Froggie Went A-Courtin' - Spoon Lady, Tater Boys, and Trees Eating Humans

Good tune!

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Thank you my friend CW5 Jack Cardwell for posting the music video Froggie Went A-Courtin' with Abby the Spoon Lady, born Abby Roach, Tater Boys, and Trees Eating Humans.

Froggy Went a Courtin' written by Tex Williams, Tex Ritter
Lyrics
"A frog went a-courtin' and he did ride, M-hm, M-hm.
A frog went a-courtin' and he did ride,
Sword and pistol by his side, M-hm, M-hm.
He rode up to Miss Mousie's door, M-hm, M-hm,
He rode up to Miss Mousie's door,
Where he'd often been before, M-hm, M-hm.
He said, "Miss Mouse, are you within?" M-hm, M-hm,
He said, "Miss Mouse, are you within?"
"Yes, kind sir, I sit and spin." M-hm, M-hm.
He took Miss Mouse upon his knee, M-hm, M-hm,
He took Miss Mouse upon his knee
Said "Miss Mouse, will you marry me?" M-hm, M-hm.
"Without my Uncle Rat's consent, M-hm, M-hm,
Without my Uncle Rat's consent
I wouldn't marry the President." M-hm, M-hm.
Uncle Rat, he laughed and shook his fat sides, M-hm, M-hm,
Uncle Rat, he laughed and shook his fat sides
To think his niece would be a bride, M-hm, M-hm.
Then Uncle Rat rode off to town, M-hm, M-hm,
Then Uncle Rat rode off to town
To buy his niece a wedding gown, M-hm, M-hm.
"Oh, where will the wedding supper be?" M-hm, M-hm,
"Oh where will the wedding supper be?"
"Way down yonder in the hollow tree." M-hm, M-hm.
The first to come was the little white moth, M-hm, M-hm,
The first to come was the little white moth
She spread out the tablecloth, M-hm, M-hm.
The next to come was the bumblebee, M-hm, M-hm,
The next to come was the bumblebee
Played the fiddle upon his knee, M-hm, M-hm.
The next to come was a little flea, M-hm, M-hm,
The next to come was a little flea
Danced a jig with the bumblebee, M-hm, M-hm.
The next to come was Missus Cow, M-hm, M-hm,
The next to come was Missus Cow
Tried to dance but didn't know how, M-hm, M-hm.
Now Mister Frog was dressed in green, M-hm, M-hm,
Now Mister Frog was dressed in green
Sweet Miss Mouse looked like a queen, M-hm, M-hm.
In slowly walked the Parson Rook, M-hm, M-hm,
In slowly walked the Parson Rook
Under his arm he carried a book, M-hm, M-hm.
They all gathered round the lucky pair, M-hm, M-hm,
They all gathered round the lucky pair
Singing, dancing everywhere, M-hm, M-hm.
Then Frog and Mouse went off to France, M-hm, M-hm,
Then Frog and Mouse went off to France
That's the end of my romance, M-hm, M-hm.
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Thank you my friend CW5 Jack Cardwell for posting the music video of Spoon Lady [Abby Roach], Tater Boys, and Trees Eating Humans performing Froggie Went A-Courtin'

The lyrics seems to be blend of some classic bluegrass lyrics 0 did not match Doc Watson's, Tex Ritters or others notable renditions of this song dating back to a 1500's nursery rhyme.

Below are six basic variants from
http://www.bluegrassmessengers.com/froggie-went-a-courtin--version-24-brown.aspx

A. The Frog Went A-Courtin' Reported by Flossie Marshbanks of Mars Hill, Madison county, Not dated.

1. Frog went a-courtin' and he did ride,
Ring ting bottom and a kymo
Sword and pistol by his side.
Ring ting bottom and a kymo

Chorus: Hello naro he's my caro,
Hello caro narrow;
Ring ting bottom ditty boat around
Ring ting bottom and a kymo.'

