It was a lover and his lass
General information
Lyricist: William Shakespeare Song from As You Like It Act V, Scene 3, sung by two pages at the request of Touchstone. In Shakespeare's First Folio verse 4 begins "And therefore take the present time", Morley's First Book of Ayres (1600) reading "Then, pretty lovers, take the time".
External websites:
- Extensive list of settings at E. Ezust's www.lieder.net
Notes on selected settings
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Settings by composers (automatically updated)
- William Armiger — Shakespeare Songs 1: It was a lover and his lass English SATB
- Joseph Barnby — It was a lover and his lass English SATB
- Josiah Booth — It was a lover and his lass English SATB
- George Alexander Macfarren — It was a lover and his lass English SATB
- Thomas Morley — It was a lover and his lass English Solo high
- Charles Hubert Hastings Parry — A Spring Song, Op. 21 no. 2 English S
- Richard John Samuel Stevens — It was a lover and his lass English SSATB
- Eva Toller — It was a lover and his lass English SSAATTBB
- John Whittaker — It was a lover and his lass English SATB
- David Christmas Williams — It was a lover and his lass English SATB
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,…