"i refused to ask directions / just kept on driving like a fool / and when the interstate appeared"

[larryhammer]

My current favorite bedtime song to sing is "Here's to Cheshire," in a form that shows just about every folk process in action. My current lyrics:

An old green frog lived in a well
Ding-dang-dong go the wedding bells
An old green frog lived in a well
And a pretty little mouse lived under the mill
Ding-dang-dong go the wedding bells

(Chor.)
Here's to Cheshire, here's to cheese
Here's to the pear and the apple trees
And here's to the lovely straaaawberries
Ding-dang-dong go the wedding bells

Well, Froggy went a courting and he did ride
To ask Miss Mousie to be his bride

Well I'll have to ask my old Auntie Rat
Just what I should say to that

Aunt Rat laughed till her face turned red
To think that a frog and a mouse should wed

Who would weave the wedding gown?
Old Miss Spider from Pumpkin Town

Who would say the wedding vows?
Brother Robin up in the boughs

So pull the beer and pour the champagne
There'll never be a party like this again

This started as a half-remembered song from a beloved Pete Seeger record from my childhood, cobbled together by consulting and further mangling over the months two other versions of the lyrics, with one verse (the vows) invented wholesale for the pacing. No version I've looked at repeats the first line like I do, but that's how I've hummed it to myself over the years and so is the way that sounds right. The "just what I should say" line is rhythmically awkward -- it can be sung to the beats only by forcing -- but I haven't improvised a better yet. (ETA: Current version is "Just what answer I should make to that.")

And so the process continues. In a folk way

---L.

Subject quote from "Gethsemani Goodbye," Richard Shindell.

Comments

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

I know this song! But I don't know how I know it. It's a great version--and not the one I'm most familiar with--of the Frog Went A-Courtin' song.

ETA: Okay, I see that these lyrics are your lyrics. But this version, with the chorus of "here's to cheshire, here's to cheese," I know it!

[larryhammer]

Possibly the same Pete Seeger record I learned it from?

---L.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

YES!! I had this for my kids :-)

[larryhammer]

I loved that record as a small one. That and an Alan Hovhaness ETA symphony symphonic work that included humpbacked whale calls.

---L.

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

My grandmother used to sing Froggie Went a'Courting to us when we were little, oh, fifty years ago. I still remember the basic tune. Thanks for reminding me of more of the words.

[larryhammer]

The chorus of this version is rather different from the most common traditions.

---L.

[nineweaving.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's a lovely version!

Nine

[larryhammer]

It's great fun to drawl out those strawwwwww berries.

---L.

[sovay]

Here's to Cheshire, here's to cheese
Here's to the pear and the apple trees
And here's to the lovely straaaawberries

I haven't heard that in years! I don't associate Pete Seeger with the tune, but then I have no idea where I got it. Thank you for reminding me!

No version I've looked at repeats the first line like I do, but that's how I've hummed it to myself over the years and so is the way that sounds right.

I had a version on cassette that I used to fall asleep to as a child which included the repetition; it's still how I sing the song, which makes me want to compare notes with you in person where we could trade melodies. Female singer, played the harp, utterly blanking on her name. I'll see what I can dig up the next time I'm at my parents house.

[larryhammer]

Do, if you can. I'm definitely interested in comparing notes. (I've been considering recording myself, as it is.)

---L.