Froggie Went A-courtin by Burl Ives

Traditional. You need a capo on some fret I think. Don't know what one though, sorry.


C
Mister Frog went a-courtin, he did ride, uh-huh, uh-huh.
                                                     G7
Mister Frog went a-courtin, he did ride, uh-huh, uh-huh.
C
Mister Frog went a-courtin, he did ride,
                                            G7
A sword and buckler by his side, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh.



C

He bridled and saddled a big fat snail, uh-huh, uh-huh.
                                           G7

He bridled and saddled a big fat snail, uh-huh, uh-huh.
C

He bridled and saddled a big fat snail,
                                                          G7
And rode it 'tween the horns and tail, uh-huh, uh-huh. uh-huh.

(all remaining verses same lines, rhythm and meter,

so duplication omitted)



C

He rode up to Miss Mousie's door,
 G7

Where he had often been before.


C

He called "Miss Mouse, are you within?"
 G7

"Yes sir, I'm sitting down to spin."



C

He took Miss Mouse upon his knee
 G7

And asked "My Dear, will you marry me?"



C

"I'll have to ask my Uncle Rat,
 G7

To see what he will say to that."


C

"Without my Uncle Rat's consent
 G7

I wouldn't marry the President."


C

Frog jumped on his snail and rode away.
 G7

He vowed to come another day.



C

Now Uncle Rat, when he came home
 G7

Asked "Who's been here since I was gone?"



C

"A very fine frog's been calling here
 G7

And asked for me to be his dear."



C

Uncle Rat, he laughed and shook his sides
 G7

To think his niece would be a bride.



C

So Uncle Rat rode into town
 G7

To buy Miss Mouse a wedding gown.



C

Say, where will the wedding supper be?
 G7

Just down by the river in a hollow tree.



C

Say, what will the wedding supper be?
 G7

One green bean and a black-eyed pea.



C

What else will the wedding supper be?
 G7

A fried mosquito and a roasted flea.



C

Pray tell us how Miss Mousie dressed?
 G7

In a cobweb veil and her Sunday best.


C
And what did Mister Froggie wear?
 G7

Sky-blue pants and a doublet fair.


SEE ALTERNATE ENDING AFTER VERSE 27



C

First guest to call was the Bumble Bee,
 G7

And he played them a fiddle tune upon his knee.



C

The next to come were the Duck and Drake,
 G7

Who ate every crumb of the wedding cake.



C

"Come Miss Mouse, may we have some beer,
 G7

That your uncle and I may have some cheer?"



C
"Pray, Mister Frog, will ye sing a song
 G7

That's bright and cheery and shan't last long?"



C
"Indeed, Miss Mouse," replied the Frog,
 G7

"A cold has made me as hoarse as a hog."



C

"Since a cold in the head has laid you up,
 G7

I'll sing you a song that I just made up."



C

The all sat down and started to chat,

 G7

When in came the kittens and the cat.



C

The bride, in fright, runs up the wall,
 G7

Turns her ankle and down she falls.



C

They all went sailing 'cross the lake
 G7


And all got swallowed by a big black snake.



C

And the ones who escaped were one, two, three,
 G7


The Frog, the Rat and Miss Mousie.



C

The Mouse and Frog went off to France,
 G7

And that's the end of their romance.



C

There's bread and jam upon the shelf,

 G7

If you want some, just help yourself.




ALTERNATE ENDING:
C
First to come in were two little ants,

 G7

Fixing around to have a dance.



C

Next to come in was a fat sassy lad,
 G7

Thinking himself as big as his dad.
C

Thinks himself a man indeed
 G7

Because he chews the tobacco weed.



C

And next to come in was a big tomcat,
 G7

He swallowed the Frog, and the Mouse and the Rat.



C

Next to come in was a big old snake,
 G7

He chased the party into the lake.



C

So that's the end of one, two, three,
 G7

The Rat, the Frog, and Miss Mousie.


Enjoy!

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