from Twelfth Night, Act V, Scene 1, lines 382-401, by William Shakespeare

from Twelfth Night, Act V, Scene 1, lines 382-401


FESTE (Sings.)

When that I was and a little tiny boy,
     With hey, ho, the wind and the rain,
A foolish thing was but a toy,
     For the rain it raineth every day.

But when I came to man’s estate,
     With hey, ho, the wind and the rain,
’Gainst knaves and thieves men shut their gate,
     For the rain it raineth every day.

But when I came, alas, to wive,
     With hey, ho, the wind and the rain,
By swaggering could I never thrive,
     For the rain it raineth every day.

But when I came unto my beds,
     With hey, ho, the wind and the rain,
With tosspots still had drunken heads,
     For the rain it raineth every day.

A great while ago the world begun,
     With hey, ho, the wind and the rain,
But that’s all one, our play is done,
     And we’ll strive to please you every day.

Source of the text - William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night, or What You Will, edited by Keir Elam.  London: The Arden Shakespeare, 2008, pages 352-354.

TJB: Philosophical nonce; 7 ages of man for dummies. This bit of pure song seems to build up to a profound finish, then dismounts by requesting applause.