Hi,

Here's a rare version from Appalchia of Quaker's Courtship I just found in in my grandfather's collection (Maurice Matteson Collection). The date of 1935 is crossed out in MS. Cleo Franklyn was born in 1909 in North Carolina and moved to Virginia where he married Elizabeth and had several children.

Madam, I've Come A-Courting- sung by Cleo Franklyn of Smyth Co. Virginia about 1935.

1. Madam, I've come a-courting,
Oh, dear me,
I've come a-courting, not a-sporting,
Oh, dear me.

Well, if that is your intention[1],
Fa da la dinktum, fa da la day
You can sit and court the fire
Fa da la dinktum, fa da la day.

I have a ring worth many a shilling,
Oh, dear me,
You can wear it if you're willing,
Oh, dear me.

Don't want your ring, don't want your money,
Fa da la dinktum, fa da la day[2]
Don't want any man to call me honey
Fa da la dinktum, fa da la day.

They've called their dogs and set them on me,
Oh, dear me,
Oh my, oh my, how they did run me,
Oh, dear me.

You'd better run for I don't like you
Fa da la dinktum, fa da la day[2]
If they catch you they will bite you,
Fa da la dinktum, fa da la day.

1. usually "desire" to rhyme
2. Originally, the Quaker's chorus is sung here (Oh, dear me), I've changed it to the woman's chorus.

Richie