FROGGIE WENT A-COURTING
(THE FROG'S COURTSHIP)
Sung by: Almeda Riddle
Recorded on 5/10/62

 Click here to listen to the original recording
(Mrs. Riddle: "Now, let's make you proud. This is a Tennessee version my grandfather brought over from middle Tennessee, years before any of us was here, before the war.")

Now, frog went a-courting and a-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.
Keemo eye-mo, keemo . . .

(Mrs. Riddle: "Let's get down. I've got it too high.")

Frog went a-courting and he did ride,
To me rock strop by Mr. Gamble.
Had a sword and a pistol buckled at his side,
To my rock strop by Mr. Gamble.

Chorus: Keemo eye-mo, keemo ky-mo,
Rolly, rolly, ray.
Rock strop penny winkle flanna doodle yella booger,
Rock strop by Mr. Gamble.

He rode right up to Miss Mouse's house,
Singing rock strop by Mr. Gamble.
Said, "Please, will you marry me, Miss Mouse?"
To my rock strop by Mr. Gamble.

(Chorus)

She said, "Now, I can't tell you that."
Rock strop by Mr. Gamble.
"Until I ask my Uncle Rat."
Rock strop by Mr. Gamble.
Uncle Rat gave his consent.
The weasel wrote the publishment,
Rock strop by Mr. Gamble.

(Chorus)

Where will their supper be?
Rock strop by Mr. Gamble.
Away down yonder in a hollow tree,
Rock strop by Mr. Gamble.
And what will the supper be?
Butter cups, dew drop tea,
Rock strop by Mr. Gamble.

(Chorus)

Who will our waiters be?
Rock strop by Mr. Gamble.
A pink-eyed gnat and a black-eyed flea,
Rock strop by Mr. Gamble.

(Chorus)

The first came in was a big white moth,
Rock strop by Mr. Gamble.
She spread her wings for a tablecloth,
Rock strop by Mr. Gamble.
The next come in was a big black gnat,
And he sat down on Uncle Rat,
Rock strop by Mr. Gamble.

(Chorus)

And the frog come swimming across the lake,
Rock strop by Mr. Gamble.
And he got swallowed up by a big black snake,
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
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