now, granted, I don't really listen to his music and therefore am unfamiliar if that is his usual routine, but for "My Love", there's a nice reprieve of the everyday, usual fare.

Wow. That was difficult. Almost gasping for straws there. But c'mon, you gotta give me some credit - there's similarities! 

It's a understatement to say that pinpointing a musical artist to a man like Marlowe, who exelled at making tragedies and being all philosophical with his plays, without stretching it a little. At least with "The Passionate Shepherd to His Love", a poem that exudes nothing but serenity and affection, it can have more commonalities with artists who go that route instead of the 2009 example above. It's okay if any and all credibility I had went bye-bye. Thanks for reading. 

A.P. Simon