Froggie Went A-Courtin'

Good Morning,

Today I'm setting up for my art show at the Higgins Maxwell Gallery that opens this Friday. I played last night at a bluegrass jam on Bardstown Rd.

I want to feature my painting, Froggie Went A-Courtin' in today's blog. With all the verses and scenes in Froggie I had to be creative to fit them all in.

The scene is actually based loosely on a photo taken at Salem Lake in Winston-Salem. It was in the spring and the leaves of the trees had not come out. The largest tree of course was where Miss Mousie lived.

At the time I was looking at illusions so I put several in the painting as well as all the verses of the song.

Froggie Went A-Courtin’ 48" by 60" Acrylic on canvas. C 2006. The largest painting at 48" by 60" Froggie Went A-Courtin’ has the most scenes and verses. There are also impossible objects like the impossible stairs Froggie and his horse are doomed to climb (on far left of canvas. There is also one additional scene of the princess kissing the frog (hidden in the rocks and bush- lower center) and a surreal depiction of Froggie riding hidden behind the trees (ala Rene Magritte).

As the painting begins Froggie rides out of the lyrics (which is a painting in itself) along the path, meets Miss Mousie, proposes to Miss Mousie, gets Mister Rat’s blessing, then rides the path into the sky where the wedding takes place in a big pine tree. At the end poor Froggie is eaten by a big black snake. The path is really the snake, which winds throughout the picture.

Froggie is one of the oldest and most popular songs and includes many variations. The song first appears in 1549 Wedderburn's "Complaynt of Scotland."

Froggie Went A-Courtin'

Froggie went a-courtin' and he did ride, Uh-huh,
Froggie went a-courtin' and he did ride, Uh-huh,
Froggie went a-courtin' and he did ride,
With a sword and a pistol by his side, Uh-huh, Uh-huh, Uh-huh.

Well he rode up to Miss Mousey's door, Uh-huh,
Well he rode up to Miss Mousey's door, Uh-huh,
Well he rode up to Miss Mousey's door.
He hit it loud and made it roar, Uh-huh, Uh-huh, 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, Uh-huh, 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, Uh-huh, 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, Uh-huh, Uh-huh.

Oh where will the wedding party be? Uh-huh,
Where will the wedding party be? Uh-huh,
Where will the wedding party be?
Way down yonder in a holler tree, Uh-huh Uh-huh, Uh-huh.

Well, first to come were two little ants, Uh-huh,
First to come were two little ants, Uh-huh,
First to come were two little ants,
Fixin’ around to have a dance, Uh-huh Uh-huh, Uh-huh.

Next to come in was a bumble bee, Uh-huh
Next to come in was a bumble bee, Uh-huh
Next to come in was a bumble bee.
Bouncin’ a fiddle on his knee, Uh-huh, Uh-huh, Uh-huh.

Next to come was a big bull-frog, Uh-huh,
Next to come was a big bull-frog, Uh-huh,
Next to come was a big bull-frog,
He jumped up high and started to clog, Uh-huh Uh-huh, Uh-huh.

Next to come was a big tom cat, Uh-huh,
Next to come was a big tom cat, Uh-huh,
Next to come was a big tom cat,
He chased the mouse, the frog and the rat, Uh-huh Uh-huh, Uh-huh.

Mr. Frog went swimmin’ across the lake, Uh-huh,
Mr. Frog went swimmin’ across the lake, Uh-huh,
Mr. Frog went swimmin’ across the lake, (pause)
And he got swallowed up by a big black snake, Uh-huh Uh-huh, Uh-huh.

Gotta run,

Richard