Frog Went a-Courting

"Frog Went a-Courtin (Roud No. 16; ) is an English-language folk song. Its first known appearance is in Wedderburn's Complaynt of Scotland (1549) under the name "The Frog cam to the Myl dur", though this is in Scots rather than English. There is a reference in the London Company of Stationers' Register of 1580 to "A Moste Strange Weddinge of the Frogge and the Mouse." There are many texts of the ballad; however the oldest known musical version is found in Thomas Ravenscroft's Melismata in 1611.

Summary
The lyrics involve a frog courting a mouse (Missie Mouse). The mouse is willing to marry the frog, but she must ask permission of Uncle Rat. In other versions such as "King Kong Kitchie Kitchie Ki-Me-O" by Chubby Parker, the frog fights and kills Miss Mouse's other suitors (an owl, bat and bumblebee) after they interrupt his proposal. Uncle Rat's permission received, the two work out details of the wedding. Some versions end with a cat, snake or other creature devouring or chasing the couple and wedding guests. Sometimes the frog gets away, but is later swallowed by a duck. Usually, the final verse states that there's a piece of food on the shelf, and that if the listener wants to hear more verses, they have to sing it themselves.

Origin
Spaeth has a note claiming that the original referred to François, Duke of Anjou's wooing of Elizabeth I of England; however, that was in 1579 and the version in Scots had been published thirty years earlier. If the second known version (1611, in Melismata, also reprinted in Chappell) were the oldest, this might be possible — there are seeming political references to "Gib, our cat" and "Dick, our drake." But the Wedderburn text, which at least anticipates the song, predates the reign of Queen Elizabeth by nine years, and Queen Mary by four. If it refers to any queen at all, it would seemingly have to be Mary Stuart. Evelyn K. Wells, however, in the liner notes to the LP Brave Boys; New England traditions in folk music (New World Records 239, 1977), suggests that the original may have been satirically altered in 1580 when it was recorded in the register of the London Company of Stationers, as this would have been at the height of the unpopular courtship.

According to Albert Jack in his book "Pop Goes the Weasel: The secret meanings of nursery rhymes" (pp. 33–37, copyright 2008), the earliest known version of the song was published in 1549 as "The Frog Came to the Myl Dur" in Robert Wedderburn's Complaynt of Scotland. He states that in 1547 the Scottish Queen Consort, Mary of Guise, under attack from Henry VIII, sought to have her daughter Princess Mary (later Mary Queen of Scots), "Miss Mouse", married to the three-year old French Prince Louis – the "frog" – and that the song resurfaced a few years later, with changes, when another French (frog) wooing caused concern – that of the Duke of Anjou and Queen Elizabeth I in 1579. Elizabeth even nicknamed Anjou, her favorite suitor, "the frog".

Another theory traces the song to Suffolk: "Roley, Poley, Gammon and Spinach" refer to four families of Suffolk notables, Rowley, Pole, Bacon and Greene.

Popular culture
The song has been heard by many people (as "Froggie Went a-Courtin) in the 1953 Tom and Jerry cartoon Pecos Pest, which uses a version arranged and performed by Shug Fisher, in character as "Uncle Pecos." In Pecos Pest, Jerry's Uncle Pecos stays with him while getting ready for a television appearance, and continues to pluck Tom's whiskers to use as guitar strings throughout the cartoon. It is an improvised version with many lyrics that are unintelligible, and many changed. For example, he stutters and gives up when he tries to say "hickory tree" and says "way down yonder by the ...", stammers out the names of several types of trees, finally settling on "eucalyptus". He also mentions while continuing the music "That's the hard part right in there, n-n-n-n-nephew!" and "there's a yodel in thar somewhar, but it's a little too high f'r me."

Some refer to this song as "Crambone", as it is repeated at the end of many lines and said more clearly than the other words in this version. For example, the line is "Froggie went a-courtin' he did ride/Crambone". Fisher, in character as Pecos, delivers the coda with a glottal stutter on the letter c. Woody Guthrie's version used "Hey-hey", and Bob Dylan's version used "uh-huh" in the same way after several lines.

