The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #76856   Message #1368907
Posted By: Jim Dixon
01-Jan-05 - 03:49 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: a big bullfrog jumped into the lake
Subject: Lyr Add: MAY IRWIN'S FROG SONG
This is the song mentioned above, but it probably isn't the song littledaddy1803 wanted.

The sheet music for MAY IRWIN'S FROG SONG may be found at The Library of Congress American Memory Collection. May Irwin (1862-1938) was the performer, not the songwriter.

MAY IRWIN'S FROG SONG
Charles E. Trevathan, 1896

1. Away down a-yonder in Yankety Yank,
A bullfrog jumped from bank to bank
'Cause there wasn't nothin' else to do.
He stubbed his toe an' in he fell,
An' de neighbors all say dat he went to well,
'Cause he hadn't nothin' else to do.

CHORUS: An' jus' lots uv folks is like dis foolish frog uv mine,
A-runnin' into trouble jus' to pass de time,
An' de devil's allus loafin' 'round heah jus' to grab de kind
Dat nevah hasn't nothin' else to do.

2. When dey buried dat frog, de preacher said,
"De reason why dis young frog is dead,
'Cause there wasn't nothin' else to do.
An' all you frogs jus' a-listen to me:
Yo' bettah stay at home wid yo' family,
When you haven't nothin' else to do."

3. Some frogs I know is pow'ful fond
Uv spendin' dey time in 'nother frog's pond
'Cause dey hasn't nothin' else to do.
But dis consolation de good book brings:
De frog uv dem habits won't wear no wings
'Cause he hasn't nothin' else to do.

4. Now all uv yo' people dat heah dis song,
Yo' knows shy dis po' frog went wrong:
Cause he hadn't nothin' else to do.
You'd bettah keep busy on any kind of pay,
Till de big horn blow on de judgment day.
Den you will hab somethin' else to do.