FROGGY WENT A-COURTING
(THE FROG'S COURTSHIP)
Sung by: Jimmy Driftwood
Recorded in Timbo, AR

 Click here to listen to the original recording
(Mr. Driftwood: "We'll do a little song now, called 'Froggy Went A-Courting.' And, of course, the people who record this song and who sing it on the big programs, I reckon they're kind of lazy. They just say 'uh huh.' Well, we'll give it the real old silly riddle rhymes that was brought to this country, the Ozarks of Arkansas (and this is Timbo, Arkansas), from Georgia, and originally from England.")

Froggy went a-courting and-a he did ride,
Clatter bona rig dona ky mo.
He had Miss Mousie by his side,
Clatter bona rig dona ky mo.
He took Miss Mousie on his knee,
Clatter bona rig dona ky mo.
He said, "Miss Mouse, would you marry me?"
Clatter bona rig dona ky mo.

Chorus: Kee-mo-ky-mo captain keero bominishee ky-mo.
Seva-nicka boma-nicka clatta-boner-mick
Dona rick doma clatta-boma ky-mo.

Mrs. Rat went down to the town,
Clatter bona rig dona ky mo.
To get her niece a wedding gown,
Clatter bona rig dona ky mo.
Mrs. Frog went to the king,
Clatter bona rig dona ky mo.
To get the bride a wedding ring,
Clatter bona rig dona ky mo.

(Chorus)

Where will the wedding be?
Clatter bona rig dona ky mo.
Way down yonder in a holler tree,
Clatter bona rig dona ky mo.
What will we have to eat?
Clatter bona rig dona ky mo.
Two blue beans and a grain of wheat,
Clatter bona rig dona ky mo.

(Chorus)

First came in was a butterfly,
Clatter bona rig dona ky mo.
She had a pudding and a pie,
Clatter bona rig dona ky mo.
Next came in was a bumblebee,
Clatter bona rig dona ky mo.
He had his fiddle under his knee,
Clatter bona rig dona ky mo.
Next came in was Bishop Bug,
Clatter bona rig dona ky mo.
On his arm he had his jug,
Clatter bona rig dona ky mo.
He gave the groom a drink or two,
Clatter bona rig dona ky mo.
He said, "I've come to marry you,"
Clatter bona rig dona ky mo.

(Chorus)

Well, the feast was ready to begin,
Clatter bona rig dona ky mo.
When a big black cat came a-slipping in,
Clatter bona rig dona ky mo.
Mr. Rat jumped over the door,
Clatter bona rig dona ky mo.
The bride and groom ran under the floor,
Clatter bona rig dona ky mo.

(Chorus)

Well, I hope you like this wedding song,
Clatter bona rig dona ky mo.
It's another hundred verses long,
Clatter bona rig dona ky mo.
Rosemary, sage, and thyme,
Clatter bona rig dona ky mo.
I'll sing you the rest some other time,
Clatter bona rig dona ky mo.

(Chorus, sung twice)

Also found in Randolph, Vol. I, #108, "The Frog's Courtship"; Brown, Vol. III, #120, "The Frog's Courtship"; Belden, p. 494, "The Frog's Courtship."

All Songs Recorded by John Quincy Wolf, Jr., unless otherwise noted

The John Quincy Wolf Folklore Collection
Lyon College, Batesville, Arkansas
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