Other examples in film and TV include:
 * American composer William Grant Still featured the song in his Miniatures trio (1948) and later, quintet (1963).
 * In the 1941 film Sergeant York, sung by Lee White.
 * Keith (played by Roger Sloman) plays a version on banjo before being distracted by a 'lovely robin' in Mike Leigh's Nuts in May.
 * In "The Muppets Valentine Show" (a 1973 pilot version of The Muppet Show), Kermit the Frog goes a-courtin' Miss Mousey—and ends up fighting a giant rat romantic rival. In the end, Miss Mousey goes off with a third suitor while Kermit and the rat lie prone nearby, exhausted from their battle.
 * Evelyn Lambart directed the animated Mr. Frog Went A-Courting in 1974.
 * A 1977 animated version of the folk tune features a happier ending for Froggie and Miss Mousie: they honeymoon around the world and give birth to two frog/mouse combination children and complete the song with "If you want more, you've got to sing it yourself!"-
 * In the 1980 film, Little Darlings, the girls are singing it when Angel (Kristy McNichol) returns after having sex with Randy in the boathouse.
 * In the 1983 Blake Edwards remake of The Man Who Loved Women, Barry Corbin's character sings this song as he undresses for sex with his wife, played by Kim Basinger.
 * Ethan Hawke's character Troy Dyer is singing the song on his guitar at the end of the film Reality Bites when Winona Ryder's character Lelaina Pierce comes and tackles him on the couch.
 * A version is sung in the 1993 The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends animated adaption of The Tailor of Gloucester. This is one of the versions that uses the lyric "Kitty Alone".
 * Danny Tanner briefly sings the song while giving his oldest daughter D.J. guitar lessons in the sitcom Full House, in the episode "The Seven Month Inch (Part 2)".
 * Thomas Raith hums the song during a standoff with the Denarians in Jim Butcher's Small Favor, a novel of the Dresden Files.
 * The Dexter's Laboratory episode "Hamhocks and Armlocks" begins with the titular Dexter and his family singing the song on a road trip.
 * Bender sings a version of the song in the Futurama episode "Bendin' in the Wind".
 * Bobby Hill is heard to sing the opening verse on an episode of King of the Hill.
 * It has also been used in the episode of The Colbert Report that aired on May 23, 2007. This version was sung by Burl Ives. Colbert also sung a portion of the song on the June 18, 2007 episode, during an interview with Toby Keith.
 * The song was performed on The Fast Show by the character Bob Fleming as one of 'Bob Fleming's Country Favourites'.
 * An explicit adaption of the "King Kong Kitchie-Kitchie Ki-Me-Oh" version, named "What Do You Say" by Mickey Avalon, appeared on the soundtrack of the 2009 film The Hangover.
 * Mike Oldfield covered as a B side of Mike Oldfield's Single.
 * In Six Feet Under Season 4, Episode 3 "Parallel Play", Russell Corwin, played by Ben Foster, sings the chorus over and over on a stage at a party.
 * The song is frequently sung in The Return of Peter Grimm, an RKO film released in 1935, and the second screen adaptation of David Belasco's Broadway hit. The film starred Lionel Barrymore.
 * In 1941, the German composer Paul Hindemith wrote a series of variations "Frog He Went a Courting" for cello and piano.
 * In Van Helsing Season 2, Episode 11 "Be True", Sam (Christopher Heyerdahl), repeatedly sings and listens to the song.
 * In Barney's Talent Show, the song was told by the puppets and using slightly altered lyrics.
 * An instrumental of the song is played in the 1992 VHS "Let's Draw!" in the scene where a number 8 is drawn into a frog.
 * The song is mentioned in Lana Del Rey's 2023 song Kintsugi.

Other appearances

 * In the first volume of Bill Willingham's graphic novel series Fables, the janitor "Flycatcher" (in fairytales, the Frog Prince) sings the opening line as he mops.
 * In the novel Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, a reference to the song is made when the character Antony J. Crowley is faced with a large traffic jam, says "hey ho!" To himself and begins ramming his way through, echoing the refrain from Sir Antony Rowley.

Recordings
The song has been recorded by Almeda Riddle, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger and many other musicians. Folk singer Burl Ives performed perhaps the best known version, one in which Frog and Miss Mousie are wed. Other versions include:


