The Frog Would A-Wooing Ride


1. It was the frog in the well,
Humble dum, humble dum,
And the merry mouse in the mill,
Tweedle, tweedle, twino.

2. The frog would a-wooing ride,
Humble dum, humble dum,
Sword and buckler by his side,
Tweedle, tweedle, twino.

3. When upon his high horse set,
Humble dum, humble dum,
His boots they shown as black as jet,
Tweedle, tweedle, twino.

4. When he came to the merry mill pin,
Humble dum, humble dum,
Lady Mouse beene you within?
Tweedle, tweedle, twino.

5. Then came out that dusty mouse,
…
I am lady of this house;
…

6. Hast thou any mind of me?
I have e’en great mind of thee.

7. Who shall this marriage make?
Our lords, which is the rat.

8. What shall we have to our supper?
Three beans in a pound of butter.

9. But, when supper they were at,
The frog, the mouse, and e’en the rat,

10. Then came in Tib, our cat,
And caught the mouse e’en by the back,

11. Then did they separate:
The frog leapt on the floor so flat;

12. Then came in Dick, our drake,
And drew the frog e’en to the lake,

13. The rat he ran up the wall,
And so the company parted all.


From Thomas Ravenscroft’s 1609 work “Melismata”.  Found in “English Songs and Ballads” compiled by Crosland in 1902.  That book was described as “a bringing together of poetical pieces which are, presumably, well-known to the average person.”