|
FROGGIE WENT A-COURTING (THE FROG’S COURTSHIP) Sung by: Almeda Riddle Recorded on 5/14/70 Click here to listen to the original recording Oh, frog went a-courting . . . Froggy went a-courting and he did ride, Singing rock strop by Mr. Gamble. Had a sword and a pistol buckled to his side, To my rock strop by Mr. Gamble. Chorus: Hee mo hy mo kee mo ky mo, Rolly rolly ray, And a rock strop pennywinkle flanna doodle yella booger, Rock strop by Mr. Gamble. He rode right up to Miss Mousie’s house, A rock strop by Mr. Gamble. Said, “Please, will you marry me, Miss Mouse?” A rock strop by Mr. Gamble. “Sir, I cannot tell you that. I’ll have to ask my Uncle Rat.” Rock strop by Mr. Gamble. (Chorus) Well, Uncle Rat gave his consent, A rock strop by Mr. Gamble, And the weasel wrote out a publishment, A rock strop by Mr. Gamble. (Chorus) And where will the supper be? Rock strop by Mr. Gamble, And a way down yonder in a hollow tree, Rock strop by Mr. Gamble. What will the supper be? Well, buttercups and a dewdrop tea, And a rock strop by Mr. Gamble. (Chorus) Now the first came in was a big black gnat, A rock strop by Mr. Gamble, And he set down on Uncle Rat, A rock strop by Mr. Gamble. The next came in was a big white moth, And she spread her wings for the tablecloth, A rock strop by Mr. Gamble. (Mrs. Riddle: “Right here, I’ll correct that. I’ve got it backwards. The moth came first, and then the gnat.”) (Chorus) Then the next came in was a spotted pig, A rock strop by Mr. Gamble, And he et so much that he even got sick, Rock strop by Mr. Gamble. (Chorus) Oh, Froggy come a-swimming all across the lake, A rock strop by Mr. Gamble, And he got swallowed by a big black snake, A rock strop by Mr. Gamble. (Chorus) (Mrs. Riddle: "And you can add all the verses you want to it. It's a very fluid thing." Dr. Wolf: "Sing the final one.") Well, I think you kids are tired of my song, Rock strop by Mr. Gamble, And give me my fiddle, and I’ll amble on, Rock strop by Mr. Gamble. (Chorus) Little piece of cold cornbread on the shelf, A rock strop by Mr. Gamble, And if you want any more, you’ll sing it yourself, A rock strop by Mr. Gamble. (Chorus) 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 Back to the Song Index Back to the Wolf Collection Homepage ©Copyright 2002 Lyon College |