# Froggy went a'courtin' **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 2, 2000, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419 "2000-02-02T23:32:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2000, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419/1 "2000-02-02T23:32:00Z")
Okay, this is TRULY mundane and pointless but please help just the same. I have this song stuck in my head, but I only know the first verse, so it has been playing OVER AND OVER in my head until I’m resisting the urge to shoot myself to make it stop! Actually, I don’t think I need to shoot myself; I think my usually sunny disposition would be restored if I could just think of the rest of the song. So . . . Froggy went a courtin’ he did ride, uh huh Froggy went a courtin’ he did ride, uh huh Froggy went a courtin’ he did ride, Sword and pistol by his side, uh huh THEN WHAT HAPPENS??? Apologies to anyone who may now have this song stuck in their head as well. * * * Jodi _Fiat Justitia_ ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2000, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419/2 "2000-02-02T23:41:00Z")
[http://judyanddavid.com/Songbook/F.html](http://judyanddavid.com/Songbook/F.html) Scroll down to “Froggy went a courtin’”. But I’ve got to warn you, it’s pretty ugly! It’s a freakin’ bloodbath! And they sing this to kids? ---
**Author:** ![Demo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demo/32/8472_2.png) [@Demo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Demo)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2000, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419/3 "2000-02-02T23:45:00Z")
> [@](#): > > …“Yes kind sir I sit and spin” Just doesn’t mean what it used to… ---
**Author:** ![Inkz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecb155/32.png) [@Inkz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inkz)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2000, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419/4 "2000-02-02T23:47:00Z")
Jeez Jouise! Whay are nursery rymes and old childrens stories ala. Hansel and Gretel and little Red Riding Hood so sinister!? ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2000, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419/5 "2000-02-03T00:03:00Z")
This is an old folk song with many variations. I’m typing in the closest to what you have now. Froggie Would a Wooing Go A froggie would a-wooing go, Uh-hum, Froggie would a-wooing go, Whether his mother would let him or no, Uh-hum Said the frog “Miss Mouse, will you marry me?” Uh-hum, Fro said, “Miss Mouse, will you marry me?” “I’ll have to ask Uncle Rat,” said she, Uh-hum “Who shall the wedders thay all be?” Uh-hum, “Who shall the wedders thay all be?” “Bear, the bug, and the bumble bee.” Uh-hum. “Where shall the wedding supper be?” Uh-hum, “Where shall the wedding supper be?” “Down in the trunk of a hollow tree.” Uh-hum. First to come was a little brown bug, Uh-hum, First to come was a little brown bug, He had whiskey in a jug, Uh-hum. The last to come was a big tom cat, Uh-hum, The last to come was a big tom cat, He ate the bride up, just like that Uh-hum. Froggie jumped into the lake, Uh-hum, Froggie jumped into the lake, He got eat by a big black snake, Uh-hum. Big black snake, he swum to land, Uh-hum, Big black snake, he swum to land, He got killed by a black man, Uh-hum. Black man, he came from France, Uh-hum, Black man, he came from France, T’teach the ladies how to dance, Uh-hum. The original song doesn’t use black for the man, but I’m not going to type the original word. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2000, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419/6 "2000-02-03T02:24:00Z")
Violent, racist, and 900 verses long – great! There’s got to be some other song I can subconsciously obsess over. _::sings::_ ## Jeremiah was a bullfrog . . . Jodi _Fiat Justitia_ ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2000, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419/7 "2000-02-03T03:22:00Z")
I seem to remember an animated commercial that did this song back in the early 80s. Don’t remember what it was for, though. ---
**Author:** ![Alpine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpine/32/17813_2.png) [@Alpine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpine)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2000, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419/8 "2000-02-03T03:45:00Z")
My father used to sing this to us back when he played guitar and we were still wee sprats. I don’t remember his version being quite so… gnarly. ---
**Author:** ![TripleAnt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e19adc/32.png) [@TripleAnt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TripleAnt)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2000, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419/9 "2000-02-03T06:59:00Z")
I heard it from this storyteller we went to listen to at Lincoln’s birthplace when I was a little kid in Illinois. I’m the same though, it wasn’t as gruesome at it seems there. * * * “The idea of a walk-in closet sounds frightening. If I’m ever sittin’ at home and a closet walks in, I’m gettin’ outta there.” ~George Carlin ---
**Author:** ![Zulu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a9adbd/32.png) [@Zulu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zulu)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2000, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419/10 "2000-02-03T09:46:00Z")
We sang a weird version in grade 5: Froggie went a courtin’ and he did ride, rinkum-boyd-michie-cambo. Sword and pistol by his side, rinkum-body-michie-cambo. Chorus (sung quite fast): Kee-mo Kie-mo, domie-nicky rye-mo, kee-mo kie-mo nero, straddle-addle-addle bob-a-laddle bob-a-linkum, rinkum-body michie-cambo. Like, what the hell? I wasn’t able to finally get my tongue around that version of the song until I was 18. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2000, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419/11 "2000-02-03T11:45:00Z")
