It was a lover and his lass

General information

Lyricist: William Shakespeare

Settings by composers

• Thomas Morley SATB, SST, SAT or T solo with lute.

Original text and translations

English text

1. It was a lover and his lass,
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonny no,
That o'er the green cornfields did pass.
In spring time, the only pretty ring time,
When birds do sing, hey ding-a-ding-a-ding;
Sweet lovers love the spring.

2. Between the acres of the rye,
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonny no,
These pretty country folks would lie,
In spring time,...

3.This carol they began that hour,
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonny no,
How that a life was but a flower
In spring time,...

4.Then, pretty lovers, take the time
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonny no,
For love is crownéd with the prime
In spring time, ...