# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Shoe2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@Shoe2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoe2)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419/21 "2012-04-16T12:05:18Z")
“Yep, English. Then, Yankee. It was first printed in England in 1611 with the title, “A Most Strange Weddinge Of The Froge And The Mouse”. It first crossed the pond to New England with the Pilgrims & Puritans in the 1620s & 1630s before migrating south to the Blue Ridge & Appalachian areas where it became a “traditional American” tune.” [http://kristinhall.org/songbook/ClassicKids/FroggyWentACourtin.html](http://kristinhall.org/songbook/ClassicKids/FroggyWentACourtin.html) Unfortunately, the web page that offers this bit of history, offers no proof of citation for the information. Nonetheless, it seemed worth posting here, if for no other reason, than to send the next reader on a hunt to prove it! ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419/22 "2012-04-16T12:07:54Z")
Well, Froggy went a-courtin’ an’ he did ride, uh huh, Froggy went a-courtin’ an’ he did ride, uh huh, Froggy went a-courtin’ an’ he did ride, Blablablablablablasumthin’ Bender is great, Froggy went a courtin’ an’ Bender is great, uh-huh! ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419/23 "2012-04-16T12:52:53Z")
It doesn’t have to be gory, just end it early. “Miss Mousie will you marry me? mm-hmm.(3x) And then we two will happy be, mm-hmm.” “Without my Uncle Rat’s consent, mm-hmm (3x) I would not wed the President, mm-hmm.” “So Uncle Rat he went to town, mm-hmm (3x) and bought his niece a wedding gown mm-hmm.” When I sang this to my son, I always ended it at that point. ---
**Author:** ![banjoDavid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@banjoDavid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/banjoDavid)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419/24 "2012-04-16T13:07:31Z")
Well, that was the end of him and her, uh-huh that was the end of him and her, uh-huh that was the end of him and her, you won’t see no tadpoles covered in fur, uh-huh David ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419/25 "2012-04-16T13:22:15Z")
I was unaware until I read this thread that ducks eat frogs. I was ready to make post stating that they do not, then I did a little [research](http://icons.wunderground.com/data/wximagenew/t/tomekandjola/1754.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419/26 "2012-04-16T13:27:49Z")
There is a version of this song on a CD of children’s music I play in the car for my daughter. In that version, the happy couple goes on a honeymoon to France after the wedding supper. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419/27 "2012-04-16T13:30:01Z")
Moved MPSIMS --\> Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sophistry_and_Illusion)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419/28 "2012-04-16T13:41:42Z")
I know this song from a Doc Watson album I have. His version of the lyrics can be found [here](http://www.rapidlyrics.com/song/Doc-Watson-Froggie-Went-A-Courtin'-lyrics-228607/). Not sure his version is for kids, either; part of it goes: 1. He rode right up to Miss Mousie’s door, ah hah, (repeat) And he hit it so hard that he made it roar, ah hah, ah hah, ah hah. 2. Then Miss Mousie let him in, ah hah, (repeat) And the way they courted, it was a sin, ah hah, ah hah, ah hah. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419/29 "2012-04-16T13:44:28Z")
> [@Jodi](#): > > THEN WHAT HAPPENS??? Apologies to anyone who may now have this song stuck in their head as well. [light-hearted snark]You know, there’s this website called “Youtube” that has all sorts of songs and videos and things. You can search on them and everything. Going there and searching “froggy went a courtin” turns up [721 videos](http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=froggy+went+a+courtin&oq=froggy+went&aq=0&aqi=g10&aql=&gs_nf=1&gs_l=youtube-psuggest.3.0.0l10.330.4179.0.6953.29.28.8.2.2.1.197.1752.13j5.18.0.). [/LH snark] ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419/30 "2012-04-16T13:50:46Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > [light-hearted snark]You know, there’s this website called “Youtube” that has all sorts of songs and videos and things. You can search on them and everything. Going there and searching “froggy went a courtin” turns up [721 videos](http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=froggy+went+a+courtin&oq=froggy+went&aq=0&aqi=g10&aql=&gs_nf=1&gs_l=youtube-psuggest.3.0.0l10.330.4179.0.6953.29.28.8.2.2.1.197.1752.13j5.18.0.). [/LH snark] If they had Youtube in the year 2000, that might have helped her. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419/31 "2012-04-16T14:11:02Z")
Goodness! ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419/32 "2012-04-16T14:12:41Z")
Oh, dear. Has anyone mentioned the last verse with the zombies yet? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419/33 "2012-04-16T14:43:19Z")
Zombies went a-walking and did they munch, uh-huh ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419/34 "2012-04-16T14:45:43Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Zombies went a-walking and did they munch, uh-huh And your cerebellum made a tasty lunch, uh-huh… ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419/35 "2012-04-16T16:32:17Z")
> [@SanibelMan](#): > > 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 I had that record when I was a kid! Apparently, it’s been [re-released on CD](http://www.amazon.com/Childrens-Concert-Pete-Seeger/dp/B0012GMVYO/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1334593820&sr=1-1), with a bunch more tracks than I remember on the original LP. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419/36 "2012-04-16T19:05:57Z")
> [@Jodi](#): > > 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_ Okay, I have to ask… did anybody else think of Jerry Mouse’s guitar playing Uncle Pecos (who taught me the word “Crambone”)? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419/37 "2012-04-16T19:07:23Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Okay, I have to ask… did anybody else think of Jerry Mouse’s guitar playing Uncle Pecos (who taught me the word “Crambone”)? Post #13, yes. (Although, like you, I agree that it was “Crambone” not “HAMBONE”!) ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2012, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419/38 "2012-04-16T20:00:52Z")
> [@Dendarii\_Dame](#): > > It doesn’t have to be gory, just end it early. “Miss Mousie will you marry me? mm-hmm.(3x) And then we two will happy be, mm-hmm.” > > “Without my Uncle Rat’s consent, mm-hmm (3x) I would not wed the President, mm-hmm.” > > “So Uncle Rat he went to town, mm-hmm (3x) and bought his niece a wedding gown mm-hmm.” > > When I sang this to my son, I always ended it at that point. There have probably been 180 new versions released since this thread started. Besides the good Dylan version mentioned above, I have one by Mike Oldfield, of all people, which has the marry the president verse and then Uncle Rat laughed and slapped his fat side Uncle Rat laughed and slapped his fat side To think his niece would be a bride. They all get swallowed up by a big black snake in the end, but not as bloodily. I’m betting there is a Folklore PhD dissertation out there somewhere evaluating all the versions. ---
**Author:** ![pohjonen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pohjonen/32/423_2.png) [@pohjonen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pohjonen)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419/39 "2012-04-17T03:56:26Z")
I remember this by the Brothers Four: As I recall the last verse went “That’s it, Clyde, better hit the road, farewell. That’s it, Clyde, better hit the road, goodbye. That’s it, Clyde, better hit the road, You ain’t no frog you’re a horny toad, Farewell, goodbye, adios. Farewell, goodbye, adios.” ---
**Author:** ![Bamboo\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@Bamboo\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bamboo_Boy)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419/40 "2012-04-25T20:43:18Z")
I think it’s super weird that “King Kong Kitchie Kitchie Ki-Me-Oh” (spelling may vary, I think) is the same (sort of) as “Froggy Went a’ Courtin’”. It’s not the same melody, but it IS the same story and much of the same text. I prefer KKKKKMO to FWaC. Check it out: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2erx8MEaXxE/hqdefault.jpg "King Kong Kitchie Ki-Me-O") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2erx8MEaXxE) How catchy and sweet is that? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/froggy-went-acourtin/13419.md?page=1)