Sing, Michael, Sing!
In the glade by the forest with the knot-knit tree,
By the bush with the nettles sings a bumblebee,
And the song that he buzzes sang by you or me
Would go hey and a ho and a hey-nonny-no,
With a hey-nonny-nonny-nonny-no.
I was taught by my masters how the world to dread,
And indeed when I looked for death I found things dead,
Though I passed through the lives of men and heard it said
That a hey and a ho and a hey-nonny-no,
With a hey-nonny-nonny-nonny-no.
Not at once, though I wished it, did the joyous noise
Of the clear-sounding bell of hope above me poise;
Still, I walked as I waited while some wise-faced boys
Went a hey and a ho and a hey-nonny-no,
With a hey-nonny-nonny-nonny-no.
Well, I saw that the storm that brings the tearing rain
Feeds the weeds in the garden and the low’ring grain;
With the day came a blessing and my heart would fain
Sing a hey and a ho and a hey-nonny-no,
With a hey-nonny-nonny-nonny-no.
Where there’s life, there is pain; well, I’ve often heard it told,
And in faith it is true, but the truth alone is cold;
Where there’s pain there is life, and so give us life to hold,
While a hey and a ho and a hey-nonny-no,
With a hey-nonny-nonny-nonny-no.
I have stopped by the river for my lute to strum,
And now that I’m waiting love is sure to come,
Love for me, love forever, love for everyone,
With a hey and a ho and a hey-nonny-no,
I sing hey-nonny-nonny-nonny-no.