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 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 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 spring time, the only pretty ring time, When birds do sing, hey ding a ding a ding; Sweet lovers love the spring. Then, pretty lovers, take the time With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino, For love is crownéd 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.