Breedloves's Folk Songs

FROGGIE WENT A-COURTIN

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  • FROGGIE WENT A-COURTIN
    “Frog Went A-Courtin'” is an English language folk song. Its first known appearance is in
    Wedderburn’s “Complaynt of Scotland” (1548) under the name “The frog came to the
    myl 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 musical
    version is in Thomas Ravenscroft‘s “Melismata” in 1611. There are many texts of the
    ballad.
    Frog rides to ask Miss Mouse to marry him. She is willing but must ask permission of
    Uncle Rat. Rat’s permission received, the two work out details of the wedding. Some
    versions end with a cat or other creature devouring the participants. Sometimes the frog
    gets away from the cat but is later swallowed by a duck.
    Frog went a courtin’ and he did ride, uh-huh
    Frog went a courtin’ and he did ride, uh-huh
    Frog went a courtin’ and he did ride
    With a sword and a pistol by his side, uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh
    He rode right up to Miss Mousie’s door, uh-huh
    He rode right up to Miss Mousie’s door, uh-huh
    He rode right up to Miss Mousie’s door
    Gave three loud raps, and a very big roar, uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh
    Said Miss Mouse, are you within, uh-huh
    Said Miss Mouse, are you within, uh-huh
    Said Miss Mouse, are you within
    Miss Mousie said, I sit and spin, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh
    Took Miss Mousie on his knee, uh-huh
    Took Miss Mousie on his knee, uh-huh
    Took Miss Mousie on his knee,
    Said Miss Mousie, will you marry me, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh
    Without my Uncle Rat’s consent, uh-huh
    Without my Uncle Rat’s consent, uh-huh
    Without my Uncle Rat’s consent,
    I wouldn’t marry the President, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh
    Uncle Rat laughed, and he shook his fat sides, uh-huh
    Uncle Rat laughed, and he shook his fat sides, uh-huh
    Uncle Rat laughed, and he shook his fat sides
    To think his niece would be a bride, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh
    Uncle Rat went running downtown, uh-huh
    Uncle Rat went running downtown
    To buy his niece a wedding gown, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh
    Where shall the wedding supper be, uh-huh
    Where shall the wedding supper be, uh-huh
    Where shall the wedding supper be
    Way down yonder in the hollow tree, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh
    What shall the wedding supper be, uh-huh
    What shall the wedding supper be, uh-huh
    What shall the wedding supper be
    Fried mosquito and a black-eyed pea, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh
    First to come in was a flyin’ moth, uh-huh
    First to come in was a flyin’ moth, uh-huh
    First to come in was a flyin’ moth
    She layed out the table cloth, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh
    Next to come in was a juney bug, uh-huh
    Next to come in was a juney bug, uh-huh
    Next to come in was a juney bug
    She brought in the water jug, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh
    Next to come in was a bumbly bee, uh-huh
    Next to come in was a bumbly bee, uh-huh
    Next to come in was a bumbly bee
    Sat mosquito on his knee, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh
    Next to come in was a broken back flea, uh-huh
    Next to come in was a broken back flea, uh-huh
    Next to come in was a broken back flea
    Danced a jig with the bumbly bee, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh
    Next to come in was Mrs. Cow, uh-huh
    Next to come in was Mrs. Cow, uh-huh
    Next to come in was Mrs. Cow
    She tried to dance but she didn’t know how, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh
    Next to come in was a little black tick, uh-huh
    Next to come in was a little black tick, uh-huh
    Next to come in was a little black tick
    She ate so much it made her sick, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh
    Next to come in was the big black snake, uh-huh
    Next to come in was the big black snake, uh-huh
    Uncle Rat went running downtown, uh-huh
    Next to come in was the big black snake
    Ate up all of the wedding cake, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh
    Next to come in was the old gray cat, uh-huh
    Next to come in was the old gray cat, uh-huh
    Next to come in was the old gray cat
    Swallowed the mouse and ate up the rat, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh
    Mr.Frog went a-hoppin up over the brooke, uh-huh
    Mr.Frog went a-hoppin up over the brooke, uh-huh
    Mr.Frog went a-hoppin up over the brooke
    A lily white dove came and swallowed him up, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh
    Little piece of corn bread layin’ on the shelf, uh-huh
    Little piece of corn bread layin’ on the shelf, uh-huh
    Little piece of corn bread layin’ on the shelf
    If you want anymore you can sing it yourself, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh