One lute song is called `` Flow My Tears '' . A very well-known instrumental work is Lachrimae ( the Latin word for `` tears '' ) , a set of seven songs for five viols and lute , each based on the tune of his song `` Flow My Tears . '' He later wrote what is probably his best known instrumental work , Lachrimae , or Seaven Teares , Figured in Seaven Passionate Pavans , a set of seven pavanes for five viols and lute , each based on the theme derived from the lute song `` Flow my tears '' .