I’ve been having a lot of fun researching the history of the popular song Frog Went A Courtin’. There are many versions. It originated in Scotland over 450 years ago. There’s also a well-known British version called A Frog He Would A-wooing Go, which I’ve written about previously.
This song has also traveled around Canada and throughout the US. Along the way, many versions have cropped up – some with different tunes and names. One is called King Kong Kitchie Kitchie Ki-Me-O, while another is called Sing Song Kitty (Won’t You Ki-Me-O).
I think it would be interesting to collect and post different versions on Mama Lisa’s World. If you know any versions of King Kong Kitchie Kitchie Ki-Me-O or Sing Song Kitty, or any interesting variations of Frog Went A Courtin, please comment below.
We always welcome recordings if you’d like to sing it!
Thanks!
Lisa
This article was posted on Saturday, May 12th, 2007 at 6:06 pm and is filed under A Frog He Would A-wooing Go, American Kids Songs, Australia, British Children's Songs, Canada, Canadian Children's Songs, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, England, English, Frog Went A courtin', King Kong Kitchie Kitchie Ki-Me-O, Languages, Questions, Sing Song Kitty, There Was a Frog Lived in the Well, United Kingdom, USA. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
132 Responses to “The Many Versions of Frog Went A Courtin’”
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March 16th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
This version or very close to it appears in the old “Sergeant York” movie about WWI’s most decorated U.S. soldier. In the movie, the mail carrier is riding a mule and singing this song. I distinctly remember the sound of the “rinktum body meachy cambell” between every line. Here’s the link where I found the lyrics.
http://www.canacad.ac.jp:3445/25/174?view=print
Frog Went A-Courtin’
Kentucky Folk Song
1. Frog went a courtin’ and he did ride.
Rinktum body minchy cambo.
Sword and buckler by his side.
Rinktum body minchy cambo.
REFRAIN: Kimaneero down to Cairo, Kimaneero Cairo.
Shaddle-addle-adababa, ladababa linktum.
Rinktum body minchee cambo.
2. He rode right to Miss Mousie’s door,
Found Miss Mousie sweepin’ the floor. REFRAIN
3. He took Miss Mousie on his knee,
And said “Miss Mousie will you marry me?” REFRAIN
4. Without my Uncle Rat’s consent,
I could not marry the president. REFRAIN
5. Uncle Rat laughed and shook his sides,
To think his niece would be a bride. REFRAIN
6. Who will make the wedding gown?
Old Miss Rat from Pumpkin Town. REFRAIN
7. Where will the wedding supper be?
Way down yonder in a hollow tree. REFRAIN
8. What will the wedding supper be?
A fried mosquito and a black-eyed pea. REFRAIN
9. First to come was a bumblebee,
He set his fiddle on his knee. REFRAIN
10. Next to come was a doodle bug,
Carrying a water jug. REFRAIN
11. Next to come was a flying moth,
She laid out the table cloth. REFRAIN
12. Next to come was an itty-bitty flea
To dance a jig for the bumblebee. REFRAIN
13. Next to come was a big old cow,
She wanted to dance but she didn’t know how. REFRAIN
14. Next to come was a big black snake;
He ate up all the wedding cake. REFRAIN
15. Last to come was an old gray cat;
She swallowed up the mouse and ate up the rat. REFRAIN
16. Mr. Frog went hopping over the brook;
A duck came along and swallowed him up. REFRAIN
17. Now is the end of him and her;
Guess there won’t be no tadpoles covered with fur! REFRAIN
18. Little piece of cornbread lying on the shelf,
If you want any more you can sing it yourself. REFRAIN
May 25th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
Goodness, I’ve been singing this little ditty, from the movie, Sargent York, for years. I don’t know why it just stuck in my head. I never knew what the guy on the mule was saying. The only words I could make out were “…..Miss Mousie won’t you marry me.” and I thought I might have made that up!
So I want to thank you for solving this decade old mystery for me. Now I can happily sing the tune with correct words.
Rinktum body minchy cambo.
– Hallie
May 27th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
[…] I found interesting because it has the “kemo kimo” sound that we find some versions of Froggie Went a Courtin (which has Ki-Me-O in it)… …here’s another one we use to sing. ‘Member de […]
February 27th, 2010 at 1:34 pm
One version I heard (back in 1946!) was sung by one of my fourth-grade classsmates, who was from somewhere in the Ozarks. Her version was something like this:
Frog went a-courtin’ and he did ride,
Folderol de rinktum kinebo.
Sword and pistol by his side,
Folderol de rinktum kinebo.
Keel, keel, Captain Kale,
Folderol de rinktum kinebo.
The rest of the verses were like the first one you cite, except for the wedding supper verse:
What will the wedding supper be?
Folderol de rinktum kinebo.
One stringbean and a black-eyed pea,
Folderol de rinktum kinebo.
Keel, keel, Captain Kale,
Folderol de rinktum kinebo.
Since “kinebo” isn’t far removed from “ki-me-o,” I suspect a connection there.
I’ve heard many versions of the song, usually either the Seeger “Uh-huh,” or the old Celtic “Roly poly, gammon and spinach” refrain, but I believe the “Folderol de rinktum kinebo” and the “Keel, keel, Captain Kale” bits are unique. Incidentally, this version is the only one I ever heard in which the first line of each verse was never repeated.
May 26th, 2010 at 6:10 pm
hi lisa, I am looking for the words to an old children’s song, that went something like this….. there was a frog lived in the well sing a song kitty can’t you ki me o. me high me ho me in come sally sanger same time penny winker in step musrate bigger than a big cat sing a song kitty cant you ki me o.
also another children song i am looking for goes something like this, i had a pretty little kitty a pretty little kitty kat, i dressed him up in cowboy boots and a great big cowboy hat i sent him off a strolling on one summer day farmer brown’s old dog chased my kitty away.
If you know know the words to either song I would love to get them from you.
October 8th, 2010 at 9:34 pm
thanks for that. my son is learning this song in 2nd grade and even though I am a Kentucky native had never heard of it. We are grateful for the lyrics. We searched you tube but found nothing with the same lyrics they are giving him. These are great and accurate. Now if I can learn them, we will be doing great!
October 8th, 2010 at 9:38 pm
Thanks for writing! We put a lot of work into the site and love to hear when we’re helpful! -Mama Lisa
October 13th, 2010 at 6:31 am
I’m nearly 70 years old. My mother sang this to me while I was
in her lap….in the rocking chair…..probably one of the first
songs I heard. I’m a musician and have heard lots of versions.
The primary difference in all seems to be the many versions
of nonsense rhymes to finish off the verses.
True folk song tradition.
Unc
October 13th, 2010 at 8:57 am
Hi Uncle Reumus,
I totally agree with you… it’s neat to see the different versions.
If you’d ever like to sing this song for us, we’d love to post a recording!
Cheers!
Mama Lisa
October 14th, 2010 at 10:44 pm
From Sofia and Teresa in San Diego, California. Here’s the version we were raised with and taught by Grandma June. (Teresa’s mom, Sofia’s Grandma.) Grandma June learned it in school in the 1940’s or early 1950’s…in Michigan? in Ohio? Kansas?…she’s not sure where she lived at the time since they moved a lot. We hope you like it! :)
Frog went a courtin and he did ride, um-hum, um-hum
Frog went a courtin and he did ride
Sword and pistol by his side, um-hum, um-hum
He rode ’til he came to Mouse’s hall, um-hum, um-hum
He rode ’til he came to Mouse’s hall
He gave a knock and he gave a call, um-hum, um-hum
He said “Miss Mouse, are you within?”, um-hum, um-hum
He said “Miss Mouse, are you within?”
“Yes, kind sir, I sit and spin,” um-hum, um-hum
He took Miss Mouse upon his knee, um-hum, um-hum
He took Miss Mouse upon his knee
Said “Miss Mouse, will you marry me?”, um-hum, um-hum
“Oh, not without Uncle Rat’s consent”, um-hum, um-hum
“Oh, not without Uncle Rat’s consent,
Would I marry the president”, um-hum, um-hum
Uncle Rat laughed ’til he shook his sides, um-hum, um-hum
Uncle Rat laughed ’til he shook his sides
To think his neice to be a bride, um-hum, um-hum
Oh, where will the wedding supper be? um-hum, um-hum
Oh, where will the wedding supper be?
Yonder by that old oak tree, um-hum,um-hum
The first to come was a little moth, um-hum,um-hum
The first to come was a little moth
To spread and lay the table cloth, um-hum,um-hum
The next to come was a bumble bee, um-hum, um-hum
The next to come was a bumble bee
Bow and fiddle on his knee, um-hum, um-hum
The last to come was an old tom cat, um-hum, um-hum
The last to come was an old tom cat
He ate Miss Mouse and Uncle Rat, um-hum, um-hum
The frog he jumped into the lake, um-hum, um-hum
The frog he jumped into the lake
Was swallowed by a big black snake, um-hum, um-hum
So here is the end of 1,2,3, um-hum, um-hum
So here is the end of 1,2,3
Frog and mouse and bumble bee, um-hum, um-hum
Um-hummmmmmmmm….
