Monday, July 7, 2014

Lily Pads

Well, if each of these pads has a couple of frogs associated with it, and they all went a walking, that would be one thing. But if these "Froggies All Went A-Courtin'", there would be one heck of a crowded frog pond here in less than 21 days. The traditional English folk tune"A Frog Went A-Courting" dates all the way back to 1548 and has many alternate titles and lyrics. As you might imagine, it is also found in many different countries and languages. Mom taught it to me as "A Frog Went A-Walking". My guess is that she just didn't want to bring into the conversation the added vocabulary exercise that would have surrounded the word 'courtin'.
Outta of sight; outta mind?
Who was she kidding?
Did anyone one else have it among their kiddie soundtrack?
Heck, even Dylan has a version on one of his albums. 

"...And what do you think they had for supper?
 A fried mosquito and bread and butter! 
A-hum, a-hum."

19 comments:

  1. well i had no idea it was so old! i didn't have that in my collection but when i was really little i belonged to a disney album club and once a month or so i'd get a new album that had a book attached, like 101 dalmatians, aristocats, peter pan...i wish i still had them! i also had a cool little aristocats record player!

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  2. Now I'm wondering if I'll hear the tune running through my head for the rest of the day. Yep, brings back memories.

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  3. can't say i learned that one. :)

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    1. With that back pond of yours, you might want to acquire the lyrics. hahahaha

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  4. Fine lily pond photo. Sure, didn't we all hear the Froggie went a courtin' song? As a kid my image had more to do with bringing flowers and candy. No need to sanitize the lyrics. I'm just happy that the environment can still support frogs. Children's songs often comes from ancient times. Ring Around the Rosy dates back to the black death.

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  5. Reminds me that GIverny needs to be on my next Paris To Do List! Lovely photo Bird. V

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  6. I don't think it was part of my childhood song book but, "Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree" still resonates in my head from time to time. Laugh Kookaburra, laugh!

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  7. Mum's will try anything to delay THAT conversation :)

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  8. Fantastic! Imagine all those in bloom.

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  9. I don't remember it but I love your pic!

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  10. Don't know the song, but I love the image. All those lily pads remind me of an enormous game of hopscotch!

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  11. I don't know if I've ever heard it before. Lovely shot!

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  12. I don't think I remember it, but I think the frogs and toads in my neighborhood are making up for it now. They're working on froggie symphonies.

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  13. Miss Piggy would never find Kermit in there!

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  14. OK, I recognize the tune, just not the words. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFJLbMVgS-E

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  15. Not heard it before but enjoyed your take on it!

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  16. My memory is of the Burle Ives version. I haven't heard of anybody goin' a courtin' since Matlock was canceled.

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  17. Only v a g u e l y recall that song . . but now it'll probably nag at my brain all day long. Thanks so much. Not. xx

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