2. Rode up to Miss Mousie's house.
Asked Miss Mousie to be his wife.

3. Where shall the wedding' supper be?
Down yonder in the hollow tree.

4. What shall the wedding supper be?
A plate of butter and a black-eyed pea.

5. The first came in was a butterfly.
With her pudding and her pie.

6. Next came in was a bumblebee.
With his fiddle on his knee.

7. Next came in was a crippled flea ;
Danced all night for the bumblebee.

8. Next same in was a yellow cat.
Seized Miss Mousie by the back.

B. 'Frog Went A-Courting,' Reported by D. W. Newsom as learned "at his mother's knee" in Littleton, Halifax county, about 1885-90. With the tunc. The refrain is an interpolated line and then a four-line part, as in A.

1. Frog went a-courting and he did ride.
Rain down bonny mish ki-me-oh
Sword and buckler by his side.

Rain down bonny mish ki-me-oh.
Kero kiro gilt and garo
Kero kiro karo
Rap Jack penny winkle flammydoodle yellow buckle
Rain down bonny mish ki-me-oh.

2 He rode down by the mill side door
To hear his saddle squeak and roar.

'The refrain line is thus interpolated in and the chorus sung after each stanza.'

3 He rode down to Lady Mouse's house.
The old Miss Mouse was not at home.

4 The old mouse came home at last.
Shook her big fat sides and laughed.

5 He took Miss Mousie on his knee:
Pray Miss Mousie, will you marry me?'

6 'Who will make the wedding gown?"
'Old Miss Rat from pumpkin town.'

7 'Where will the wedding breakfast he?'
'Way down yonder in a hollow tree.'

8 'What will the wedding supper be?'
'A fried mosquito and a roasted flea.'

'One Two Three." From Thomas Smith. Ziunville, Watauga county, as sung by Mrs. Julia Grogan in March 1913. "She says it was sung when she was a child, over forty years ago." It lacks the first part of the story.

1. Mrs. Mousey went to town
Tim a rang tang bottom a my kimo
To buy her niece a wedding gown.

Chorus:Tim a rang tang bottom tim a kimo come a nedro
Keep my caro turn a turn bum stumpy tum dido bodey
Round tim a rang tang bottom a my kimo.

2. 'Where will the wedding supper be ?"
'Way down yonder in a hollow tree.'

3. 'What will the wedding supper be?'
'Two blue beans and a black-eyed pea.'

4. First come in was Mrs. Lily.
She brought her peaches and her Julie.

5. Next come Mrs. Butterfly.
She fanned all as she passed by.

6. Next come in was Madam Cat.
She took Miss Mousie' into the back.

D. 'Frog Went A-Courting.' Reported by K. L. Lewis as set down in igio by Dr. Kemp P. Battle of Chapel Hill. Each stanza is a couplet extended to three lines by repeating the first line, and the nasal hum comes after the first and third lines of each such stanza.

1. Frog went a-courtin'. he did ride, M-m M-m
Frog went a-courtin" he did ride.
Sword and pistol by his side, M-m M-m

2 He rode to Mistress Mousie's hall;
There he knocked and loudly called.

3 "Miss Mousie. are you within?'
"Yes. kind sir, I sit and spin.'

4 Me took Miss Mousie on his knee :
'Miss Mousie, will you marry me?'

5 "Oh no. kind sir. I can't say that
Without the consent of old Uncle Rat.'

6 Old Uncle Rat came a-riding home.
"Who's been here since I've been gone?'

7 'A very fine gentleman has been here
Who says he'll marry me if you don't care.'

8 Old Uncle Rat laughed and shook his fat side
To think his niece should be a bride.

9 'Where shall the wedding supper be?'
'Wav down yonder in the old hollow tree.'

10 'What shall we have for the wedding supper?'
"Black-eyed peas and bread and butter.'

11 The first came in was Capt. Bedbug,
Who swore by all he was a *run jug.

12 The next came in was Colonel Mead,
He danced a jig wMth a bumblebee.

13 And while they all were eating supper
In came the cat and made a great sputter.

14 The first he pursued was old Uncle Rat,
And threw him down and spoiled his fat.

15 The next he pursued was Miss Mousie;
But she ran up a hollow tree.

16 The frog he swam across the lake
And got swallowed up by a big black snake.

17 This is the end of one, two, three,
Frog and Rat and Miss Mousie.

*So the manuscript, Probably it should be "rum."