August 15th, 2011 at 2:37 am
My grandfather, born in Georgia in 1880, used to sing the song to my mother and later, to me – he only sang the chorus, but this is his version:
“Ohhhh, tarinktum poppadiddle nip-cat pennywinkle, jump-back, sing-song kitty, can’t you carry me away? Away down yonder where the old folks stay, sing-song kitty, can’t you carry me away? OHHHHHH . . . ”
I’ve taught this to several very young children over the years, and all of them delighted in the song, just as I did, and my mother before me.
Any comments or further information would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Lee Millay
August 15th, 2011 at 9:33 am
Hi Lee – We’d love to hear your grandfather’s version (it’s so great!). If you’d ever like to sing it for us, we’d be thrilled! Cheers! Mama Lisa
November 10th, 2011 at 7:01 am
Hi Everyone..
My Grandpa who just recently passed away taught me and my cousins a different version too. We would sing it all the time.
There once was a frog who lived in a well
sing song kitty wont you ki me oh
he was so fat that he could not swim
sing song kitty wont you ki me oh
mi keeny oh mi kinny oh mi keeny oh me where
mi hi mi hoe mi
in comes sally singin
sometimes penny-winkle
in steps muskrat bigger than a big cat
sing song kitty wont you ki me ohh
Thats the version i learned as a kid and am now teaching my 4 year old the words. Gotta pass on my Grandpas version since i have yet to see it on any site ive looked at.
November 10th, 2011 at 8:51 am
That’s cool Sarah! If you’d ever like to sing it for us, we be happy to add this to our song pages with your recording! Perhaps your cousins would like to sing it with you! :)
April 5th, 2012 at 12:27 pm
I have been trying to find the words to the version that I learned way back in kindergarten (1978). I may not be spelling everything correctly, but the version that I learned went something like this:
There was a frog who was so fat
Sing Song Kitty Ketchie Ki Me O
He was so fat he could not swim
Sing Song Kitty Ketchie Ki Me O
Ma kee me o
Ma ki me o
My deary o
My wear
Me hi Me ho
Me in come sally single
Sometimes penny winkle
Sing Sing Kitty Ketchie Ki Me O
If anyone is familiar with my version, I would love to know all of the lyrics! I am not sure if I have them all in there. :o)
June 10th, 2012 at 8:22 pm
This song is the basis of “El Renacuajo Paseador” (The Traveling Tadpole), a nursery rhyme very popular in the country of Colombia. This adaptation to Spanish was written by Rafael Pombo when he worked at D. Appleton & Company in New York.
A musical version of Pombo’s work won the Latin Grammy for the Best Latin Children’s Album. You can listen to “El Renacuajo Paseador” at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHrifg4HalY.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_Pombo
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Renacuajo_paseador
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pombo_musical (in Spanish)
July 1st, 2012 at 5:06 pm
can’t believe I found this! it’s been an ear worm since I was a kid, and only recently heard that it was part of the “frog went a courtin”-here’s how I remember the refrain:
ke mio ma ki mio my deario my where
ma ki ma ko my income sally single
sometimes penny wingle
instep nip cat
hit ‘em with a brickbat
sing song kitty catch a ki mio
July 3rd, 2012 at 8:05 pm
My father (from Brunswick Maine area) used to sing this song to us kids
There was a frog who could not sing,
Sing song kitty won’t you ki-me-o.
He had such a cold that he could not sing,
Sing song kitty won’t you ki-me-o.
Ke-mo ki-mo patta mick a murphy
Dinny o’ Flanagan, a rock-a-doyle.
Ruma jigga humstrum, hit-em on the hat-band
Swatnize Ebenezer, rans-a-low.
July 5th, 2012 at 12:21 am
My father used to sing a song back in the 1950’s that went something like:
Say-ro, Kay-ro, poppa doodle yellow bug,
Ring tom body won’t you combo”
or at least that’s what I remember. He was born and raised in the Ozarks and we have no idea of the origin, or even if the words are correct. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
August 26th, 2012 at 1:57 pm
Susan comes closest to the song i remember from primary school that went (More or less):
Ma hee ma hi, ma
In comes Sally Sinkel
Sometimes penny winkel
Instep nip cat
Hit ‘im with a brickbat
Sing song kitty cats a kee mee o
October 24th, 2012 at 11:51 pm
I believe the song you are discussing here is the same song my father taught me years ago. He called it The Bumble Bee. I’m not sure of spelling of some of these words as I wonder if some may be german, as my grandparents were german speaking swiss who had immigrated from Switzerland to the USA. I will put them here as they sound. My grandmother taught my father many old songs that he in turn taught me, lyrics and tunes. I know the tune, but can’t type it, but here are the words:
‘THE BUMBLE BEE’
Oh the first come in was a bumble bee,
Tum-a rig Tum-a bonnie minnie kimo.
To tune his fiddle on his knee,
Tum-a rig Tum-a bonnie minnie kimo.
Hime-a neiro captain keiro,
Hime-a neiro kimo
Tum an instam pomma nickle lam
Tum-a rig Tum-a rig, Tum-a bonnie minnie kimo.
Oh, the next come in was a nimble flea,
Tum-a rig Tum-a bonnie minnie kimo.
To dance a jig with the bumble bee,
Tum-a rig Tum-a bonnie minnie kimo.
Hime-a neiro captain keiro,
Hime-a neiro kimo
Tum an instam pomma nickle lam
Tum-a rig Tum-a rig, Tum-a bonnie minnie kimo.
January 29th, 2013 at 9:35 pm
Ok. Everyone listen up. Your songs don’t make any sense. This is the way I remember it, so it must be correct. :).
There was a frog lived in a pool.
Sing song kitty cat won’t ya ki me-oo
He lived there just like a fool.
Sing song kitty cat won’t ya ki me-oo
Day ro dime a key ro kime
subble bubble sip sope
Tip tap, tip tope
Sing song kitty cat won’t ya ki me-oo
Now that makes sense!
January 29th, 2013 at 9:41 pm
Here’s an Emerson original:
There was a dog who lived on a farm
What’s up?
I don’t know
Ruff ruff, kitty cat bam bam
Scratch scratch ding dong ding dong
Bam boosh bosh
March 3rd, 2013 at 11:53 pm
My father had a chorus for “The Frog He Would A-wooing ride” that I have never seen or heard anywhere else. He lived in Arkansas City, Kansas, and his father came originally from Harrison County, Ohio. Here are the words:
Kimo kimo, lum dum kimo
Kimo kimo Cairo (prn “Kay-ro)
Strim stram pommadiddle
Lolly bolly rigdum,
Rigdum yula met a kimo.
March 16th, 2013 at 2:11 pm
That’s cool Dave!
March 28th, 2013 at 12:10 am
My grandmother (we called her ma) used to sing this song to us as far back 1939. I don’t Know why it popped in my today, but I am glad I found it on your blog. Old songs really need to be preserved. Thank You.
May 26th, 2013 at 3:54 pm
At our family reunions from the late 1930s this was a standard.
As I saw passing by the lake,
My boat got swallowed by a snake.
tub a rink tum body won’t you kime-e-o
Kime an errol guilt a farro
Kime, kime, old tubby shim sham
Bammy to the bally boat
Tub-a-rink tum body won’t you kime-e-o!
August 16th, 2013 at 1:41 am
I was singing this song this afternoon. The way we sang it back home had nothing to do with a frog. It went like this:
“Makeemeo makimeo madeario me way
In stepped muskart
Hit him with a brickback
Sing song kitty can’t ya kimeo?”
It seems to be a chorus to some song I’m not sure I ever knew. A lady who was from TX kept us when we were little, so the SW influence could have crept in from there.
September 22nd, 2013 at 10:08 pm
My Dad keeps singing the Froggy song and his Chorus
goes:
NeMee Nimo rat trap pennywinkle ladder bugger won’t you carry me home.
Does this sound familiar?
Its driving me nuts!
January 4th, 2014 at 11:02 pm
My sister taught me this song when we were small. I did not know it was
part of Froggy Went A’Courtin
The part I remember is
Meow, Me-o, Me
In comes Sally Single,
Sometimes Penny Winkle,
In steps Nip Cat.
Hit him with a brick bat,
Sing song Kitty Cat,
Muh-ki-me-o.
January 11th, 2014 at 11:03 pm
My version:
There was a frog and he could not swim.
Sing song kitty catch me ki mayo
He was so fat that he could not swim
Sing song kitty catch me ki mayo
Madeario, makymeo, Madeario, mewhere
me hi
me ho
me in come sally single, sometimes pennywinkle
instep muskrat bigger than a tom cat
sing song kitty catch me ki mayo.
