IT WAS A LOVER AND HIS LASS
From Act V, Scene 3 of "As You Like It" (1598)
(William Shakespeare / Arthur Young)

Maxine Sullivan (with Claude Thornhill & His Orch.) - 1938
Bob Crosby & His Orch. - 1939
Ken "Snakehips" Johnson & His West Indian Orch.
(vocal: Al Bowlly & The Henderson Twins) - 1940
Martha Tilton - 1943
Cleo Laine - 1976




As recorded by MAXINE SULLIVAN, March 1st 1938, New York:

It wa a lover and his lass,
With a hey, with a ho, with a hey nonino,
And a hey noni nonino.
That o'er the green cornfields did pass,
In Springtime, in Springtime,
In Springtime, the only pretty ring time;
When birds do sing,
Hey ding a ding a ding,
Hey ding a ding a ding,
Hey ding a ding a ding,
Sweet lovers love the Spring!

This carol they began that hour
With a hey, with a ho, with a hey nonino,
And a hey (hey hey) noni nonino.
How that life was but a flower
In Springtime, in Springtime,
In Springtime, the only pretty ring time;
When birds do sing,
Hey ding a ding a ding,
Hey ding a ding a ding,
Hey ding a ding a ding,
Sweet lovers love the Spring!

They and pretty lovers take the time
With a hey, with a ho, with a hey nonino,
And a hey noni nonino.
For love is crown-ed with the prime
In Springtime, in Springtime,
In Springtime, the only pretty ring time;
Birds do sing,
(Hey ding a ding a ding),
Hey ding a ding a ding,
(Hey ding a ling a ling),
When lovers love the Spring!
Goodnight!


(Contributed by Peter Akers - January 2011)


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As recorded by AL BOWLLY & THE HENDERSON TWINS
at the Café De Paris, London:

AL BOWLLY:
It was a lover and his lass
With a hey and a ho and a hey nonny no
That o'er the green cornfields did pass
In the Springtime, the Springtime, the only pretty ring time
When birds do sing, hey-ding-a-ding-ding
Sweet lovers love the Spring

Between the acres of the rye
With a hey and a ho and a hey nonny no
These pretty country folks would lie
HENDERSON TWINS:
In the Springtime, the Springtime, the only pretty ring time
When birds do sing, hey-ding-a-ding-ding
Sweet lovers love the Spring

AL BOWLLY:
This carol they began the hour
With a hey and a ho and a hey nonny no
How that a life was but a flower
HENDERSON TWINS
In the Springtime, the Springtime the only pretty ring time
When birds do sing, hey-ding-a-ding-ding
Ding-a-ding-a-ding-a, sweet lovers love the Spring

AL BOWLLY:
And, therefore, take the present time
With a hey and a ho and a hey nonny no
For love is crowned with the prime
HENDERSON TWINS:
In the Springtime, whoa Springtime, the only pretty ring time
When birds do sing, hey-hey-a-ding-a-ding-a, a-ding-a-ding-ding
AL BOWLLY:
Ooh, sweet lovers love the Spring
HENDERSON TWINS:
Sweet lovers love the Spring


(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - October 2012)


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