Origins: Froggy Went A-Courtin'

Subject: froggy went a courtin,, need lyrics, chords
From: chris c
Date: 17 Jun 99 - 02:31 PM

My Dad wants me to play this for him at family reunion anyone out there have the lyrics/chords?

Subject: RE: froggy went a courtin,, need lyrics, chords
From:
Date: 17 Jun 99 - 07:49 PM

David Highland, autoharp & dulcimer player from Austin, has a whole site dedicated to this song. Check it out at http://home.earthlink.net/~highying/froggy/froggy.html

Subject: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: GUEST,Jaina
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 02:59 AM

I am trying to collect as many possible versions of "Froggy Went A-Courtin'" (aka "Mr. Frog Did A-Courtin' Go", etc.) Anyone got any they want to share? Thanks!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: pavane
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 04:51 AM

There are some images of broadsides in the Bodleian Ballad library, don't know whether these versions have been transacribed by anyone Frog in a Cock'd Hat

The Frog in the Cock'd Hat (Partially illegible)

The Frog in the Cock'd Hat

There is also mention of some parodies to the same tune, but the images are missing.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: IanC
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 05:02 AM

Try this ... it's here!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 08:12 AM

Ian C.

Wow!!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: pavane
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 10:19 AM

Here is a parody dated 1809, from the Bodleian Ballad library

Heigho! says Thimble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: pavane
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 10:20 AM

Sorry, not a parody, just a song to the same tune!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: GUEST,masato sakurai
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 12:01 PM

L.W. Payne, Jr. wrote a paper on the song in 1926: "Some Texas versions of The Frog's Courting." The paper appeared in Rainbow in the Morning (Texas Folklore Society, 1926; reprinted Folklore Asssociates, 1965, pp. 5-48). In it there are 20 full Texas versions, along with its brief history and comaprative analysis. See also Peter Kennedy's Folksongs of Britain & Ireland (Cassell, 1975, no. 294) for bibliograpny and discography.

Subject: Lyr Add: FROG WENT A-COURTIN'
From: GUEST,B in Northern Ontario
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 07:46 PM

FROG WENT A-COURTIN’

Frog went a-courtin’ he did ride, hmm (2x)
Frog went a-courtin’ he did ride
Sword and his pistol by his side, hmm

Rode right up to Miss Mouse’s door, hmm (2x)
He rode right up to Miss Mouse’s door
Gave three raps and a very loud roar, hmm

Said he, “Miss Mouse, are you within?”...
“Yes, kind sir, I sit and spin.”...

He took Miss Mousie on his knee....
Said, “Miss Mouse, will you marry me?”...

“Without my Uncle Rat’s consent...
I wouldn’t marry the president.”...

Uncle Rat he laughed and shook his fat sides...
To think his niece would be a bride....

Uncle Rat went a-runnin’ down to town...
To buy his niece a wedding gown....

Where shall the wedding supper be?...
Way down yonder in a hollow tree....

What shall the wedding supper be?...
A fried mosquito and a black eyed pea....

First to come in was a flying moth....
She laid out the tablecloth....

Next to come in, a juney bug...
A-carryin’ a water jug....

Next to come in was a bumberly bee,...
Set his fiddle on his knee....

Next to come in was a broken-backed flea,...
A-dancin’ a jig with the bumberly bee....

Next to come in was Mrs. Cow,...
Tried to dance but didn’t know how....

Next to come in was a little black tick....
He ate so much it made him sick....

Next to come in was Dr. Fly....
Said Mr. Tick would surely die....

Next to come was a big black snake....
He ate up all the wedding cake....

Next to come in was an old gray cat....
She swallowed the rat and ate up the rat....

Mr. Frog went a-jumpin’ over the brook....
A lily white duck came and swallowed him up....

Little piece of cornbread lying on the shelf....
If want any more you can sing it yourself....

Subject: Lyr Add: THE MARRIAGE OF THE FROGGE AND THE MOUSE
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 02 Feb 02 - 06:19 PM

I can't resist posting this. Copied from the link posted by IanC above (with some editing):

THE MARRIAGE OF THE FROGGE AND THE MOUSE

'Twas the Frogge in the well,
Humble dum, humble, dum.
And the merrie Mouse in the Mill,
Tweedle, tweedle, twino.

The Frogge he would a woing ride...
Sword and a buckler by his side...

When he was upon his high horse set...
His boots they shone as blacke as jet...

When he came to a merry mill pin...
Lady Mouse beene you within?...

Then came out the dusty Mouse...
"I am Lady of this house,"...

