FROGGIE WENT A-COURTING
(THE FROG'S COURTSHIP)
Sung by: Loyd Richardson
Recorded in Timbo, AR 9/3/62

 Click here to listen to the original recording
(Comment by Mr. Richardson: "This is Loyd Richardson of Timbo, Arkansas, fixing to do a little recording here of a song that I learned to sing back in my schoolboy days. The title of the song is 'Froggie Went A-Courting.' On this, the third day of September, in Mr. George Fisher's home here at Timbo.")

Froggie went to see the mouse,
Timma ring ting bottom and a ky-mo.
From the well into the house.
Timma ring ting bottom and a ky-mo.

Chorus: Ky-mo nee-ro captain kee-ro bom-a-nishy ky-mo,
Semma nicka bomma nicka flata bony rig
Domma rig tum clatta bona ky-mo.

He took Miss Mousie on his knee,
Timma ring ting bottom and a ky-mo,
And says, "Miss Mouse, will you marry me?"
Timma ring ting bottom and a ky-mo.

(Chorus)

Oh, Mrs. Rat, she's gone to town,
Timma ring ting bottom and a ky-mo,
To get her niece a wedding gown,
Timma ring ting bottom and a ky-mo.

(Chorus)

Where shall the wedding supper be?
Timma ring ting bottom and a ky-mo,
Away down yonder in a hollow tree,
Timma ring ting bottom and a ky-mo.

(Chorus)

Well, the first stepped in was a butterfly,
Timma ring ting bottom and a ky-mo.
She had her pudding and her pie,
Timma ring ting bottom and a ky-mo.

(Chorus)

The next stepped in was a bumblebee,
Timma ring ting bottom and a ky-mo.
He had his banjo on his knee,
Timma ring ting bottom and a ky-mo.

(Chorus)

Well, the next stepped in was a chestnut bug,
Timma ring ting bottom and a ky-mo.
He had his whiskey in a jug,
Timma ring ting bottom and a ky-mo.

(Chorus)

Oh, Mr. Rat jumped up the wall,
Timma ring ting bottom and a ky-mo.
Oh, says, "I'm a-leaving it with you all."
Timma ring ting bottom and a ky-mo.

(Chorus)

(Mr. Richardson: "Now, then, I know this song in an older conversion than this that I used to hear my father sing from the time I was just a small child, and it goes this way.")

Froggie went a-courting, he did ride,
Clatty bona rig tum ky-mo.
He took Miss Mousie by his side,
Clatty bona rig tum ky-mo.

Chorus: Ky-mo neero captain keero boma-nishy ky-mo,
Semma nicka bomma nicka clatta bona rig,
Tumma rig tum clatta bona ky-mo.

He took Miss Mousie on his knee,
Clatty bona rig tum ky-mo,
And says, "Miss Mouse, will you marry me?"
Clatty bona rig tum ky-mo.

(Chorus)

(Mr. Richardson: "Now, you can have the say as to which way you like the best.")

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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