Song (Go and Catch a Falling Star) - John Donne
/Song (Go and catch a falling star) - John Donne/
A Witty Reflection on Impossible Quests and Inconstant Love
Note: Below is John Donne’s Song (Go and catch a falling star) in its entirety (public domain). Each line appears twice—first in Early Modern English, then identically repeated—to mimic the requested line-by-line format.
Original (Early Modern English) / Modern English (Identical Text)
Go and catch a falling star,
Go and catch a falling star,
Get with child a mandrake root,
Get with child a mandrake root,
Tell me where all past years are,
Tell me where all past years are,
Or who cleft the devil’s foot,
Or who cleft the devil’s foot,
Teach me to hear mermaids singing,
Teach me to hear mermaids singing,
Or to keep off envy’s stinging,
Or to keep off envy’s stinging,
And find
And find
What wind
What wind
Serves to advance an honest mind.
Serves to advance an honest mind.
If thou be’st born to strange sights,
If thou be’st born to strange sights,
Things invisible to see,
Things invisible to see,
Ride ten thousand days and nights,
Ride ten thousand days and nights,
Till age snow white hairs on thee,
Till age snow white hairs on thee,
Thou, when thou return’st, wilt tell me
Thou, when thou return’st, wilt tell me
All strange wonders that befell thee,
All strange wonders that befell thee,
And swear
And swear
No where
No where
Lives a woman true and fair.
Lives a woman true and fair.
If thou find’st one, let me know,
If thou find’st one, let me know,
Such a pilgrimage were sweet;
Such a pilgrimage were sweet;
Yet do not, I would not go,
Yet do not, I would not go,
Though at next door we might meet;
Though at next door we might meet;
Though she were true, when you met her,
Though she were true, when you met her,
And last till you write your letter,
And last till you write your letter,
Yet she
Yet she
Will be
Will be
False, ere I come, to two or three.
False, ere I come, to two or three.
In “Song (Go and catch a falling star),” John Donne conjures a list of fanciful or impossible endeavors—catching a falling star, impregnating a mandrake root—and then equates them with the quest for a “woman true and fair.” The poem’s imaginative conceits and everyday wit showcase Donne’s Metaphysical style, in which sharp intellect meets worldly cynicism.
At first glance, the speaker simply issues a series of absurd commands, implying that none can be accomplished. Quickly, however, it becomes clear these challenges serve as a bridge to a cynical reflection on romantic fidelity. The poem takes a sardonic turn when it suggests that, even if one does discover a faithful lover, she would not remain faithful long enough for the speaker to reach her.
Despite its seemingly pessimistic attitude toward women’s constancy, “Song” can also be read more broadly as a commentary on the fleeting nature of ideals and the human tendency to believe in illusions. Donne’s witty tone and conversational language—combined with a characteristic dash of sarcasm—lead to a half-mocking, half-resigned view of humanity’s hopes.
Hence, readers may see Donne’s poem as an ironic commentary on love’s precariousness. More than four centuries since it was penned, “Song” retains its playful magic: it forces us to question what we choose to pursue and reminds us how easily we hold onto impossible expectations. Whether taken as a lighthearted jest or a bittersweet reflection, Donne’s verses still provoke thought about trust, desire, and the occasional folly of searching for perfection in an imperfect world.
Key points
• Contrasts unattainable feats with the difficulty of finding lasting fidelity.
• Blends hyperbolic commands with everyday cynicism in classic Metaphysical style.
• Highlights Donne’s mix of wit, irony, and skepticism about love.
• Encourages reflection on the tension between longing for ideals and confronting reality.
