It was a lover and his lass

IT was a lover and his lass,
         With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,        
           X sound: It was a lover and his lass,P.D.Q.Bach.mp3
That o'er the green corn-field did pass,                             
X sound: It was a lover and his lass,Cleo Laine.mp3
         In the spring time, the only pretty ring time,
When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding;
Sweet lovers love the spring.

Between the acres of the rye,
         With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,
These pretty country folks would lie,
         In the spring time, the only pretty ring time,
When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding;
Sweet lovers love the spring.

This carol they began that hour,
         With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,
How that life was but a flower
         In the spring time, the only pretty ring time,
When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding;
Sweet lovers love the spring.

And, therefore, take the present time
         With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,
For love is crownèd with the prime
         In the spring time, the only pretty ring time,
When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding;
Sweet lovers love the spring.

 

William Shakespeare