E. 'Frog Went A-Courting.' Contributed by Miss Amy Henderson of Worry, Burke county, in 1914. Refrain and stanza structure as in D and corresponds in part to that version, but lacks stanzas 6-7 of D and has more formal manners in stanza 4:

Down upon his knee fell he;
Says he, 'Miss Mousie, will you marry me?'

In stanza 5 she tells him that:

Not without Uncle Rat's consent
Would I marry the President.

The list of guests and the outcome of the party are different:

9. The first to come in was the bumblebee
With his fiddle on his knee.

10. The next come in was a great big flea;
He said, 'Dance with the bumblehee.'

11. Next to come in was Major Tick,
Who ate so much it made him sick.

12. Then they sent for Dr. Fly,
Who swore by George old Tick would die.

13. They all went sailing down the lake
And were swallowed up by a great hig snake.

14 That's the end of one, two, three,
The rat and the mouse and little froggie.

F. 'Frog Went A-Courting.' Reported I)y Miss Gertrude Allen (later
Mrs. Vaught) from Oakboro, Stanly county. C'lose to E through the
first nine stanzas, but inserts after stanza 5

Uncle Rat he went down town
To I)uy his niece a wedding gown.
The account of the wedding party, however, is different:

10 T'first came in was a little seed tick;
It ate so much it made it sick.

11. Next came in was a big black snake;
lie ate up all the wedding cake.

12. Next came in was a little fat pig;
Thought he'd have a little jig.

13. Lady Mouse came a-trippling down;
She fell over her wedding gown.

14. Then Frog came a-swimming across the lake.
He got swallowed by a big black snake.

'Froggy Went A-Courtin'.' Contributed by I. T. Poole from Burke county. A somewhat reduced version.

1. Froggy went a-courtin' and he did ride unhuh-unhuh
Froggy went a-courtin' and he did ride.
Sword an pistol hy his side unhuh-unhuh.

2. Rode down to Miss Mousie's den:
'Say, Miss Mousie, are you within?'

3. 'Yes. kind sir, I'm sitting to spin ;
Pull the string and you'll come in.'

4 He took Miss Mousie on his knee:
'Say, Miss Mousie. will you marry me?'

5 'Who shall the wedding waiters he?'
'Miss Grasshopper and Captain Flea.'

6 'Where shall the wedding supper he?'
'Away down yonder in a hollow tree.'

7 'What shall the wedding supper be?'
'Three green beans and a black-eyed pea.'

'Frog Went A-Courting.' Reported by P. D. Midgett of Wanchese, Roanoke Island, in 1920, as writen down for him by a friend. First seven stanzas as in E except that stanza 4 runs:

'Say. Miss Mouse, will you marry me.

And live over yonder in a hollow tree ?'

The remaining nine stanzas introduce some new figures :

8 'What shall the wedding supper be?'
'A cup of tea and a black-eyed pea.'

9 First came in was little moth.
Bringing in the tablecloth.

10 Next came in was a great big snake,
Bringing in the wedding cake.

11 Next came in was a little louse,
Bringing in a j^late of souse.

12 Next came in was a great big tick.
Walking around with a hickory stick.

13 Next came in was a bumblebee.
Took a jig with a broken-back flea.

14 Next catne in was a little sea tick,
Eat so much it made him sick.

15. Had to send for Dr. Fly,
Thought to my Lord that tick would die.

16 Old gray goose she swam the lake.
She got hit hy a great hig snake.

I. 'Frog and tlie Mouse.' From a notebook of Mrs. Harold Glasscock of Kalcigli, lent to Dr. White in 1943, in whicli Mrs. Glasscock had set down sings she had learned from her parents. Much like D, but has a preliminary stanza:

Gentleman frog lived in the well em hm
Gentleman frog lived in the well,
Lady mouse lived in the mill em hm.

The mouse's answer to Uncle Rat sounds coy :

'Who's been here since Lve been gone?"
'There was a tall, nice young man,
Gentleman Frog was his name."

The price Uncle Rat pays for the wedding gown is given:

What do you reckon he paid for it ?
Nine dollars and a bit.

