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Owen Woodson Lyr Add: The Frog's Wedding (36) RE: Lyr Add: The Frog's Wedding 25 Aug 12


Wasp, not mouse. Sting.

The version in question comes from Packie Byrne of Corkemore, Donegal and was recorded by him on EFDSS Folk Classics LP 1009.

At some point, I think at a Sidmouth folk festival in the early 1980s, Len Graham learned it from Packie, and he subsequently recorded it on Claddagh        LP CC 41; Ye Lovers All. Indirectly, it will be from one of those two sources that the guffoons in the Youtube video learned it.

Here's the text as Packie sang it on the LP. The refrain lines were omitted from the booklet text, so I've filled in what I think I hear him singing.

The Frog's Wedding

Now a frog set out to woo a mouse
Follow the rink callery oh
A frog set out to woo a mouse
And so he went to the mouse's house.
Follow the rink callery oh
A tant a ta ree a farandy

Saying "Young Miss Mouse will you marry me"
Saying "Young Miss Mouse will you marry me"
"I will if my Uncle Rat agrees"

When Uncle Rat came home that noon
Saying "Who's been here since I left home".

"Well indeed there's been a nice young man,
And I will marry him if I can".

"Well that is very good news my dear,
And we will soon have music here".

Now the first came in was a bumble bee
With his fiddle upon his knee.

And the next came in was a big black snail
With his bagpipes on his tail.

Then the next to come in were two little white dogs
Dressed in breeches, collars and clogs.

Well now that we're all in very good cheer
We're going to have some dancing here.

So they tapped it out with their toes and heels
Sets and hornpipes, jigs and reels.

When little Miss Wasp got up to sing
She touched the fiddler with her sting

Then who came in but a big tom cat
He caught Miss Mouse, he broke her back.

Then poor Mr. Frog did croak and moan
He went sadly home and lived alone.


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