LL-L: "Songs" LOWLANDS-L, 26.JAN.2000 (03) [Ap/E]

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 26.JAN.2000 (03) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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From: Margaret [oneko at mindspring.com]
Subject: Songs

Sandy scrievit:

>While we're on the subject of Appalachian songs, I wonder if anyone could
>tell me if "Frog Went a-Courtin'" is Appalachian? I ask because I've always
>thought it sounded like it, and since I'll be putting the Scots version on
>my website it would be interesting to be able to explain the Appalachian
>connection if there is one. The first verse as I know it is:
>
>Frog went a-courtin and he did ride,
>Mhmmm!
>Frog went a-courtin and he did ride,
>Mhmmm!
>Frog went a-courtin and he did ride,
>Sword and pistol by his side,
>Mhmmm!
>Mhmmm!
>Mhmmm!
>
>I don't remember the rest!

(This is the right day to be talking about songs---Happy Birthday,
Rab, where'er ye be!)

'The Courtship of the Frog and the Mouse' is quite old (17th c. at
least---I seem to remember a version being collected by Child, but I
might be fogged about that), and does indeed have the Appalachian
version you identify.  But if I recall correctly, the earliest
collected version is English, from a broadside.

Perhaps oddly, the song always sounds African, to me, both in its
subject matter and in its call-and-response style.  Yet I'm not sure
how that could be, given its age and what's known of its origin.  Ah
weell.

Here's ane version fae Appalachia, onyway:

Frawg went a-corten, he did raad.
Uh-huh! Mmm-hmmm!
Frawg went a-corten, he did raad,
Sword [pron. 'sword', not 'sord'] an pistel baa hiz saad.
Uh-huh!  Mmm-hmmm!

He rid up to Miz Mousie's door.
Uh-huh! Mmm-hmmm!
He rid up to Miz Mousie's door,
Waar he hed ofttimes bin before.
Uh-huh! Mmm-hmmm!

He set Miz Mousie upawn hiz knee.
Uh-huh! Mmm-hmmm!
He set Miz Mousie 'pawn hiz knee,
An sez 'Miz Mouse, won't ye maary me?'
Uh-huh! Mmm-hmmm!

Miz Mousie sez ''fore A do that,'
Uh-huh! Mmm-hmmm!
Miz Mousie sez ''fore A do that,
A must ask ma Uncle Rat.'
Uh-huh! Mmm-hmmm!

'Without ma Uncle Rat's consent,'
Uh-huh! Mmm-hmmm!
'Without ma Uncle Rat's consent,
A would not maary the Prezident!'
Uh-huh! Mmm-hmmm!

Uncle sez 'A'm much afraid,'
Uh-huh! Mmm-hmmm!
Uncle sez 'A'm much afraid,
If'n ye don't take Frog, yew'll dah an old maid!'
Uh-uh!  Mmm-hmmm!

Then Uncle Rat rid off to town,
Uh-huh! Mmm-hmmm!
Then Uncle Rat rid off to town,
To bah hiz niece a wedden gown.
Uh-huh! Mmm-hmmm!

O whar'll th' wedden supper be?
Uh-huh! Mmm-hmmm!
O whar'll th' wedden supper be?
Over yander bah th' saar-apple tree.
Uh-huh! Mmm-hmmm!

First to araav wuz Bumble Bee
Uh-huh! Mmm-hmmm!
First to araav wuz Bumble Bee,
A-playin hiz fiddle 'pon his knee!
Uh-huh! Mmm-hmmm!

Next to araav wuz Ol' Grey Goose.
Uh-huh! Mmm-hmmm!
Next to araav wuz Ol' Grey Goose,
A taste o' corn, and she cut loose,
Uh-huh!  Do tell!  [variations/side comments add to the humor, of
course]

Next to araav wuz a fam'ly o' Aynts
Uh-huh! Mmm-hmmm!
Next to araav wuz a fam'ly o' Aynts
They's at ever' party, mus' luv t' daynse!
Uh-huh! That's right!

Last to araav wuz ol' Tom Cat
Uh-huh! Mmm-hmmm!
Last to araav wuz ol' Tom Cat
Scairt all the guests, knocked 'm flat!
Uh-huh! Mmm-hmmm!

Mouse an Frog, they lit fer the hills!
Uh-huh! Mmm-hmmm!
Mousie an Frog lit out fer the hills,
An if'n they hain't stoppt, they's a-runnin still!
Uh-huh! Mmm-hmmm!

[spoken, during banjo break]
Nor they didn't stop t'pack ther traps, neither!
[traps=luggage]

[softly, reflectively]
So thet wuz the end o' him an her.
Uh-huh!  Mmm-hmm!
Thet wuz the end o' him an her,
So won't be no tads a-covered in fur! [tads=tadpoles]
[spoken] Nosir, there won't!
[I feel a bit uncomfortable about this last line because it seems to
hark to ideas about the undesirability of mixed marriages, but
that's how I heard it]

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