January 25th, 2014 at 1:34 am
My mom sang me this version of the song when I was child,
There once was a frog and he lived in a spring,
Sing a song of Polly kitcha ki me oh
Had such a cold that he could not sing,
Sing a song of Polly kitcha ki me oh
Kemo kimo Dairyo ma haym ma hiym mahome
a rumskiddy, bumskiddy, tiddy nip a nip cat
Sing a song of Polly kitcha ki me oh
March 18th, 2014 at 10:01 am
@ Tina Pedersen
Yours is the closest to my grandfather’s (Charles Burchfield, American artist) version, the chorus of which was recited with a giddy accelerando:
There once was a frog who lived in a spring
Sing-song kitchy-katchy ki-me-o
Who caught such a cold that he couldn’t sing
Sing-song kitchy-katchy ki-me-o
Kimo, karo, daro, ah,
Mehi, miho, merummediddy, pummediddy,
sad-bop pollywaddle, timmelinktum,
nip-cat, nip-cot
Sing-song kitchy-katchy kimeo.
March 18th, 2014 at 10:07 am
@ David Richter – would you like to sing your grandfather’s version for us? I love the sounds!
Anyone who would like to sing their version – we’d love to post it.
Mama Lisa
April 25th, 2014 at 6:30 am
I remember my older brother singing this song with the repeated chorus being:
kimbo karo haro jaro pennywinkle flamdoodle rigtime charlie won’t you combo.
April 28th, 2014 at 2:44 pm
The version I learned in school grade school in the late 70’s in NJ was:
There was a frog lived in the spring
Sing song kitty catch a kymeo
He was so fat he could not swim
Sing song kitty catch a kymeo
Oh kemeo oh kyemeo O kemeo a where
Me hi me ho Me some time pennywinkle
In step nip back him with a brick bat
Sing song kitty catch a kymeo
June 28th, 2014 at 12:55 pm
This is funny, I was researching songs to put in a scrapbook to share with my 9 grandchildren, something that could be passed down of family pictures and songs that their grandparents, aunts, uncles, parents and I have grown up with when I came across these different versions of a song my sister taught me 50 years ago and that our grandmother taught her as a young child. My sisters version is different and is the one I taught my children and they have taught their children
Frog went a courtin’ he did ride.
Rinktum bottom minchy cambo.
Come a niero down the Kiro
Come a niero Kiro
Shaddle-addle-adababa, ladababa rinktum.
Rinktum bottom minchee cambo.
July 2nd, 2014 at 5:55 am
My grandma taught us what I think is part of. the song above, it goes like this:
Makemio makimeo madearie oh ma where
Ma hi ma ho ma instep sally/selly sinkle
Bigger than a penny winkle
Instep muscrat bigger than a bearcat
Sing a song
kita kitcha kimeo
All of the grand kids who payed attention only learned this part of the song. thank you for helping me to make a connection to some veey special memories. I have passed on the song to my girls and wiil be having the last two lines along with two or three small. Easter lillies tatooed on my ankle to help keep those memories alive.
July 5th, 2014 at 12:14 am
Watch the movie “Sargent York” with Gary Cooper and you can hear a version of b song within first ten minutes.
October 3rd, 2014 at 10:30 pm
My dad taught me this version. I only know two verses
Mr. Froggy swam the lake
Rigdum potum and a kimo
And there was swallowed by a snake
Rigdum potum and a kimo
Kimo, Caro, Delto Daro
Kimo Caro Delto
Rigdum Potum and a had em an a rigdum
Rigdum Potum and a Kimo.
Mrs. Froggy dressed in bottleneck green
Rigdum Pottum and a Kimo
Said she’d never get married again
Rigdum Potum and a Kimo
Chorus again
October 17th, 2014 at 2:17 am
My older sister taught me this when I was little. I know there is more to it and plus I probably don’t have some of the wording right, but it’s what it sounded like to me at the time:
Me-he, Me-ho,
in comes Sally Single, sometimes Pennywinkle,
in step muskrat bigger than a tomcat.
Sing Song Kitty Ketcha-Ki-Me-O.
October 19th, 2014 at 4:38 am
‘Froggie Went A Courtin’ & ‘Sing Song Kitty Can’t Ya Kimeo’ are 2 different songs to me. ‘Froggie’ has many verses, & some were published because I can recall reading a book with all the lyrics & illustrations. ‘Sing Song’ was sung by my next older sister & had just what sounds like a chorus & could have been part of the ‘Froggie’ song…I don’t know…but it wasn’t sung that way @ my house. It went, ‘In stepped muskrat, hit ‘im with a brickbat, sing song kitty can’t ya kimeo. Ma keemeo ma kimeo my deario me way…’ repeat. I don’t think about it every day but it never truly goes away either.
October 21st, 2014 at 6:19 pm
I learned this fun song in elementary music class! I’ve been teaching it to my kids so that the tradition will continue. When we were kids we would have contests to see who could sing it the fastest without twisting their tongues. This is how we learned it:
There was a frog lived in the spring,
Sing-song Kitty Can’t-cha Ki-Me-oh,
He was so fat he could not swim,
Sing-song Kitty Can’t-cha Ki-Me-oh,
Kim-me-oh Ma-ki-me-oh Ma-kim-me-oh Ma-where?
Me-hi, Me-ho, Me-income Sally Single
Sometimes Pennywinkle, In-step Nip-cat
Hit ‘em With a Brickbat
Sing-song Kitty Can’t-cha Ki-Me-oh.
One day he thought he’s swim in the lake,
Sing-song Kitty Can’t-cha Ki-Me-oh,
He got ate up by a big black snake,
Sing-song Kitty Can’t-cha Ki-Me-oh,
Kim-me-oh Ma-ki-me-oh Ma-kim-me-oh Ma-where?
Me-hi, Me-ho, Me-income Sally Single
Sometimes Pennywinkle, In-step Nip-cat
Hit ‘em With a Brickbat
Sing-song Kitty Can’t-cha Ki-Me-oh.
October 22nd, 2014 at 1:26 am
My Dad used to sing this variation…
There was a frog lived in the spring
Sing song penny won’t ya Kay me o
The only song that he would sing
Sing song penny won’t ya Kay me o
Kee mo ky mo, dar o war
Ma he, ma hi, ma ho, ma humpledoodle
Sing song penny won’t ya lick a tom nit cat
Sing song penny won’t ya Kay me o
November 15th, 2014 at 3:55 pm
My father use to sing to me something similar but I don’t remember anything about a frog???
The lyrics I can remember go:
There was a girl that I once knew
Rinktom body mitcha cambo
Had one eye green and one eye blue
Rinktum body mitcha cambo
REFRAIN: Kimaneero down to Cairo, Kimaneero Cairo.
Shaddle-addle-adababa, ladababa linktum.
Rinktum body minchee cambo.
Anybody know anything about that version? I would love to know my father has passed and I now have my own child and would be interested to sing it but can’t find any lyrics to it. I’d love to know if he was just making up words or what.
November 15th, 2014 at 4:09 pm
Anybody see this? My husband remembered this as a kid when I told him about the song I was looking for;). Pretty funny
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xGC9mNwTwQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player
November 15th, 2014 at 4:49 pm
I found this version which has the “Rinktom body mitcha cambo” line:
What will the wedding supper be?
rintum body mitchy cambo
Fried mosquito and a roasted flea..
ringtum body mitchy cambo
Kemo dearo down to cairo,
kemo dearo cairo
Straddle-addle-addle boba laddle boba lingtum
ringtum body mitchy cambo
(Found on Mudcat)
November 23rd, 2014 at 8:27 am
My dad sang it like Joni’s but slightly different:
There was a frog lived in the spring,
Sing-song Kitty Can’t-cha Ki-Me-oh,
He was so fat he could not swim,
Sing-song Kitty Can’t-cha Ki-Me-oh,
Me-Kim-me-oh; Ma-ki-me-oh; Ma-dear-i-oh; Ma-where?
Me-hi, Me-ho, Me-in come Sally Single
Sometimes Pennywinkle,
Sing-song Kitty Can’t-cha Ki-Me-oh.
(Didn’t have the line: In-step Nip-cat
Hit ‘em With a Brickbat, when my Dad sang it).
December 13th, 2014 at 12:38 am
Joni posted the version I am familiar with. This was on a children’s record that I had back in the mid-60’s. I went looking for lyrics, and found this site, as well as a few others. I’ve never seen the words written before, but Joni’s are definitely the same as I remember.
December 13th, 2014 at 12:52 am
I also found this video. It’s a variant on the tune I remember. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Zvg6ud5nS0#t=94
December 13th, 2014 at 6:18 pm
I like that tune Max!
