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".
- Extensive list of settings at E. Ezust's www.lieder.net
Settings by composers
- William Armiger SATB
- Joseph Barnby SATB, with TB divisi (vv1,3 & 4)
- Josiah Booth SATB (4th verse begins,"And therefore take the present time.")
- George Alexander Macfarren SATB (4th verse begins,"And therefore take the present time.")
- Thomas Morley voice, lute & bass viol; variously arranged for SATB, SST, SAT
- Charles Hubert Hastings Parry S solo, with piano
- Richard John Samuel Stevens SSATB (vv. 1,4; 4th verse begins,"And therefore take the present time.")
- Eva Toller SSAATTBB
- John Whittaker 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,…