The conclusion presents some new figures:

12 First came down was a bumblebee,
Timing a fiddle on his knee.

13 Next came down was a little seed tick
Dancing a jig with a hickory stick.

14 Next came down was a butterfly;
She fanned the company as she went by.

15 Next came down was the pussy cat.
She caught Miss Mousie and then ran back.

16 Mr. Frog jumped in the lake
And there was swallowed by a big black snake.

17 Big black snake swam to the land
And there was killed by a little *homely man.

18 Little homely man went off to sea;
And that's the end of my story.

'Miswritten no doubt for "seed tick," which occurs in F and I.

J. 'Frog Went A-Courting.' Contributed by Miss Margaret Higgs of Greenville, Pitt county. Fourteen stanzas, introducing nothing not already presented in the preceding versions except a junebug. It ends:

13 The next to come in was the little June bug;
He jumped in the fire and gave the frog a hug.

14 Mr. Frog gut mad and jumped in the lake
And there he got bit by a hig black snake.

K. 'Frog Went A-Courting.' From Mrs. Sutton, who says she has heard it in Caldwell, Mitchell, Avery, Watauga, Henderson, and Bunconme counties, and gives a Caldwell version of eight stanzas as she learned it from her grandmotlier. The wedding supper here becomes an 'infair supper,' and the flea dances a jig with the bumblebee.

L. 'A Woodman's Song.' Reported by Julian P. Boyd as obtained from Minnie Lee, one of his pupils in the school at Alliance, Pamlico county, in 1927. Six stanzas, of which the first is the same as stanza 1 of D and the second the same as stanza 4 of S (except that the refrain is spelled "Humph" instead of "Ah-ha"). The other four stanzas (the
last of which is an intruder from the body of floating bird and animal jingles) are as follows:

3 'Say. Miss Mouchy, where will we he?'
'We'll bttild our house in a hollow tree.'

4 'Say, Miss Mouchy, what shall we eat?'
'Two big hams, bread and meat.'

5 'Say, Miss Mouchy. where shall we lie?'
'Between the wheat straws and the rye.'

6 Jay bird died with the whoopingcough.
'Long come de bird with his tail bobbed off.

M. 'Frog Went A-Courting.' Reported by Jesse T. Carpenter from Durham county. Ten stanzas, the last three of which run:

8 The next one was a big black bug.
He came in dragging a jug.

9 Then came in the practice goose.
She had a hddle and she cut loose.

10 They all went swimming down the lake,
And all were swallowed bv a big blacksnake.

N. 'Frog Went A-Courting.' Reported by James A. McKay, student at Trinity College, as sung in New Hanover county. Five stanzas, giving only the first part of the song. The bride was dressed in "green pea slippers and a big brass breastpin" and they had for supper "black-eyed peas and dog-foot hutter."

O. 'Frog Went A-Courting.' Obtained from Miss Lura Wagoner of Vox, Alleghany county, in 1921. Ten stanzas, not differing significantly from E except that the latter part is reduced to two stanzas:

9 The first to come in was the bumblebee
With his fiddle on his knee.

10. The next to come was a great big flea;
He said, "Dance with the bumblebee.'

P. 'Frog Went A-Courtin'.' Reported by Sarah K. Watkins as known in Anson and Stanly counties. Only four stanzas, corresponding to stanzas I, 2, 9, 10 of D.

Q. 'Frog Courtship.' From Mrs. Nilla Lancaster, Wayne county. Eleven stanzas. No element not already given in one or another of the preceding texts except at the close, which runs:

Frog went a-floating down the brook.
He got caught by the fisherman's hook.

R. No title. Reported by Alinnie S. Gosney as known in Raleigh and Wake
county. Here the stanza structure is different; the "uhuh" refrain comes
only at the end of the couplet. The story is disarranged; it begins with
the wedding party.

1 First came in was a bumble-bee;
Stung Miss Mousie on the knee.

Uhuh uhuh

2 Next came in was Mr. Tick;
Ate so much it made him sick.

3 Had to send for Dr. Fly.
And he swore, by gosh, Air. Tick woidd die.

4 Mr. b'roggie rode by Miss Mousie's den;
Says he, 'Miss Mousie, are you within?'

5 Took Miss Mousie on his knee;
Says he, 'Miss Mousie, will you marry me?'

6 Mr. Froggie went to town
To buy Miss Mousie's wedding gown

7 Mr. Froggie went by the lake.
There he was swallowed up by a big black snake.

8 That snake swum to shore.
A big black *man killed him there.

9 That big black man has gone to France
To teach the negroes how to dance.

10 Now I lay my book on the shelf;
If you want any more, you can sing it yourself.

S. 'Frog Went A-Courting.' Contributed by Mrs. A. J. Ellis of Raleigh. Eighteen stanzas. The refrain here (at the end of tlie first and third lines of each stanza, as in D) is written "Ah-ha." but this is doubtless just a variant writing of the usual hum or grunt. Otherwise the text is substantially the same as D.