December 27th, 2014 at 10:44 pm
My mother used to sing this:
There was a frog lived in the spring
sing song kitchy kitchy kime-o
He was so fat that he couldnot swim
sing son kitchy kitchy kime-o
M’kemeo m’ kimeo m’dario m’ware
me hi
me ho
me in step muskrat, bigger than a big cat
sing song kitchy kitchy kime-o
M’ is pronounced quickly like muh-keeme-o All long vowels in kime=o)
January 7th, 2015 at 4:51 am
My dad always sang
Kemo Kimo Dooro falls
in come sallycicle
some times peniwickle
liptom nitkat sing song kitty cat
the cow me oh
what I say? What I say? I said…
and then it would repeat to the next person.
February 19th, 2015 at 5:20 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=723CM6XKeEY at 7:09 a version of this song is sung on the kids sing along movie Wee Sing Train
There was a frog lived in a spring, sing song kinakatcha kimeo He could dance and he could sing singsong kinaketcha kimeo. Kemo Kimo dero dime hey ho sublbulb sipso perysinkle sopka penywick nicka kinaketcha kimeo. What you gonna do when the rain don’t fall sing song kinaketcha kimeo, crops grow small instead of tall sing song kinaketcha kimeo
March 1st, 2015 at 3:26 am
Frog went swimming across the lake
Sing sing kitty catch a kie me oh
He got swallowed by a big fat snake
In come Sally Single
Sometimes Pennywinkle
In step nip cat
Hit him with a brick bat
Sing song Kitty catch a kie me oh.
March 7th, 2015 at 3:00 pm
The song “whiskey in A jar” is A Scots Irish ballad and has many of the types of verse endings i.e. dah-day-yo such as “not for my dah-day-yo” great tune that can be found on youtube. 260 years old tune that was done very well by Metalica of all bands. also Hank Williams uses some of the same technique on “down on the bayou” me ,my meshelle and me-o. lots of Scots Irish influence . my grandfather who was of full Scottish heritage play A tune called Hum-jay . they were here in the Ozarks since 1821
March 10th, 2015 at 11:13 am
This is the first three verses of the version my mother taught me while growing up in Texas. She said her grandfather sang it to her as a child. I know there were several more verses. My Momma passed away in 1991 so I can’t ask her what they were. These are the only three her sisters could remember.
Thank you Lisa… and everyone who commented. This was so fun to read and brought back so many sweet memories of my childhood!
“First come in was a little tick
Sing some kitty won’t you come ee oh
He ate so much it made him sick
Sing some kitty won’t you come ee oh
(Chorus)
Caro caro delta way
Hominy hominy rick stick up on my knee
Nick cow penny twinkle
Sing some kitty, won’t you come ee oh
Next come in was doctor fly
Sing some kitty won’t you come ee oh
He swore by George that tick would die
Sing some kitty won’t you come ee oh
(Repeat chorus)
Third come in was an ol’ grey hiss
Sing some kitty won’t you come ee oh
He swore by George that he’d be boss
Sing some kitty won’t you come ee oh
(Repeat chorus)”
April 15th, 2015 at 5:57 am
My grandpa was Born to be in 1898. He used to walk around the house singing something like this: Rinktum (or ringtum), my dinktum, my dah-day-oh. Does anyone know the lyrics to the whole song??
April 15th, 2015 at 12:52 pm
“Rinktum Dinktum” can be found in the chorus of two songs:
Devilish Mary (Chorus):
Rinktum-dinktum-tarry,
Prettiest little girl in all this world,
Her name was Devilish Mary.
The Ballad of the Tea Party (Chorus):
With a rink-tum, dink-tum,
Fa la link-tum…
Could there be a connection to one of those songs? Or was your grandpa singing another version of The Frog Went a courtin’?
April 26th, 2015 at 4:37 am
[quote]…Patti….Froggie Went A Courtin’ & ‘Sing Song Kitty Can’t Ya Kimeo’ are 2 different songs to me. ‘Froggie’ has many verses, & some were published because I can recall reading a book with all the lyrics & illustrations. ‘Sing Song’ was sung by my next older sister & had just what sounds like a chorus & could have been part of the ‘Froggie’ song…I don’t know…but it wasn’t sung that way @ my house….snipped….[/quote]I agree with the above post, 2 different songs. I grew up with “Froggie Went a Courtin'” and I have never heard of “Sing Song Kitty Can’t…….” It’s hard to make them fit into the same tune, for me…..lol
August 30th, 2015 at 7:42 pm
My great grandfather (mothers grandfather) used to sing a song to her when she was younger. He was from the Uniontown Pennsylvania area. I was taught the song when I was young and never forgot it. I have always wanted to know the origins. I will write it below as we have pronounced it.
Hey comma rap tap
Penny winkle flomdoodle
Yella dumma ring dang
Bonny mitcha kango.
When he was passing, she asked what it meant and he told her to go home and go to bed. That led me to believe it was some sort of nursery rhythm. If anyone had anymore information, please feel free to email me. I would love more information.
October 17th, 2015 at 10:27 pm
a frog went a courtin and he did ride mm-hm mm-hm
a frog went a courtin and he did ride mm-hm mm-hm
a frog went a courtin and he did ride, sword and pistol by his side mm-hm mm-hm mm-hm
he rode up to miss mousie’s house mm-hm mm-hm
he rode up to miss mousie’s house mm-hm mm-hm
he rode up to miss mousie’s house, (can’t remember) mm-hm mm-hm mm-hm
he took miss mousie on his knee mm-hm mm-hm
he took miss mousie on his knee mm-hm mm-hm
he took miss mousie on his knee, said miss mousie will you marry me mm-hm mm-hm mm-hm
miss mousie sighed and hung her head mm-hm mm-hm
miss mousie sighed and hung her head mm-hm mm-hm
miss mousie sighed and hung her head, said first I must ask uncle rat mm-hm mm-hm mm-hm
well uncle rat he came to town mm-hm mm-hm
well uncle rat he came to town mm-hm mm-hm
well uncle rat he came to town and brought with him a wedding gown mm-hm mm-hm mm-hm
I know there is more but I’ve been looking all over for this version and cannot find it anywhere.
November 5th, 2015 at 7:44 pm
“I happened to come across your information on the variations of ‘Froggie went a courting’.
I have attached a version that I have sang with youth groups.” -Bruce F.S.
The Frog and The Mouse
Froggie went a courtin and he did ride,
Rink tum bawdi mitch i kombo
Sword and pistol by his side,
Rink tum bawdi mitch i kombo.
Chorus:
Ki ma nero down to kiro
Ki ma nero kiro
Straddle laddle laddle bobble
Laddle bobble link tum
Rink tum bawdi mitchi i kombo.
He rode up to Miss Mousie’s door.
Rink tum bawdi mitch i kombo
He gave a loud knock and he gave a loud snore.
Rink tum bawdi mitch i kombo.
Chorus
He took Miss Mousie upon his knee.
Rink tum bawdi mitch i kombo.
He said, ”Miss Mousie , will you marry me?”
Rink tum bawdi mitch i kombo.
Chorus
Where oh where will the wedding supper be?
Rink tum bawdi mitch i kombo.
Way down yonder in a hollow tree.
Rink tum bawdi mitch i kombo
Chorus
What will the wedding supper be?
Rink tum bawdi mitch i kombo.
A fried mosquito and a roasted flea.
Rink tum bawdi mitch i kombo
Chorus
First came in was a little seed tick.
Rink tum bawdi mitch i kombo.
Hopping ‘round his walking stick.
Rink tum bawdi mitch i kombo.
Chorus
Next came in was a busy bug.
Rink tum bawdi mitch i kombo
Dancing around on his little brown rug.
Rink tum bawdi mitch i kombo.
Chorus
Etc. etc. etc., many other verses.
December 2nd, 2015 at 10:00 pm
I was brought up in Sunderland in the north east of England. Believe it or not I was taught this at school aged about 12, 50 years ago. I can only remember the refrain (sung in distinct north east accents!)
Ke mo Ki mo dare o wah
With a ki mo ke mo
In come Sally singin’
Some time periwinkle
Ling tum nip cat
King Kong kitty can’t you ki me
Oh my – happy memories
December 3rd, 2015 at 4:40 pm
Nice Steve! Would you like to sing it for us! :)
December 5th, 2015 at 4:13 pm
The fellow who sings “Frog” in SERGEANT YORK is Lee “Lasses” White. Lasses was a very famous minstrel from the early part of the century and his later years became popular in western pictures.
Here is an acetate recording of Lasses singing “Frog” in SERGEANT YORK.
http://www.chelsearialtostudios.com/lasses_frog.mp3
January 3rd, 2016 at 10:57 pm
Hi
I was teaching this song to my son and was looking for the other verses only to find that I stumbled upon a complicated depth of knowledge regarding this song…. so I’ll add my two cents…
When I was a child in the late 1970’s-early 1980’s, we had a recording of Brittish children’s songs. This version was on it, and as well, the same version was taught all throughout my grade school years in music class. I am from Bucks County, Pennsylvania along the Delaware River, just North of Philadelphia (lots of colonial English/Quaker families still populate the area). My version has only the first verse but it goes like this:
Frog went a courtin’ and he did ride
Ring a ling a ling a lario
Sword and pistol by his side
Ring a ling a ling a lario
Ring a ling a ling a lario
Way down yonder by the hollow tree
The owl and the bat and the bumblebee
Ring a ling a ling a lario
January 19th, 2016 at 9:14 pm
When we were younger and would go on long trips in the car (late 60’s and early 70’s) My mother would sing a song to entertain us and keep us quiet, with similiar lyrics to some of the lyrics I see above, but the song in whole with a totally different twist. She was born and raised in Arkansas, in the Ozark Mountains. It went something like this;
What do you reckon made the old sow’s head?
