The informant learned the following folk song, called Froggy Went a-Courtin, at Rendezvous . . . a campout. [He] learned it at a campout from several other people who were singing it round a fire playing guitar and a banjo. The lyrics are as follows:
Froggy went a-courtin’ and a-he did ride, mm-hmm, mm-hmm
Froggy went a-courtin’ and a-he did ride, mm-hmm, mm-hmm
Froggy went a courtin’ and a-he did ride,
Sword and a pistol by his side, mm-hmm, mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
Froggy went down to Miss Mousies house, mm-hmm, mm-hmm
Froggy went down to Miss Mousies house, mm-hmm, mm-hmm
Froggy went down to Miss Mousies house,
Wanted to marry that cute little mouse, mm-hmm, mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
Sat Miss Mousie down on his knee, mm-hmm, mm-hmm
Sat Miss Mousie down on his knee, uh-huh, uh-huh
Sat Miss Mousie down on his knee,
Said Miss Mousie, would you marry me, mm-hmm, mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
Not without Uncle Rat’s consent, uh-huh, uh-huh
Not without Uncle Rat’s consent, uh-huh, uh-huh
Not without Uncle Rat’s consent,
She would not marry the President, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh.
Here is a sound clip of the informant singing the song: Froggy Went a-Courtin’
The informant says that the only place hes ever performed the song or heard it performed is at campouts. His opinion of the song is that its a great little song. Its great for a singalong; its very easy to pick up.
The song is rather repetitive and, according to the informant, has many more verses, so it does seem like the type of song that anyone could pick up, sing until he or she got tired of it, and then make up his or her own verses. My guess would be that the lyrics are quite flexible. The song is listed in the songbook 500 Best-loved Song Lyrics with slighty different phrasing as an English folk song (103) and there is actually a musical of the same name by Stanley Werner based on the song. The song is also interesting as a tale; it appears to promote the traditional value of female obedience.
Sources:
Herder, Ronald. 500 Best-loved Song Lyrics. Mineola, NY: Dover, 1998.
Werner, Stanley. Froggie Went ACourtin. Woodstock, Illinois: Dramatic Publishing, 1970.