shakespeare?

Question

From the play 'much to do about nothing' what does HEY NONNY-NONNY mean. i have been wondering and have been looking it up on the internet. but it is not much help. any one that can answer this thanks, and please try, it is one of those questions that stays at the back of your mind poping up in the middle of class when the teacher is putting you to sleep. LOL thanks again

Answer 1

There's a very, very good chance this is an old Druidic incantation (like Eenie Meenie Miny Moe or Fee Fie Fo Fum) or a chant that is supposed to be sung.

I think its a nonsense phrase and the whole ditty is a SONG that is SUNG in the play:

Sigh no more, ladies, sigh nor more;
Men were deceivers ever;
One foot in sea and one on shore,
To one thing constant never;
Then sigh not so,
But let them go,
And be you blithe and bonny;
Converting all your sounds of woe
Into. Hey nonny, nonny.

Sing no more ditties, sing no mo,
Or dumps so dull and heavy;
The fraud of men was ever so,
Since summer first was leavy.
Then sigh not so,
But let them go,
And be you blithe and bonny,
Converting all your sounds of woe
Into. Hey, nonny, nonny.


Shakespeare was full of word tricks like this.

Answer 2

hey nonny nonny is folk music and dance, it is associated with may and life, happiness and enjoyment, shakespeare includes quite a few of these songs in his plays, you might want to look up 'a lover and his lass'