Ladder bone a rinktum kinebo,
Made the best oven that ever baked bread;
Ladder bone a rinktum kinebo,
Chorus:
Kinebo neiro captain Mckerrow,
Bob anishi kinebo,
Semineca Bobineca,
Ladder bone a rinktum,
Ladder bone a rinktum Kinebo.
What do you reckon made the old sow’s tail?
Ladder bone a rinktum kinebo,
Made the best hammer that ever hit a nail,
Ladder bone a rinktum kinebo,
(Repeat Chorus)
What do you reckon made the old sow’s ear?
Ladder bone a rinktum Kinebo,
Made the best bugle you ever did hear,
Ladder bone a rinktum kinebo,
(Repeat Chorus)
and it would go on naming and rhyming the different parts of the old sow’s body…
March 10th, 2016 at 8:32 pm
This is the version my aunt sang to me. We’re from Washington state:
There once was a frog who had such a cold,kitchie kitchie ki mi o. He had such a cold that he could not sing, kitchie kitchie ki mi o. Me hay me hoe me rum straw parmadidel nip sack cat bag hairydridle sing a song kitchie kitchie ki mi o!
April 4th, 2016 at 1:33 am
My grandpa sang a song similar to these. Here are the lyrics (spelling like it sounds)
Bone eye rictum a summa ticka rumma ticka bone eye ricktum a kine bo
Kymenaro simitoke Caro hymenaro kine Bo.
There was a little frog lived in a mill pond bone eye ricktum a kine Bo.
There was a little snake asked for a piece of cake bone eye ricktum a kine Bo.
I have a video of him singing it but can’t find how to load it here.
It sounds like some of the lyrics to frog went a courtin, but not exactly. Has anyone else heard this version?
April 6th, 2016 at 2:15 am
That’s great Rachel! If you’d like to send me the video, I can add it to our YouTube channel and post it here. Cheers! Mama Lisa
April 8th, 2016 at 5:05 pm
Turned it into a drinking game in college (not my most mature years)
kee-mo kimo flare o flea, net rat trap, pop a doodle wildcat, gingerbread bulldog, hit’m with a brick bat, sing song kitty, wont you ki me oooooooh!
April 17th, 2016 at 2:23 am
Our north Louisiana family version is different than many of these. I thought I’d share it.
Old lady mouse won’t you let me in um hum
Old lady mouse won’t you let me in um hummum
Old lady mouse won’t you let me in just to watch you card and spin…
Kamo, Kamo neiro telltoe Karo
Rangstrang fammaditty laddie bum
Mixtum bottameedy kamo
There were other verses but I can’t remember them and all my older family who might have known them have passed on.
I also remember one that went somethin like….
Old lady mouse whatcha doin up there um hum
Old lady mouse whatcha doin up there um hummum
Old lady mouse whatcha doin up there sittin on that bald man’s head pickin out hair…
Kamo….
If you know one like this, please share it.
April 23rd, 2016 at 1:19 am
They played this on the radio in Chico, CA in 1935 or 36, according to my dad. He doesn’t remember who sang it. As best as my 95 yr old dad can remember it was called: Two little frogs fell in a well”:
Two little frogs fell in a well
With a sing song killy with a ki- me -oh
One little frog gave up to drown
With a sing song killy with a ki-me-oh
The other little frog kept swimmin’around:
With a sing song killy with a ki- me-oh
….There were lots of other verses, but he can’t remember them!
He was born and went all the way through high school in Coming,CA. Has anyone heard this version??
April 24th, 2016 at 11:18 pm
Mr. Froggy Went A Courtin’
[Grandpa’s Version]
Mr. Froggy went a courtin’ and he did ride uh-huh
Mr. Froggy went a courtin’ and he did ride
A sword and a pistol by his side uh-huh
He rode up to Miss Mousey’s den uh-huh
He rode up to Miss Mousey’s den
He said, “Miss Mouse are you within?” uh-huh
“Oh, Mr. Frog I sit and spin” un-huh
“Oh, Mr. Frog I sit and spin”
“Open the hatch and, do come in!” un-huh
He took Miss Mousey on his knee uh-huh
He took Miss Mousy on his knee
He said, “Miss Mouse, will you marry me?” uh-huh
“Without my uncle Rat’s consent” uh-huh
“Without my uncle Rat’s consent”
“I would not marry the president” uh-huh
So uncle Rat when he come home uh-huh
Uncle Rat when he come home
Said, “Who been here since I been gone?” uh-huh
“A very fine gentleman has been here” uh-huh
“A very fine gentleman has been here”
“He wishes me to be his dear” uh-huh
So uncle Rat he went to town uh-huh
Uncle rat he went to town
To buy his niece a wedding gown uh-huh
Where will the wedding supper be? uh-huh
Where will the wedding supper be?
A way down yonder in a holler tree uh-huh
What will the wedding supper be? uh-huh
What will the wedding supper be?
Two green beans and a black-eyed pea uh-huh
They all went a sailing on the lake uh-huh
They all went a sailing on the lake
They all got swallered by a big black snake uh-huh
That was the end of one, two, three uh-huh
That was the end of one, two, three
The frog, the rat, and Miss Mousey uh-huh
There’s bread and cheese upon the shelf uh-huh
There’s bread and cheese upon the shelf
If you want any more, you can sing it yourself….
May 30th, 2016 at 12:18 pm
I don’t know how I heard and learned this song, but I learned it as a child in the early 40s, in California. The chorus that I recall — with recalled sounds converted to “words” by me is: Karo, Cairo; in the land of the Pharoah, Pharoah; in the land of the kinee wheenie, rattle bugger, kame would you kaimeo.
June 18th, 2016 at 6:18 am
There was a version of this song on a cd my son had when he was little. I always loved it. My kids are 11 years apart and my little girl now loves it when I sing to her before bed (who knows why, I can’t carry a tune in a bucket!) and whIle I was scouring my memory banks for new songs to sing to her, I remembered this one. I can’t remember all the verses, so I came looking for them…it’s only muddied the waters. LOL But I thought I’d add my version…
The frog went a courtin and he did ride uh huh
The frog went a courtin and he did ride uh huh
the frog went a courtin and he did ride with a sword and a pistol by his side uh huh, uh huh, uh huh
He rode up to Miss Mousie’s den uh huh
He rode up to Miss Mousie’s den uh huh
He rode up to Miss Mousie’s den singin please Miss Mousie won’t you let me in uh huh, uh huh, uh huh
Why yes Sir Frog I’ll let you in uh huh
Why yes Sir Frog I’ll let you in uh huh
Why yes Sir Frog I’ll let you in and (can’t remember) uh huh, uh huh, uh huh
He said Miss Mousie won’t you marry me uh huh
He said Miss Mousie won’t you marry me uh huh
He said Miss Mousie won’t you marry me (can’t remember) uh huh, uh huh, uh huh
Why yes Sir Frog I’ll marry you uh huh
Why yes Sir Frog I’ll marry you uh huh
Why yes Sir Frog I’ll marry you and we’ll have children two by two uh huh, uh huh, uh huh
I’d never heard about Uncle Rat or the wedding feast before. I’m afraid I’d get in trouble if I tried singing any of those verses now, though…four-almost-five-year-olds can get pretty technical, and don’t like it when you switch things up on them. ;-)
One more comment…we went camping recently and found a poor little frog that someone had run over in the road. My daughter got very sad and said “Guess he won’t be going courtin anymore…”
July 10th, 2016 at 11:22 pm
Here is the original song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7NBD40v5sE
August 8th, 2016 at 3:09 pm
This “song” was taught to us kids by our Great Grandfather. We thought it was just nonsense fun. This is the first time I have seen similar words in a “poem” or “song”. Not sure of any of the spellings.
Heyro Jayro Kimbo Kayro Pennie Winnie Rat Trap Mollie wont you Cumbo.
Mahe Mahaw Marumastickle Fumdiddle.
Songbug Pollywoug Limcom Lickcat Kimo Como Carry me Away.
Anybody seen anything close to this?
August 8th, 2016 at 8:15 pm
Here’s another version:
Lyrics:
Oh, there once was a frog who lived by a stream.
Sing a song ‘a paula-micha-kymio.
Oh, he lived there because he couldn’t sing.
Sing a song ‘a paula-micha-kymio.
Hi-me here,
Hi-me there.
