Thomas Morley - “It was a Lover and his Lass“ - Christoph Genz

Thomas Morley (1575 - 1602) It was a lover and his lass Christoph Genz, Tenor Michael Freimuth, Laute It was a lover and his lass, With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino That o’er the green [corn-field]1 did pass. In [the]2 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]3 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. ]4 [This carol they began that hour, With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino, How that [a life]5 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.]4 [And therefore take the present time]6 [With]7 a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino, For love is crownéd