Zulu this is closest to yours. Froggie Went to Take a Ride Froggie went to take a ride, Rigdom body mid-ak ki-mo, Sword and pistol by his side, Rigdom body mid-ak ki-mo, Ki-mo ka-ro dout-oh shar-oh, ki-mo, ka-ro, String strang come-a-diddle, anybody rig, Rigom body mid-ah ki-mo. He rode up to Miss Mouse’s door, Rigdom body mid-ak ki-mo, He jumped in the middle of Miss Mouse’s floor, Rigdom body mid-ak ki-mo, Ki-mo ka-ro dout-oh shar-oh, ki-mo, ka-ro, String strang come-a-diddle, anybody rig, Rigom body mid-ah ki-mo. He took Lady Mouse upon his knee, Rigdom body mid-ak ki-mo, Said, “Lady Mouse, will you marry me?” Rigdom body mid-ak ki-mo, Ki-mo ka-ro dout-oh shar-oh, ki-mo, ka-ro, String strang come-a-diddle, anybody rig, Rigom body mid-ah ki-mo. Uncle Rat came riding down, Rigdom body mid-ak ki-mo, To get his niece a wedding gown, Rigdom body mid-ak ki-mo, Ki-mo ka-ro dout-oh shar-oh, ki-mo, ka-ro, String strang come-a-diddle, anybody rig, Rigom body mid-ah ki-mo. He took her home where he did dwell, Rigdom body mid-ak ki-mo, That was in the bottom of a well, Rigdom body mid-ak ki-mo, Ki-mo ka-ro dout-oh shar-oh, ki-mo, ka-ro, String strang come-a-diddle, anybody rig, Rigom body mid-ah ki-mo. The water took her up to the chin, Rigdom body mid-ak ki-mo, She wished she were a maid again, Ki-mo ka-ro dout-oh shar-oh, ki-mo, ka-ro, String strang come-a-diddle, anybody rig, Rigom body mid-ah ki-mo. * * * I’m only your wildest fear, from the corners of your darkest thoughts. ---
**Author:** ![frolix8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f04885/32.png) [@frolix8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/frolix8)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2000, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419/12 "2000-02-03T23:36:00Z")
According to the liner notes on the Doc Watson CD “Home Again” this song was published in 1580. I doubt that anyone would have been too disturbed by a cat eating a rat or a duck eating a frog, most people back then would have had some experience with the way nature works. Doc does a very fine rendition of this song, by the way. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2000, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419/13 "2000-02-04T03:42:00Z")
Anyone else remember the Uncle Pecos version from _Tom and Jerry_? Froggie went a’courtin’ and he did ride HAMBONE! Froggie went a’courtin’ and he did ride Sword and a p-p-p-p-and a revolver by his side Froggie went a’courtin’ and he did ride ::guitar string breaks:: ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2000, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419/14 "2000-02-04T03:50:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Kat: > \*\*Anyone else remember the Uncle Pecos version from _Tom and Jerry_? > > Froggie went a’courtin’ and he did ride > HAMBONE! > Froggie went a’courtin’ and he did ride > Sword and a p-p-p-p-and a revolver by his side > Froggie went a’courtin’ and he did ride > ::guitar string breaks::\*\* ## “Y’know DURN WELL I cain’t play witout ma GEE-tar string!” (I was thinking of that the whole time I was reading, lol!) “It was us versus them and it was clear who them was. Today we are not so sure who the they are, but we know they’re there.” – Texas Gov. George W. Bush, presidential candidate. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2000, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419/15 "2000-02-04T03:50:00Z")
> [@](#): > > ::guitar string breaks:: But, luckily, Tom was always nearby. ---
**Author:** ![SanibelMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@SanibelMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanibelMan)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2000, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419/16 "2000-02-04T04:46:00Z")
I remember a version from Pete Seegar that we have on LP here somewhere that went: Froggy went a courtin’ and he did ride Ding dang dong go the wedding bells… [lines I don’t remember] Chorus: Here’s to Cheshire, here’s to cheese Here’s to the pears and the apple trees And here’s to the lovely strawberries Ding dang dong go the wedding bells * * * _SanibelMan_ - [My Homepage](http://members.macconnect.com/~jonkleinow/) “Hey, you sass that hoopy Ford Prefect? There’s a frood who really knows where his towel is.” ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2000, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419/17 "2000-02-04T04:51:00Z")
BTW, the “Froggy Went A-courtin’” commercial was a PSA touting good eating habits. And, I seem to recall Uncle Pecos as sounding sorta like “Crusty” from “The Incredible Mr Limpet.” Wonder if they were both (or if either was) Paul Frees. ---
**Author:** ![Guy\_Propski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5e9695/32.png) [@Guy\_Propski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guy_Propski)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2000, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419/18 "2000-02-04T14:05:00Z")
Mjollnir–nope, Uncle Pecos was voiced by Shug Fisher, a member of the Sons of the Pioneers. He also used to play “Shorty” Kellems on “The Beverly Hillbillies.” ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2000, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419/19 "2000-02-04T14:38:00Z")
I’m familiar with a somewhat different version than any of the posted so far. I can’t really remember all the lyrics, but there was reference to the stitching on Froggie’s britches - why I remember this I don’t know… There’s a little animated thing done of the song (Probably National Film Board - these things usually are.) which was pretty much the version I knew from school. I love the way the last verse was done in that one… _In the calmest voice humanly possible, more slowly than the rest of the song_: Well, they all sailed off, across the lake, uh hun, uh hun. Well, they all sailed off across the lake, (_Spoken_)And they got gobbled up by the biggest…snake…uh hun, uh hun, uh hun… * * * _Eschew Obfuscation_ ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2000, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419/20 "2000-02-04T17:50:00Z")
Bob Dylan did a nice little version of this on his 1992 album GOOD AS I BEEN TO YOU. Folks were a mite surprised he’d sing something this wholesome. Little piece a cornbread sittin on the shelf If ya want any more, ya can sing it yourself. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419.md?page=2)