Hi-me ho-me,
Rum-stick fummy-diddle,
Soup-fat piggy-wiggle,
Oomp-i oh
October 13th, 2016 at 12:05 am
In our childhood our Dad’s version of “Froggie Went a Courtin'” had the refrain: “Hiro, Haro, Karo, Jaro…High come ‘a rat strap, Periwinkle, Flamadoodle, Yellow Bug…a way down bottom in Jacaimo.” Elaborative improvisation, we understood…but magic.
October 19th, 2016 at 4:36 pm
I am 69 and my Mom used to sing a nonsense verse which went:
Cimebo (rhymes with timeo) Kimbo, Haro, Jaro, hey come a rat trap, funny make a funny bubble, la la bubble, ring jinga, bally missa Cimebo.
March 3rd, 2017 at 6:53 am
Near as I can remember the way my dad would sing it… he was born in Mississippi in the early 30’s…
“There was an old bullfrog, lived by the spring, had such a cold he could not sing. Sing a song killyitchy ki-me-o. Te-mo, ke-mo, hump bunk skunk. Tin-e-i, tin-e-o, tinny rang shang pumpado. Oopaskat noopaskat billy and the boop cat, sing a song killyitchy ki-me-oooo”
August 5th, 2017 at 5:34 pm
My grandfather used to play his guitar and sing this.
There was also a version we sang in elementary school that I don’t remember as well; his were the ones endearing to me still over 50 years later.
Froggy went a courtin’ he did ride
rida bomage rigged em kimo
sword and pistol by his side
rida bomage rigged em kimo
*refrain*
kimo-kao captain Neo
kima kima kao
rigged em rigged em I’m a gonna rig em
rigged em rigged em I’m a gonna rig em
bomanage kimo
First came in was a little seed tick
rida bomage rigged em kimo
ate so much it made him sick
rida bomage rigged em kimo
*refrain*
Next came in was a doctor fly
rida bomage rigged em kimo
swore by joe the tick would die
rida bomage rigged em kimo
*refrain*
more verses that have faded from memory
August 11th, 2017 at 10:56 pm
My dad used to sing this song to me. I don’t know the full version that he used to sing, but, I do know that I saw it other places, like children’s books, when I was a young child (so, about 42-46 years ago).
He would sing :
Froggy went a’courtin’ and he did ride Mm hmm Mm hmm
Froggy went a’courtin’ and he did ride Mm hmm Mm hmm
Froggy went a’courtin’ and he did ride
Sword and pistol by his side Mm hmm Mm hmm
Saw Miss Mouse by the big oak tree Mm hmm Mm hmm
Saw Miss Mouse by the big oak tree Mm hmm Mm hmm
Saw Miss Mouse by the big oak tree
Said, “Miss Mouse, will you marry me?” Mm hmm Mm hmm
Then, I don’t remember what happened (by words used), but, Miss Mouse gave her consent, some bugs and such showed up and they went off to live happily ever after.
September 2nd, 2017 at 4:38 am
So I was poking around and came across this site to my delight am now wondering if what my grandaddy Watts taught me has some relevance to all this?
Kemo-kamo dear ol’ my.
A he and a haw and a hum stick of bunny maker.
Sit back dear ol’ Uncle.
Mully catch a nipper cat.
Kitchey-kitchey-ca-me-o!
September 17th, 2017 at 7:19 am
When I was in choir in Jr High (almost 30 years ago) we sang this version:
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, a sword and a pistol by his side, uh huh, uh huh, uh huh.
He rode up to Ms. Mousie’s door, uh huh.
He rode up to Ms. Mousie’s door, uh huh.
He rode up to Ms. Mousie’s door, where he had often been before, uh huh, uh huh, uh huh.
He took Ms. Mousie on his knee, uh huh.
He took Ms. Mousie on his knee, uh huh.
He took Ms. Mousie on his knee, and said, “Ms. Mousie won’t you marry me?”, uh huh, uh huh, uh huh.
“Without my Uncle Rat’s consent, nuh uh.
Without my Uncle Rat’s consent, nuh uh.
Without my Uncle Rat’s consent, I would not marry the president, (she would not marry the president!), nuh uh, nuh uh, nuh uh.”
Then Uncle Rat laughed and shook his sides, uh huh.
Then Uncle Rat laughed and shook his sides, uh huh.
Then Uncle Rat laughed and shook his sides, to think his niece would be a bride, uh huh, uh huh, uh huh.
What will the wedding supper be, mmm mmm?
What will the wedding supper be, mmm mmm?
What will the wedding supper be, fried mosquito and some black-eyed peas, mmm mmm, mmm mmm, mmm mmm?
(Slow tempo) The first to come was mister snail, uh huh.
The first to come was mister snail, uh huh.
The first to come was mister snail, squeezing the bagpipes with his tail, uh huh, uh huh, uh huh.
The next to show was mister flea, uh huh.
The next to show was mister flea, uh huh.
The next to show was mister flea, playing the banjo on his knee, uh huh, uh huh, uh huh.
The next to come was mister pig, uh huh.
The next to come was mister pig, uh huh.
The next to come was mister pig, and he taught them all a wedding jig, uh huh, uh huh, uh huh.
(Stagger tempo) The last to come was mister snake, uh oh.
The last to come was mister snake, uh oh.
The last to come was mister snake, and he ate up all the wedding cake, uh oh, uh oh, uh oh.
I’ve put the songbook on the shelf, uh huh.
I’ve put the songbook on the shelf, uh huh.
I’ve put the songbook on the shelf, if you wanna hear more you can sing it yourself, uh huh, uh huh, uh huh.
I can’t find this version anywhere else.
October 27th, 2017 at 2:54 pm
My Dad was from the Mountains of southeast Kentucky. He would sing the song like this:
Froggy went a courtin and he did ride,
With sword and buckler by his side,
Come-a-rap-slap pennywinkle perrywinkle bottomboogum yaddieboogum Mister Kimbo.
Rode up to Miss Mousy’s door and rapped so loud he made it roar,
Come-a-rap-slap penyywinkle perrywinkle bottomboogum yaddieboogum Mister Kimbo.
Well, Kimbo Kymbo gave to Pharoe,
Pharoe flew away.
Come-a-rap-slap pennywinkle perrywinkle bottomboogum yaddieboogum Mister Kimbo.
November 29th, 2017 at 10:19 pm
This is the only version I know from the Chad Everett Trio:
Froggy went a courtin, and he did go uh huh, uh huh
Froggy went a courtin, and he did go uh huh, uh huh
Froggy went a courtin and he did go to the Midnight Show
at the Coconut Grove, uh huh, uh huh, uh huh
Now Molly Mouse was the Hat Check Girl, uh huh, uh huh
Molly Mouse was the Hat Check Girl, uh huh, uh huh
Molly Mouse was the Hat Check Girl and he thought he’d give
this chick a whirl, uh huh, uh huh, uh huh
Sauntered up to Molly Mouse’s side, uh huh, uh huh
Sauntered up to Molly Mouse’s side, uh huh, uh huh
Sauntered up to Molly Mouse’s side and he said Miss Molly
won’t you be my bride uh huh, uh huh
Not without my Uncle Rat’s consent, uh huh
Not without my Uncle Rat’s consent, uh huh
Not without my Uncle Rat’s consent I wouldn’t even marry
the President, uh huh, uh huh uh huh
January 9th, 2018 at 6:56 pm
ok … well i knew TWO versions of this poem! myself and my SO were talking about the songs we sang growing up and thought we would research who was “right” haha, it looks like we both were singing it correctly :D
January 18th, 2018 at 2:52 am
My mother gave me an LP (remember those, haha) when I was in elementary school around 1979-1980. I took it to show & tell and remember there were two women on the album cover, could have been sisters. I have not been able to find the album and don’t remember their names or the name of the album, but remember they sang ‘Mr Frog Went a Courtin’ including other Children’s songs. Gosh, I sure would love to find this album to share with my nieces. Thanks for any help!
January 18th, 2018 at 2:52 pm
Hi Kimberly – Do you remember any of the other songs on the LP? That might help with the search. -Mama Lisa
January 19th, 2018 at 10:00 pm
I love all these versions, especially when the area of the country is mentioned. My mom sang one that was passed down through her family. She was a Scots Irish Ferguson on one side and an English Whitworth on the other, so not quite sure which way her version came. I’ll note the first verse and chorus only. (Whole words in chorus are quarter notes, hyphenated are eighth notes):
Froggy went a’courtin and he did ride,
Ring tum bo-dy mit-chi kei mo,
Sword and a pistol by his side,
Ring tum bo-dy mit-chi kei mo,
Kee mo, kei mo, Captain Kayro.
*Bom =in ish-i kei ro,
Sim-in-ic-a, bom-in-ic-a, lab tim-a rick tum keimo,
Lab tim-a rick tum kei mo!
