I've been in Wuhan, China for about two weeks with no guitar, but last night someone brought me one, so after a delightful dinner that consisted of hot pot, crayfish, dumplings and fungus we had a singalong, which included "Country Roads" by John Denver, a Bob Dylan/OCMS song, a few of my songs, and this old English folk song "Frog Went A-Courtin".
11 of us (two Americans and 9 Chinese), sat in a little gazebo in the middle of a park, sang our hearts out, and ate some watermelon.
In honor of the moment I recorded this song today in the echoey room I'm staying in. I don't have a proper mic and it's a bit raw, but perhaps it's meant to be sung this way anyway.
Like so many folk songs, "Frog Went A Courtin'" has lots of versions with different verses, and some take a dark turn, with most of the characters getting eaten up. However, I sang a short version here that doesn't end in morbidity. I hope you enjoy this, and thanks again to @DSound for this platform!
*The photo above is from a walk before the sing-along.
Lyrics:
Frog went a-courtin' and he did ride, uh-huh
Frog went a-courtin' and he did ride, uh-huh
Frog went a-courtin' and he did ride
With a sword and a pistol by his side, uh-huh.
Well he rode right up to Miss Mousey's door, uh-huh
He rode right up to Miss Mousey's door, uh-huh
He rode right up to Miss Mousey's door
Gave three loud raps and a very big roar, uh-huh.
Said, "Miss Mouse, are you within ?" uh-huh
Said he, "Miss Mouse, are you within ?" uh-huh
Said, "Miss Mouse, are you within ?"
"Yes, kind sir, I sit and spin," uh-huh.
He took Miss Mousey on his knee, uh-huh
Took Miss Mousey on his knee, uh-huh
Took Miss Mousey on his knee
Said, "Miss Mousey, will you marry me ?" uh-huh.
"Without my uncle Rat's consent, uh-huh
Without my uncle Rat's consent, uh-huh
Without my uncle Rat's consent
I wouldn't marry the president, uh-huh".
Uncle Rat laughed and he shook his fat sides, uh-huh
Uncle Rat laughed and he shook his fat sides, uh-huh
Uncle Rat laughed and he shook his fat sides
To think his niece would be a bride, uh-huh.
Where shall the wedding supper be ? uh-huh
Where shall the wedding supper be ? uh-huh
Where shall the wedding supper be ?
Way down yonder in a hollow tree, uh-huh.
What should the wedding supper be ? uh-huh
What should the wedding supper be ? uh-huh
What should the wedding supper be ?
Fried mosquito in a black-eyed pea, uh-huh.
A little piece of cornbread layin' on a shelf, uh-huh
A little piece of cornbread layin' on a shelf, uh-huh
A little piece of cornbread layin' on a shelf
If you want any more, you can sing it yourself, uh-huh.
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