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 cornfield 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.

Between the acres of the rye,

With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,

These pretty country folks would lie.

In spring time, the only pretty ring time,

When birds do sing, hey ding a ding a ding:

Sweet lovers love in the spring.

And therefore take the present time,

Any with hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,

For love is crowned with the prime

In spring time, the only pretty ring time,

When birds do sing, hey ding a ding a ding:

Sweet lovers love the spring.

_As You Like It_, Act 5, Scene 4