"Hast thou any minde of me?"...
"I have e'ne greate minde of thee,"...

Who shall this marriage make?...
Our Lord which is the rat...

What shall we have to our supper?...
Three beanes in a pound of butter...

When supper they were at...
The Frog, the Mouse, and even the Rat...

Then came in gib our cat...
And catcht the mouse even by the backe...

Then did they separate...
And the frog leapt on the floore so flat...

Then came in Dicke our Drake...
And drew the frogge even to the lake...

The Rat run up the wall...
A goodly company, the divell goe with all...

[From "Melismata - Musicall Phansies Fitting the Court, Citie, and Countrey Humours, To 3, 4, and 5 Voyces," London, 1611.]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: masato sakurai
Date: 02 Feb 02 - 07:30 PM

The original pages of Melismata are HERE, with modern edition. Scroll down to "21. It was the Frogge in the well" (pages 37-38).
~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Feb 02 - 08:00 PM

It's Roud# 16 in Steve Roud's folk song index. I gave up counting the number of versions he has listed when I got to 300.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: raredance
Date: 02 Feb 02 - 10:24 PM

I've always been excited by the genetic ramifications of the lexicon of interspecific breeding songs.

rich r

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: E.T.
Date: 03 Feb 02 - 01:06 AM

Version I learned had an odd chorus:

Frog went a courtin' he did ride, Ring-tum body mich-i-cambo. Sword and buckler by his side, Ring-tum body mich-i-cambo. Ti-maria down to cairo, ti-maria cai-ri-o. Rattle-bd-tl-lattl-bd-tl-lattl-bd-tl-lattl-bd-tl-linkum Rinkum bodi mich-i-cambo!

(phonetically here since I had it on tape).

There was an interesting article somewhere about "nonsense" lyrics and tracing them back to their original words. Any input? (Curiosity killed the cat).

Elaine.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: masato sakurai
Date: 03 Feb 02 - 06:29 AM

David G. H. Parsons wrote a paper on Canadian variants, which is online: The History of 'The Frog's Courtship': A Study of Canadian Variants (The Canadian Journal for Traditional Music, 1990)
~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: masato sakurai
Date: 03 Feb 02 - 07:15 AM

As for variants, these supplemental notes to Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music (CLICK HERE) are of help.
~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: Peg
Date: 03 Feb 02 - 10:49 AM

On the television show "King of the Hill" which is set in Arlen, Texas, young Bobby Hill oftens sings this...He yearsn to be an entertainer and this is one of his "standards."...very funny.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: GUEST,Oulmole
Date: 03 Feb 02 - 01:10 PM

My favorite version is presented, with terrific commentary, by Alice Flynn in an October 2000 Mudcat thread---a link to which I will ATTEMPT (very dubiously) to put below. (I'm trying to do the bright-blue "here" clicky-tricky thingie per the Newcomer's Guide directions; but I'm severely HTML-challenged, so if it's no good please excuse. I'll try to re-do it if it doesn't work.) --Joe in Connecticut

/thread.cfm?threadid=26326#315868

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: GUEST,oulmole
Date: 03 Feb 02 - 01:15 PM

Yeah didn't work. Phooey. Dunno where to put the magic "Click Here". (It's not the directions; it's me. Ahhh th' p'lice'll exshplain matthers......)

Here's the whole URL then, while I re-study how to get the "HERE" thing:

http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=26326#315868

--Joe in CT

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 03 Feb 02 - 04:25 PM

rich r -- as a folkie with a background in zoology, my favorite verse, from the site with "over 160 verses of Froggy Went a Courtin' compiled from 27 sources" linked above is

That was the end of him and her -- won't be no tadpoles covered in fur!

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: raredance
Date: 03 Feb 02 - 04:31 PM

Becky--you read my mind. (thread creep- once the fly has married the bumblebee, would the progeny be flies with stingers or bees with halteres?)

rich r

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: GUEST,Luke who is guest
Date: 04 Feb 02 - 08:05 AM

Malcolm Dalglish sings a version with the refrain, keemo kymo london kymo keemo kymo kayro, strim stram pomydiddle lodi bodi rig dam rig dam yunna bida kymo. It has the distinction of ending with. "That was the end of him and her>Wont be no tadpoles coverd with fir. There is a "king kong kichy can't you kymio in between each of the verse frases. It's very fine indeed. I been singing it for years. All my kids sing it this way.

Luke

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From:
Date: 08 May 03 - 03:48 AM

I am very very very interested in my 20th year of life to reflect back on an old 45 that I had of Froggy Went A'Coutin'.

