It was a lover and his lass With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino That o'er the green corn-field did pass In the 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 the spring time, 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 the spring time, the only pretty ring time When birds do sing, hey ding a ding a 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 crownéd with the prime In the spring time, the only pretty ring time When birds do sing, hey ding a ding a ding; Sweet lovers love the spring