Gerald Finzi — It was a lover and his lass

It was a lover and his lass With a hey and a ho and a hey nonino That o'er the green cornfields did pass In springtime The only pretty ring time When birds do sing Hey ding a ding a 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 springtime The only pretty ring time When birds do sing Hey ding a ding a ding Sweet lovers love the spring This carol they began that hour With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino How that a life was but a flower In springtime 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 springtime The only pretty ring time When birds do sing Hey ding a ding a ding Sweet lovers love the spring