1.
It was a lover and his lass,
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey-nonny-no,
And a hey-nonny-nonny-no,
That o’er the green cornfield did pass,
Chorus (×2):
‖: In the spring-time, :‖ (×3)* the only pretty ring-time,
When birds do sing, ‖: hey ding-a-ding ding, :‖ (×3)
Sweet lovers love the spring.
2.
And therefore take the present time,
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey-nonny-no,
And a hey-nonny-nonny-no,
For love is crownèd with the prime,
Chorus (×2)
3.
Between the acres of the rye,
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey-nonny-no,
And a hey-nonny-nonny-no,
These pretty country folks would lie,
Chorus (×2)
4.
This carol they began that hour,
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey-nonny-no,
And a hey-nonny-nonny-no,
How that a life was but a flower,
Chorus (×2)
* (×2) in the second repeat of the chorus.