I know it started off like this...

Froggy went a'courtin' on a fine spring day...

notice the spring day, it was a children's version

I would kill for anything with that version on it.

Thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: IanC
Date: 09 Jul 03 - 06:32 AM

I've noticed that the site I linked to near the top - the one with dozens of versions of the song and quite a lot of information - has disappeared fom the web, which is an enormous shame.

Here's a nice article about the song from the Canadian Journal For Traditional Music

:-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 09 Jul 03 - 02:13 PM

Too bad, Ian. I wish I had copied.

This may have been posted before- Max Hunter Coll. versions and audio: Froggy

These can be obtained directly at the Max Hunter site, but the texts are set up nicely for printing in this teaching website. Other parts of the website are worth checking out.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From:
Date: 23 Jul 03 - 04:49 PM

My grandfather from SE Kentucky sang a version of Froggy went a courtin to us that included the words"child of Widdley Way" I have heard this an old Elizabethan English version. I would love to have the words and history. Thanks ever so much for any help. I love your site, lots of fun.Hazy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Jul 03 - 05:04 PM

No Elizabeth version is elsewhere known (except for a Stationers' Register entry). What's your evidence for that?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: masato sakurai
Date: 23 Jul 03 - 08:13 PM

Quoted (with typos corrected) from David G. H. Parsons's article linked to above:

Probably the earliest recorded mention is a tune sung by shepherds in Wedderburn's Complaynt of Scotland of 1549 called "The frog came to the myl dur.'

In 1783 Pinkerton commented on the song in Select Scottish Ballads: "I am told that no. 17 (the frog came to the myl dur) used lately to be sung on the stage in Edinburgh and contains a mock courtship between a frog and a mouse of some satirical merit."

In 1580 "A Moste Strange Weddinge of the Ffrogge and the Mowse" was entered in the Stationers Hall Register, but not until 1611 do we find an extant version: among the "Country Pastimes" of Ravenscroft's Melismata, after which "there is increasing printed evidence of the song's popularity."

The text of The Complaynt of Scotland is at The Oxford Text Archive.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: GUEST,Lighter
Date: 24 Jul 03 - 03:19 PM

The first stanza and chorus of a "down to cairo" version is sung in the excellent film "Sergeant York" (1941).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 26 Nov 03 - 03:45 PM

A very interesting article, "The History of "The Frog's Courtship: A Study of Canadian Variants," from the Canadian Journal of Traditional Music," 1990, is on line at: Frog's Courtship
It also surveys the melody and lyrics of the song (inc. sheet music) from "The Frog came to the Myl Dur", "Kitty Alone," etc. and the other antecedents to Canadian versions.

Printable text available through IE.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: IanC
Date: 28 Nov 03 - 06:37 AM

Very useful Q, it is the article I linked to on 9th July.

:-(

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: Kent Davis
Date: 30 Nov 03 - 11:09 PM

I've always wondered why Child didn't include this in "The English and Scottish Popular Ballads"? Anyone know or have a good guess?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: GUEST,Lighter
Date: 01 Dec 03 - 11:09 AM

Maybe because the characters aren't human beings and/or there's not enough "conflict" in the story. It may also have been too "childish" for him.

Just guesses.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 02 Dec 03 - 05:52 AM

Of course, there's always the "Crambone" version as sung by "Uncle Pecos"(voiced by Shug Fisher) in the Tom & Jerry cartoon.

Subject: ADD Version: Froggy Would A-Wooing Go
From: Cluin
Date: 02 Dec 03 - 10:04 AM

I really like the version by Robin Williamson on his Songs for Children of All Ages album.

FROGGY WOULD A-WOOING GO

Froggy would a wooing go
(cuddy alane. cuddy alane)
Froggy would a wooing go
   (cuddy alane and a')
Froggy would a wooing go
Whether his mummy would let him or no
   (keek maleerie, cowden down
   (cuddy alane and a')

He went to Mistress Mousie's door...
Where often he had been before...

He took Miss Mousie on his knee...
"Mousie will you marry me?"...

"Sir, I could not answer that...
Until I ask my Uncle Rat"...

Uncle Rat he laughed and cried ...
"This very night youll be a bride"...

Then they all sat down to dine..
Partaking of some sherry wine..

The piper was a bumble bee...
The drummer was a dark-eyed flea...