* synchopated line, = is a 16th note
January 20th, 2018 at 2:05 pm
That’s great! Would you (or anyone else here) like to sing it for us? We love these different versions! xo Mama Lisa
March 17th, 2018 at 9:03 pm
So interesting! My mother-law (Central Texas) sang “Froggy went a courtin” similar to some, but different than most:
Froggy went a courtin’ and he did ride
Come-a rigga-jigga bye-gee won’t cha’ kaim-bo
Sword and six-shooter by his side
come-a rigga-jigga bye-gee won’t cha’ kaim-bo
Hay-ro Jay-ro hime-bo kaimbo, went to the mousetrap
penny-wiggy-piggy like-a half-a doodle bug,
coma-a rigga-jigga bye-gee won’t cha’ kaim’bo!
Anytime she heard the “uh-huhh” version she said that was for the “unimaginative”.
Froggy ends up swallowed by a big black snake, by the way.
May 5th, 2018 at 12:27 am
My mom Lily, born in Wichita KS in 1930, sang it as a round (like row, row the boat). Her family was Scots-Irish.
Ki Mo Carry-o Captain Nemo
Nero, Niro, Canary.
Sim, Sam, Stan-a-mickle, Ran-a-mickle
Rick time body Mitch-a Ki Mo!
It’s really cool to hear how families and individuals changed lyrics as they sang this ditty to their children!
May 11th, 2018 at 8:54 pm
My grandmother use to sing me this song way back when. She was from North Carolina. Born in the 1800’s. This is what I remember..
There was a frog lived near a spring,
Oh he could dance and he could sing,
Sing song kitty catcha kymee-oh.
Tee bow, tie bow dare away
Hi oh hum de dumb.
Hum a little dink em, little grand snake em,
poke root, hock root, pennyroyal tea.
Sing song kitty catcha kymee oh.
May 14th, 2018 at 12:39 am
my mom was taught the following when she was 6 years old. she is now 94:
There was little frog that lived in the spring, he had such a cold he could not sing
‘hemo kymo damo wah
hima ho , rum a little suck back, kick your heals together singing polly won’t you kymeo
May 14th, 2018 at 12:21 pm
These versions are so great! Would anyone like to record their version to post on Mama Lisa’s World?
August 9th, 2018 at 9:35 pm
I am from California and had never heard of this song until I came across it while listening to an audio book recording yesterday. The book, “Kitty Alone”, was written by Sabine Baring-Gould and was published in 1894. The song is a recurring theme throughout as the main character’s nickname “Kitty Alone” is taken from the lyrics of the song. Throughout the book there are portions of the song and while I’m not sure if the entire song is there, at least there are a few verses. I’m not an expert in legal matters but since the Librivox recordings are in the public domain you might be able to take the portions that are sung in the recording by Maryanne and put them together to add to your collection.
August 10th, 2018 at 1:07 pm
Thanks for the info Dawn!
October 23rd, 2018 at 2:23 am
My mother, who was from Florida, taught me a variation of this song. We have musical influences from Florida, south Georgia and Missouri. So, I have no idea of its origins; as a child, I thought it was “our” family folk song…..who knew!
“There was a rat that lived in the mill
Rigdom bullie dimmo kimo.
If he hasn’t moved away he’s living there still
Rigdom bullie dimmo kimo.
Kimo karo deltie karo,
Kimo karo kimo.
Scrim scram pockiedillie there was a rigdom,
Rigdom bullie dimmo kimo.”
The tune sounds very close to that heard in the first minutes of the movie, “Sgt. York.”
October 23rd, 2018 at 3:05 pm
Thanks for sharing Jennie! Would you like to sing it for us? :)
October 27th, 2018 at 5:11 pm
This song isn’t any fun unless it’s FROGGY went a courtin’, not FROG. :) I think there’s some songs that got mixed together. All that kimeo, kitty whatever doesn’t go with the Froggy stuff at all. Have y’all heard Tex Ritter sing it? That’s how the song is meant to sound.
March 24th, 2019 at 3:46 pm
Good morning,
My mother (a first year baby boomer) learned some lyrics from her first boyfriend, and she would sing them to me during my childhood (1970s). Reflecting on the rhythm, I think she may have been learning some square dancing calls, but may have been altered by the children, much like the game ‘telephone.’ She sang:
There once was a frog who lived in a pool.
Sing song kitchy catchy ki me o.
He lived there just like a fool.
Sing song kitchy catchy ki me o.
Marrow dymee, Darrow dymee, Woymes, woymes, subabubble, ticktack, kitchy catchy ki me o.
April 2nd, 2019 at 4:03 am
My dad would sing this song to me around 1953 and I thought he said it was an Indian song (shrug). Anyway, nonsensical lyrics but it stuck with me. Here it is –
kemo kimo daro war
muhi muho, a rum stick a fumadiddle
soup back, piddly wink
in come a nippy cat,
sing song Polly
won’t you kimeo
May 16th, 2019 at 5:42 pm
My sister asked me if I remember this song our father sang many decades ago. I did numerous google searches and they kept leading me back here; so I wonder if this has some connection to this collection.
Kyro kyro lundun kyro. Kyro kyro karo. Strim stram polly diddle, rolly rolly rigdum. Rigdum mooly metta kyro.
Any ideas?
May 17th, 2019 at 12:02 pm
L Breed – It sounds like a version of the refrain to Froggie Went a-courtin.
Here’s the refrain from the version in the original post:
Kimaneero down to Cairo, Kimaneero Cairo.
Shaddle-addle-adababa, ladababa linktum.
Rinktum body minchee cambo.
If you read through the comments you’ll find other variations.
July 8th, 2019 at 7:48 pm
My Dad taught us something similar, but I never heard anything about a frog.
Kemo, kimo, daro war, tomahe, tomaho, tomarumadicapolildiddle, set back pollywog, lickem up nickyjack, johnny with the bootjack, sing a song sally won’t you kymeo
July 9th, 2019 at 1:09 pm
I love versions like this Katie! Would you like to chant it for us? We always welcome recordings (everyone)!
November 9th, 2019 at 9:58 pm
My family has been singing a version my great grandmother taught us- she immigrated from Scotland and we grew up in CA. I am now teaching my own grandson. I did my best to write it phonetically… As far as I know, this is the first time anyone in my family has attempted to write it- in over 100 years!
‘Oh a frog lived in a well,
See I kitchy kitchy Kie Me Oh.
And a Merry Mouse in a mill,
See I kitchy kitchy Kie Me oh.
Keemo Kie Mo Derr a mo.
Ma hoe. Ma Hie.
Rumperstickle Pumpernickel
Soup Back Penny Metal Lip Cat Sing
Cat see I kitchy kitchy Kie Me Oh!
November 10th, 2019 at 1:57 pm
I love it Julia! Would anyone in your family like to record it for us? :) Mama Lisa
November 13th, 2019 at 12:16 am
The version of “Froggy went a courtin’ ” I was taught was the same as William Martine’s, but there was one more verse, bringing an ending to the song. After Molly Mouse refuses…
“Well, that’s it Clyde, better hit the road – farewell, goodbye
Well, that’s it Clyde, better hit the road – farewell, goodbye
Well, that’s it Clyde, better hit the road – you ain’t no frog, you’re a horny toad! Farewell, so long, goodbye.”
November 13th, 2019 at 6:18 am
[…] The Many Versions Of Frog Went A-Courtin from Mama Lisa […]
November 26th, 2019 at 9:06 am
Hello Lisa,
while doing my reserches on old folk music, I stumbled upon your site.
Having seen the song posted here, I think this is another good one, with roughly the same wording: Uncle Rat – Sing san kitty, won’t you kimeo.
The song is dated 1939, is Sung by Charles Fulton and the original acetate can be heard at the Library of Congress website:
Words are as follow:
Oh, Uncle Rat
He wanted a wife
Sing song Kitty
Can’t you kimeo
Well, he jumped on
A horse and he rid for life
Sing song Kitty
Can’t you kimeo.
Kimo, kimo, derowall, mahai
Mahao, rumstisckydumadiddle
Sometimes pennywinkel
Lupdown, nipcat, setbag
Sing song Kitty
Can’t you kimeo.
Oh, the rats
Are digging in despair
Sing song Kitty
Can’t you kimeo
Without a flannel shirt
To wear
Sing song Kitty
Can’t you kimeo
Kimo, kimo, derowall, mahai
Mahao, rumstisckydumadiddle
Sometimes pennywinkel
Lupdown, nipcat, setbag
Sing song Kitty
Can’t you kimeo.
Oh, Uncle Rat
He wanted a wife
Sing song Kitty
Can’t you kimeo
Well, he jumped on
A horse and he rid for life
Sing song Kitty
Can’t you kimeo
Kimo, kimo, derowall, mahai
Mahao, rumstisckydumadiddle
Sometimes pennywinkel
Lupdown, nipcat, setbag
Sing song Kitty
Can’t you kimeo.
