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FROGGIE WENT A-COURTIN“Frog Went A-Courtin'” is an English language folk song. Its first known appearance is inWedderburn’s “Complaynt of Scotland” (1548) under the name “The frog came to themyl dur.” There is a reference in the London Company of Stationer’s Register of 1580 to“A Moste Strange Weddinge of the Frogge and the Mouse.” The oldest known musicalversion is in Thomas Ravenscroft‘s “Melismata” in 1611. There are many texts of theballad.Frog rides to ask Miss Mouse to marry him. She is willing but must ask permission ofUncle Rat. Rat’s permission received, the two work out details of the wedding. Someversions end with a cat or other creature devouring the participants. Sometimes the froggets away from the cat but is later swallowed by a duck.Frog went a courtin’ and he did ride, uh-huhFrog went a courtin’ and he did ride, uh-huhFrog went a courtin’ and he did rideWith a sword and a pistol by his side, uh-huh uh-huh uh-huhHe rode right up to Miss Mousie’s door, uh-huhHe rode right up to Miss Mousie’s door, uh-huhHe rode right up to Miss Mousie’s doorGave three loud raps, and a very big roar, uh-huh uh-huh uh-huhSaid Miss Mouse, are you within, uh-huhSaid Miss Mouse, are you within, uh-huhSaid Miss Mouse, are you withinMiss Mousie said, I sit and spin, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huhTook Miss Mousie on his knee, uh-huhTook Miss Mousie on his knee, uh-huhTook Miss Mousie on his knee,Said Miss Mousie, will you marry me, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huhWithout my Uncle Rat’s consent, uh-huhWithout my Uncle Rat’s consent, uh-huhWithout my Uncle Rat’s consent,I wouldn’t marry the President, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huhUncle Rat laughed, and he shook his fat sides, uh-huhUncle Rat laughed, and he shook his fat sides, uh-huhUncle Rat laughed, and he shook his fat sidesTo think his niece would be a bride, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huhUncle Rat went running downtown, uh-huhUncle Rat went running downtownTo buy his niece a wedding gown, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huhWhere shall the wedding supper be, uh-huhWhere shall the wedding supper be, uh-huhWhere shall the wedding supper beWay down yonder in the hollow tree, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huhWhat shall the wedding supper be, uh-huhWhat shall the wedding supper be, uh-huhWhat shall the wedding supper beFried mosquito and a black-eyed pea, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huhFirst to come in was a flyin’ moth, uh-huhFirst to come in was a flyin’ moth, uh-huhFirst to come in was a flyin’ mothShe layed out the table cloth, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huhNext to come in was a juney bug, uh-huhNext to come in was a juney bug, uh-huhNext to come in was a juney bugShe brought in the water jug, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huhNext to come in was a bumbly bee, uh-huhNext to come in was a bumbly bee, uh-huhNext to come in was a bumbly beeSat mosquito on his knee, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huhNext to come in was a broken back flea, uh-huhNext to come in was a broken back flea, uh-huhNext to come in was a broken back fleaDanced a jig with the bumbly bee, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huhNext to come in was Mrs. Cow, uh-huhNext to come in was Mrs. Cow, uh-huhNext to come in was Mrs. CowShe tried to dance but she didn’t know how, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huhNext to come in was a little black tick, uh-huhNext to come in was a little black tick, uh-huhNext to come in was a little black tickShe ate so much it made her sick, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huhNext to come in was the big black snake, uh-huhNext to come in was the big black snake, uh-huhUncle Rat went running downtown, uh-huhNext to come in was the big black snakeAte up all of the wedding cake, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huhNext to come in was the old gray cat, uh-huhNext to come in was the old gray cat, uh-huhNext to come in was the old gray catSwallowed the mouse and ate up the rat, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huhMr.Frog went a-hoppin up over the brooke, uh-huhMr.Frog went a-hoppin up over the brooke, uh-huhMr.Frog went a-hoppin up over the brookeA lily white dove came and swallowed him up, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huhLittle piece of corn bread layin’ on the shelf, uh-huhLittle piece of corn bread layin’ on the shelf, uh-huhLittle piece of corn bread layin’ on the shelfIf you want anymore you can sing it yourself, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh
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https://www.facebook.com/app_scoped_user_id/1203673049655786/ Mark Breedlove