The fiddler was an old tom CAT!      (full stop there)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Dec 03 - 08:57 PM

Tex Ritter (John Ritter's dad) recorded "Froggy Went a Courtin" back in the 40's or early 50's.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Jan 04 - 09:51 AM

I sing "Froggy went a'Courtin" to my kids with the usual lyrics but leave out the verse where he(they) get eaten.,.its better if Froggy and Miss Mousie live happily ever after..if I sang they got eaten their faces would drop and they'd be asking "why did he get killed, Daddy?"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: IanC
Date: 03 Jan 04 - 03:13 PM

Guest

You're mad! ... children love ghoulish songs. I used Weelya Woya as a lullaby and Lord Randall after that.

If they weren't asllep by then, they were surely pretending ...

;-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: Gareth
Date: 03 Jan 04 - 07:09 PM

Hmmm ! - Just a thought - Could "A frog he went a courting" have been adappted as an 'Anti-Gallacian' stance in the 1790's/1800's.

I very distantly recall, somewhere, seeing a "gilray" type print on this theme.

Tricocked hat, sword and buckler might, I repeat might, support this.

Gareth

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: GUEST,Joanne
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 07:26 AM

I'm looking for the lyrics of the Tex Ritter version of Froggy Went A Courtin. Does anyone have it? If so, please email me at [e-mail]

Thanks! :)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: masato sakurai
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 09:14 AM

GUEST, if my memory is correct, the Richard Dyer-Bennet version has a live-happily-ever-after ending.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 09:16 AM

I don't usually do this - but does anyone happen to have a good mp3 or wav of this song? Burl Ives by preference - but since I've been unable to find ANY files of this song- any artist will do at this point.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: Big Jim from Jackson
Date: 10 Mar 04 - 09:45 AM

Even the mighty Bob Dylan (a legend in his own mind) does a nice version of "Froggie" on his album "Good As I Been To You".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: GUEST,Froggy Central
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 09:44 AM

Well, I noticed my old link to "over 160 verses from 27 sources" is in this thread, but I moved my website and left no trail. So here is the quickest way to the site (it's been updated a few times since). In your URL field, just enter:

clik.to/frog


If that doesn't work, try the long form:

http://home.earthlink.net/~highying/froggy/froggy.html


I expect to update it again soon with some of the sources I spotted on this thread. Thanks for the leads. As always, any helpful feedback is appreciated (Froggy Central ).

I hope never to change webservers, but if I ever do, I'll try to keep the shortcut (clik.to/frog ) working. It's the only one I can remember.

thanks,
JD

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: GUEST,Lighter at work
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 09:53 AM

Nice site, Froggy! Frogs rule!

Subject: RE: froggy went a courtin, need lyrics, chords
From: GUEST,Froggy Central
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 10:02 AM

Well, I noticed my old link to "over 160 verses from 27 sources" is in this thread, but I moved my website and left no trail. So here is the quickest way to the site (it's been updated a few times since). In your URL field, just enter:

clik.to/frog


If that doesn't work, try the long form:

http://home.earthlink.net/~highying/froggy/froggy.html


I expect to update it again soon with some of the sources I spotted on this thread. Thanks for the leads. As always, any helpful feedback is appreciated (Froggy Central ).

I hope never to change webservers, but if I ever do, I'll try to keep the shortcut (clik.to/frog) working. It's the only one I can remember.

thanks,
david

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 12:00 PM

Mmario:

I'm not sure of the standard you designate as "a good MP3" of this song, but if it will serve your purpose I can do you an MP3 of my rendition of it--which, having no humility at all, I will say is "not TOO shaggy".

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: *Laura*
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 02:04 PM

I always used to know a nursery rhyme version:

a frog he would a woo-ing go
hey ho said roly
a frog he would a wooing go,
whether his mother would let him or no,
with a roly-poly gammon and spinach hey ho said anthony roly!

but i think its a different song altogeher.

but hey! frog in - frog out!

xLx

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Froggy Went A-Courtin'
From: GUEST,Froggy Central
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 06:24 PM

Laura,
Nope, not a different song all together, just one of the many variants that have cropped up over 500 years. At the website I set up for collecting verses (clik.to/frog ), I also created a page for tunes and a page for refrains. There are a surprising number of tunes with the same basic words. In the US, 'gammon' usually becomes 'cabbage' because I don't think anyone on this side of the pond calls bacon 'gammon'. Also, from what I've been able to dig up, Anthony Roly (or Rowley) was probably a reference to an Italian opera singer that made a splash in London in the 18th or 18th century. But I've not been able to get anything definitive on this.

If that link doesn't work, try
http://home.earthlink.net/~highying/froggy/froggy.html

all for now
david