What is the meaning of the following poem by Thomas Randolph?Music, thou queen of souls, get up and stringThy powerful lute, and some sad...

This poem by Thomas Randolph seems to be a call formusic
to help first ease sorrow and then turn sorrow into joy--and then back to normal.  Music
here is personified (given human characteristics) and the first four lines discuss music
as a way of alleviating some grief or sorrow.  Note the words "requiem," "groan"ing, and
"dull"; even the rocks and hills will echo with the sounds of
grieving. 

Line five brings a change in tone, starting with
the word 'then."  This implies a shift in mood, as if to say once the grieving has been
done, do something else.  Music is told to change the sorrow into joy and it does so
with the use of words like "nimble," "dance," and "caper."  The trees have been
commanded to dance, and even the elm will "foot it." 

The
last two lines also begin with "then," indicating a further change.  The trees of every
kind are dancing.  Music must

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Then, in the midst of all their jolly train,

Strike a sad note, and fix 'em trees
again.

After the joyous music
has uprooted the trees through their dancing, music then has the power to "strike a sad
note" to put those roots back firmly in the ground.  This poem is a commentary, then, on
the power of music to move us.  It can take us from sorrow to joy and back again.  Music
has power.