T. 'A Frog Went A-Courting.' Obtained by Professor James F. Royster
at Chapel Hill in 191 5 from William C. Doubkin. student at the Univer-
sity of North Carolina. Five stanzas, ending with

'What will the wedding supper be?'
'A slice of toast and a cup of tea,'
and the notation "I do not recall more."

U. 'A Frog Went A-Courting.' From James A. McKay. A variant form
of N. Here the refrain comes after each line, not only after the first
and third— at least, so the manuscript is written. Fur example :

Frog went a-courting, he did ride uh huh
Frog went a-courting. he did ride uh huh
Sword and pistol by his side uh huh

Went down to Lady Mouse's hall uh huh

Went down to Lady Mouse's hall uh huh

Gave a loud knock and loud he called uh huh
etc.
The form of the wooing dialogue is slightly different from that in
preceding versions :

'Old lady mouse, will you marry me?'

'Yes, kind sir, but you frighten me.'

V. 'Mr Frog Went A-Courting.' From Miss Mamie E. Cheek of Durham. .A.n unusually full form, eighteen stanzas. When Uncle Rat asks "Who's been here since I've been gone?" Miss Mousie replies "A very nice fellow all dressed in brown, the very nicest fellow in town." The wedding guests are a bumblebee, a little moth, "a big black spider who
walked up the aisle and sat down beside "er," a little brown flea, a big green snake, a little tick— who dies despite the ministrations of Dr. Fly. The bride and groom march in and "They jumped over the handle of the broom." A "broomstick marriage" is an illegal or mock marriage. See NED under broomstick.

W. 'Frog Went A-Courting.' From Lida Page of Durham county. This is in the collection in two forms, one with the normal hummed refrain as in D. the other with the hum after each line of the four-line stanza, thus :

Frog went a-courting and he did ride uh uh
Frog went a-courting and he did rideuh uh
Frog went a-courting and he did ride uh uh
Sword and pistol by his side uh huh

The flea is crippled yet danced all night with the bumblebee; the cat is yellow.

X. 'Frog Went A-Courting." From Miss Isabel B. Busbee of Raleigh, as sung by her great-aunt Miss Louisa Nora Taylor. Marked by a refrain that I have not found elsewhere. Nine stanzas. Begins:

Mr. Frog a- wooing rides
Linctim lee lincum loddy
With sword and pistol by his sides
Fddlin dav fodlin doddv.

Y.'Froggie Went A-Courting.' A second text reported by Mrs. Vaught (see F), this one from Taylursville, Alexander county. The first four Stanzas only. Has neither the "kimo" nor the hummed refrain but a "chorus," sung apparently after each stanza:

Plot, plot, plot, plot.

Z. No title. Contributed by Allie Ann Pearce of Colerain, Bertie county.
No refrain is indicated. The text differs in other respects from the
others in tine collection.

1 A frog he would a- wooing go
Whether his mother would let him or not.
So off he started with his opera hat.
And on the way he met with a rat.
'Pray, Mr. Rat, will you go with me
Kind Miss Mousy for to see?'

2 Thev soon arrived at Mousy's hall;
They gave a loud knock and gave a loud call :
'Pray, Mis.s .Nhmsy, will vou give us some beer?
Froggie and 1 are fond of good cheer.'

3 As they were having a merry time
The cat and her kittens came tumbling in.
The cat she seized the rat by the crown.
The kittens they pulled little mousie down.

The frog was in a terrific fright;
He picked up his hat and bade them goodnight.

4 As froggy was crossing a silvery brook
A lily white duck came and gohhied him up.
So this was the end of one, two, three.
The frog, the rat, and the little mousie.'

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