Froggy Went A-Courtin'

When Ellie was a newborn, although she wasn't very fussy, there were still times when the only thing that would calm her was my BB singing "Froggy Went A-Courtin'." Nowadays it remains our most reliable lullaby. Its most soporific advantages are that it's very repetitive and there are a whoooole lotta verses.

It's changed in many ways since it was first written down - in mid-15th century Scotland, as it turns out, when Froggy went a-courtin' riding a snail - but there are some lines which haven't changed at all, to my surprise. The BB and I combined our favorite versions, by Doc Watson and Bob Dylan, to come up with a mere 20 verses describing the ill-fated marriage of Froggy and Miss Mousie.

I can tell how tired Ellie is according to how early in the song she falls asleep. Occasionally we make it through the entire song, at which point I know I need to pick her back up and wear her out a little more before putting her back down for her nap.

Here's our version of the song, in its entirety.

Froggy went a-courtin' and he did ride, mm-hmm,
Froggy went a-courtin' and he did ride, mm-hmm,
Froggy went a-courtin' and he did ride,
a sword and a pistol by his side, mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

Well, he rode right up to Miss Mousie's door, mm-hmm,
he rode right up to Miss Mousie's door, mm-hmm,
he rode right up to Miss Mousie's door,
gave three loud raps and a very big roar, mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

He said, "Miss Mousie, are you within?" mm-hmm,
he said, "Miss Mousie, are you within?" mm-hmm,
he said, "Miss Mousie, are you within?"
"Oh yes, kind sir, I sit and spin, mm-hmm, mm-hmm."

He took Miss Mousie right on his knee, mm-hmm,
he took Miss Mousie right on his knee, mm-hmm,
he took Miss Mousie right on his knee,
and he said, "Miss Mousie, would you marry me?" mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

"Without my Uncle Rat's consent, mm-hmm,
without my Uncle Rat's consent, mm-hmm,
without my Uncle Rat's consent,
I would not marry the President, mm-hmm, mm-hmm."

Uncle Rat laughed 'til he shook his fat sides, mm-hmm,
Uncle Rat laughed 'til he shook his fat sides, mm-hmm,
Uncle Rat laughed 'til he shook his fat sides,
to think his niece would be a bride, mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

What will you wear for the wedding gown? mm-hmm,
What will you wear for the wedding gown? mm-hmm,
Oh, what will you wear for the wedding gown?
A piece of a hide of an old white cow, mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

Where shall the wedding supper be? mm-hmm,
Where shall the wedding supper be? mm-hmm,
Where shall the wedding supper be?
Away down yonder in a hollow tree, mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

What shall the wedding supper be? mm-hmm,
What shall the wedding supper be? mm-hmm,
What shall the wedding supper be?
Two butter beans and a black-eyed pea, mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

(Note: Ellie often falls asleep right around here.)

First to come in was Missus Moth, mm-hmm,
first to come in was Missus Moth, mm-hmm,
first to come in was Missus Moth,
she laid out the tablecloth, mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

Next to come in was a juney-bug, mm-hmm,
next to come in was a juney-bug, mm-hmm,
next to come in was a juney-bug,
she brought the water jug, mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

Next to come in was a bumbley-bee, mm-hmm,
next to come in was a bumbley-bee, mm-hmm,
next to come in was a bumbley-bee,
dancin' around with a fiddle on his knee, mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

Next to come in was a little black tick, mm-hmm,
next to come in was a little black tick, mm-hmm,
next to come in was a little black tick,
ate so much, it made him sick, mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

Next to come in was a broken-back flea, mm-hmm,
next to come in was a broken-back flea, mm-hmm,
next to come in was a broken-back flea,
danced the jig with the bumbley-bee, mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

Next to come in was Missus Cow, mm-hmm,
next to come in was Missus Cow, mm-hmm,
next to come in was Missus Cow,
she tried to dance but she didn't know how, mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

Next to come in was a little brown mouse, mm-hmm,
next to come in was a little brown mouse, mm-hmm,
next to come in was a little brown mouse,
and he said, "Mr. Froggy, can I sell you a house?" mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

Next to come in was a big black snake, mm-hmm,
next to come in was a big black snake, mm-hmm,
next to come in was a big black snake,
ate up all the wedding cake, mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

Next to come in was an old grey cat, mm-hmm,
next to come in was an old grey cat, mm-hmm,
next to come in was an old grey cat,
swallowed the mouse and ate up the rat, mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

Froggy went a-hoppin' up over the brook, mm-hmm,
Froggy went a-hoppin' up over the brook, mm-hmm,
Froggy went hoppin' up over the brook,
a lily-white duck came and swallowed him up, mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

Little piece of cornbread layin' on the shelf, mm-hmm,

there's a little piece of cornbread layin' on the shelf, mm-hmm,

little piece of cornbread layin' on the shelf,
if you want any more, you can sing it yourself, mm-hmm, mm-hmm.