 * Thomas Ravenscroft version (1611)
 * "T. Ravenscroft: Songs, Rounds and Catches", Consort of Musicke, Rooley
 * "Cakes and Ale - Catches and Partsongs", Pro Cantione Antiqua, Mark Brown
 * Albert Beale: "A Frog He Would a-Wooing Go" (on "Folk Songs of Britain, Vol. X: Animal Songs")
 * Brothers Four: "Frogg" (Columbia Records single, 1961), US #32; also sequel, "Frogg No. 2" on LP The Brothers Four Song Book (Columbia, 1961)
 * Blind Willie McTell: "Hillbilly Willie's Blues" uses the tune of "Frog"
 * Anne, Zeke, and Judy Canova (as "Juliet Canova"): "Frog Went a-Courtin (Brunswick 264, 1928; on "The Story that the Crow Told Me, Vol. 2", 2000)
 * Elizabeth Cronin: "Uncle Rat Went Out to Ride" (on "Folk Songs of Britain, Vol. X: Animal Songs")
 * Drusilla Davis: "Frog Went a-Courting" (AFS 347 B, 1935)
 * Danny Dell And The Trends: "Froggy Went a Courting" (Rockin' RR160 single, 1960)
 * Excepter "Knock Knock" (or "KK") on the Carrots single.
 * Flat Duo Jets: "Frog Went a Courtin on Go Go Harlem Baby (1991)
 * Otis High & Flarrie Griffin: "Froggie Went a-Courtin (on "Hand-Me-Down Music - Old Songs, Old Friends: 1 - Traditional Music of Union County, North Carolina", 1979)
 * Tom Glazer: Froggie went a courting"
 * Bradley Kincaid: "Froggie Went a Courting" (Silvertone 5188, 1927; Supertone 9209, 1928)
 * Adolphus Le Ruez: "The Frog and the Mouse" (on "Folk Songs of Britain, Vol. X: Animal Songs")
 * Pleaz Mobley: "Froggie Went a-Courting" (AFS; on LC12)
 * Chubby Parker: "King Kong Kitchie Kitchie Ki-Me-O" (Columbia 15296D, 1928; on Anthology of American Folk Music, CrowTold01) (Supertone 9731, 1930) (Conqueror 7889, 1931)
 * Annie Paterson: "The Frog and the Mouse" (on "Folk Songs of Britain, Vol. X: Animal Songs")
 * Unknown artist(s): "A Frog He Would a-Wooing Go" (Harper-Columbia 1162, c. 1919)
 * John Jacob Niles: "The Frog Went Courting" (on "American Folk & Gambling Songs", 1956)
 * Dorothy Olsen (the Singing Schoolteacher): "Frog Went a-Courtin (children's record, RCA/Bluebird WBY-54)(1956)
 * Packie Manus Byrne (Various – Songs From Ulster): "The Frog's Wedding" (Mulligan – LUNA 001 )(Recorded between 1955 and 1962, published in 1977)
 * Shug Fisher: "Froggie Went a-Courtin (in MGM "Tom and Jerry" cartoon "Pecos Pest", 1955)
 * Tom Tall: "Froggy Went a-Courting" (1958)
 * Elvis Presley: "Froggie Went a-Courtin (rehearsal jam, 1970, released on "Walk a Mile in My Shoes - The Essential 70's Masters", 1995)
 * Tex Ritter: "Froggy Went a-Courtin (on "American Legend", 1973)
 * Romina Power: "Paolino maialino" (with Italian lyrics written by Paolo Limiti, released as single in 1974)
 * Larry Groce: "Frog Went a-Courtin'" (on "Disney Children's Favorite Songs 4", 1990)
 * The Wiggles: "A Froggy He Would a-Wooing Goo" (on "The Wiggles", 1991)
 * Bob Dylan: "Froggie Went a Courtin (on Good as I Been to You, 1992)
 * Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: "King Kong Kitchee Kitchee Ki-Mi-O", B-side to the single "Henry Lee" (1996)
 * Laurie Berkner: "Froggie Went a-Courtin on Victor Vito (1999)
 * Dan Zanes: "King Kong Kitchie" (Festival Five Records, 2000)
 * Mike Oldfield: "Froggy Went a-Courting" (on Mike Oldfield's Single, UK edition, 1974)
 * Altan, "Uncle Rat" (on The Blue Idol) (2002)
 * The Can Kickers, "Froggy Went a Courtin on Mountain Dudes (2003)
 * James Reyne, And the Horse You Rode in On, (2005)
 * Bruce Springsteen, "Froggie Went a Courtin (on We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions, 2006)
 * Marc Gunn, "Froggie Went a-Courtin (on "A Tribute to Love", 2008)
 * Laura Veirs, "King Kong Kitchie Kitchie Ki-Me-O" (on "Tumble Bee: Laura Veirs Sings Folk Songs for Children", 2011)
 * Over 150 recorded versions are listed on the "Seeger Sessions" website
 * Tom Scott, "Froggie Went a Courtin" Signature record number 15098 78 RPM
 * French adaptation by Claude François : "Monsieur Crapaud" (Mister Toad) (1975)
 * Suzy Bogguss, "Froggie Went a-Courtin (on "American Folk Songbook", 2011)
 * Elizabeth Mitchell, "Froggie Went a-Courtin on Blue Clouds 2012
 * Careful, "Frog Went a'Courting" (on "Because I Am Always Talking", 2012)
 * Adaptation of subject matter to a different tune and meter by John McCutcheon on his children's album Howjadoo
 * Alfred Deller and The Deller Consort
 * Gerhard Schöne, "Frosch und Maus", German re-working of the song (on "Kinderlieder aus aller Welt", 1986)
 * Brita Koivunen and the Four Cats singing quartet, "Saku Sammakko", Finnish re-working of the song (on "Mörri-Möykyn toivekonsertti - 27 toivottua lastenlaulua", 1961)
 * Steve Simmons and Dario Ré, "Froggie Went a-Courtin (2021)
 * Mark Lewis, "Frog Went A-Courtin'" (on songstory/storysong, 2009)
 * Mary O'Hara, "The Frog Song" on her album "Songs of Ireland"

Alternative titles

 * "A Frog He Would a-Wooing Go"
 * "Crambone"
 * "Die Padda wou gaan opsit" (Afrikaans version in South Africa)
 * "Frog in the Well"
 * "Froggie Went a-Courtin
 * "Froggy Would a-Wooing Go"
 * "The Frog's Wooing"
 * "A Frog Went a-Walkin
 * "King Kong Kitchie Kitchie Ki-Me-O"
 * "There Lived a Puddie in the Well"
 * "There Was a Puggie in a Well"
 * "Y Broga Bach" (Welsh)
 * "Yo para ser feliz quiero un camión"
 * "Uncle rat went out to ride"