He woke up dead
Now what about that
Oh, Uncle Rat
He wanted a wife
Sing song Kitty
Can’t you kimeo
Kimo, kimo, derowall, mahai
Mahao, rumstisckydumadiddle
Sometimes pennywinkel
Lupdown, nipcat, setbag
Sing song Kitty
Can’t you kimeo.
Ciao
December 8th, 2019 at 6:15 pm
Hello! This version was sung to me by my grandma, who was born in Indiana in the early 50s:
There once was a frog that lived by the spring
Sing song Polly won’t you Ki Me Oh.
He had such a cold he could not sing.
Sing song Polly won’t you Ki Me Oh.
Key mo, Ki mo, there beware, Me-I, Meow.
with a rump steak pomadoodle, soup back paddle, in come-a nip-cat,
Sing song Polly won’t you Ki Me Oh.
February 7th, 2020 at 7:20 pm
This is a snatch of verse my grandmother sang to us (born in Central Virginia in the late ‘teens on a dirt farm):
Was an old man came ridin by; said old man your horse gonna die-if he dies I’ll tan his skin; if he don’t die I’ll ride’m again – rat catch a cold come Cairo! Cairo- ime, a-Dario-ime, shoot back a pennynickle, up come a nitchyCat, sing a song Polly wontchu carry me home! Then there was a verse with a bullfrog in a spring, with such a cold he could not sing…,
February 7th, 2020 at 8:17 pm
That’s great! Would you like to record it for us?
February 23rd, 2020 at 7:33 pm
I am 58 years old- my grandmother taught me a version of this song- she was born and raised in Eastern Ky. I’ll try to write down the lyrics:
There was a frog lived in the pond,
Sing song kitty ketchie kimio
He was so fat he could not swim
Sing song kitty ketchie kimio.
Makimmio makimio ma deario
ma ware ma hi ma ho ma income
Sally single, sometimes pennywinkle, instep muskrat,
bigger than a big cat. Sing song kitty ketchie kimio.
I’m unsure if there’s more to it, that’s all I remember. Since it was sung to me, I tried to just write out the nonsense words as they sound.
Thanks for letting me share.
I used to have a cassette of her singing it, if I can find that, I’ll send it also.
May 3rd, 2020 at 10:52 pm
This version shares common elements with R. Kelly’s recollection. My dad sang this in the 40’s so I can’t be sure my memory is entirely accurate or that my phonetic spelling does justice to the words. He prefaced the song with a chant of the opening words, delivered in one breath, always to my delight, then launched into the song.
Sayro jayro stripe-back pennywinkle
foddle-doodle yellow bug rinktum pollywog skymbo.
Mr. Frog went courting and he did ride,
walchum polly won’tcha kie me,
He asked Miss Toad to be his bride,
walchum polly won’tcha kie me,
Kimbo kyo flimbo flyo kimbo kyo flyo
Walchum polly pennywinkle doodle little booger,
Walchum polly won’tcha kie me.
May 28th, 2020 at 4:36 pm
My father sang an abbreviated version of this when I was young (long ago), and I have always remembered it because it was such nonsense. Only when I found the Froggy song in a folk tunes book in the mid 70s did I realize that he’d been singing a version of the refrain similar to Antonio’s (11/2/2019).
Karo, kimo medairy-o,
Mehom meho
Rumastickle bumadiddle
Sudapacka pennywinkle,
Nipkin, catnip
Sing a song,
Kitchy kitchy kimeo.
June 12th, 2020 at 10:18 pm
Just discovered this site, sorry if I’m joining in with a conversation very late. My mum was born in 1950 London England, and her mother was born 1920s in Cambridgeshire. She had a version of this poem or something similar that no-one outside my family seems to have ever heard of. We were taught it as children. Any ideas about where it could have come from? (She never would have been to America!?)
There was a little frog, who lived in a well,
with a rig dig bumminary kimo
Naro skeemo skeemo skaro
Shrimp shrimp shrumadiddle
Ne’er a bummarig
with a rig dig bumminary kimo
Eena deena abba dasher
Eye sha ru sha
Om pom tosh.
I have no idea about spelling, so tried to write it out phonetically!
July 18th, 2020 at 8:31 pm
My Grammie used to sing this while she was cooking.
Froggie went a’courtin’ and he did ride, sing song kitty kitty kimeo
Kimeo kitty kimeo kitty fetch a little mousey on his knee say we little mousey will ya marry me
Sing song kitty kitty kimeo
I have taught my children and grandchildren this song over the years.
Now with the internet I think I understand why there are do many version of basically the same song. It’s like a on going round of the game telephone. Each person passing on what they think the words are. LOL
We all treasure our memories of when we first heard it sung. For me it was a little Norwegian lady in her 70’s making food for her grandchildren. For my children and grandchildren it will be me singing and dancing to the song. Who knows where it will go next. ❤️ Sing song kitty kitty kimeo ❤️
August 7th, 2020 at 12:55 am
Love it every time I watch Sgt. York and I hear Froggy went a’courtein I remember my uncle Sonny. He would sing these old mountain songs around the camp fire at his mining claim in the Sierra Nevada’s this was in the late 50’s early 60’s. He sang the Tex Ridder version, and many other songs. He picked them up in the logging camps when he was a young man. Lost him in 1970 way to young.
September 4th, 2020 at 6:55 am
Hello. I’m really struggling with an ear worm for this song. I’m from Philadelphia, I saw a response posted from 4 years ago from someone named Kelly who mentioned the version I’m familiar with.
Forgive me for not knowing any of the actual words, I only know the one part which is…
Ring a ling a lario
Way down yonder at the hollow tree
an owl and a bat and a bumble bee
Ring A ling a ling a lario
All I remember is it was on a record that I had when I was a little kid, so figure on early 1980’s.
This is a great site and seems like a great community here. Is there any chance anyone knows what I’m talking about and can lead me finding this song? LOL.
I know it’s a long shot but I have to try at this point. :D
September 5th, 2020 at 2:51 pm
My mothers went
Ciro Faro, captain Kyro, ominacle, bomisacle, idabodum, rinktum Crico.
We grew up on ladys and gentlemen, hobos and tramps, and many other wise tales and rhymes.
I believe all are versions of verbal history passed down before we had all this technology. Just think, only 70 or 80 years ago, it wasn’t even common for rural folks to have an abundance of paper laying around.
There is an actual recorder folk song, but couldn’t tell you where to look, other than its on youtube, that is about getting a boat / for her husband/ etc. recorded in the 30’s that uses many of the mentioned lingo or similar, that has nothing to do with the frog.
Thanks for bringing back memories.
October 6th, 2020 at 7:29 am
My dad sang…
Kimo kay ma dear row row, rear like a zip cat, kimo kay ma dear row row, and / or Sing song, Polly, won’t you ki me, oh.
I tied my dog up to a stump, his head swelled and his tail popped off, they went to bed but it was no use, their feet hung out for a chickens roost.
I cannot find the version my dad sang anywhere
November 14th, 2020 at 6:48 pm
This has been a hoot to read! I owe my dearly departed dad a big apology for thinking he was a senile old fool at the age of 35 when I probably heard his version for the first time. Sadly, I can’t remember much of what he sang but he always started off, “Keemo Kimo, in the land of pharaoh, pharaoh; came a rat-trap, pollywinkle … [more nonsense which may have been the words others above have mentioned] … won’t you ki-me-oh” I do recall nearly wetting myself laughing every time he sang it. My dad could never get “normal” song lyrics right even if he tried, so this was just more of his nonsense to me (but I loved it!) I was missing him today and googled in the off-chance it led anywhere. What a surprise! By the way, my dad was born and raised in rural Sacramento, but may have learned the song from his dad who was born in Nebraska and served in the navy during WWII. Goodness knows where in his travels he may have learned it. Anyway, this was wonderful to read. Thank you everyone for sharing!
November 15th, 2020 at 1:48 am
Yeah this is a portion of the “nonsense words” part of Froggy Went A Courtin’ I remember my mother singing me when I was a child (her family was originally from panhandle Florida, she would have probably learned it in the 1940s from her parents who grew up there in the 1920s). Some of the versions here sound pretty close to what I remember which isn’t much unfortunately:
Kaimo Nero Captain Keiro
(something something) won’t ya kai-mi-o
also something like
Sedjewedjebacky he did ride
December 6th, 2020 at 12:46 am
The version that my mom taught us was :
There was a frog lived in a well.
Sing song Kitty, Katchie, Kimeo.
He was so fat that he could not swim,
Sing song Kitty, Katchie, Kimeo.
Me hi, me ho, me Dario, me where.
Me hi, me ho, me instep Sally single,
Sometime Penny Winkle, sometime Muskrat, bigger than a big cat.
Sing Song Kitty, Katchie, Kimeo.
Very interesting the many twists and versions on this song.
This is all I remember, though seeing some of the other versions I think there was more to the version my mom sang to us. My other was raised in Bath, Maine.
December 14th, 2020 at 3:09 pm
Another frog song we learned around 1960 had s chorus like this: break a break a break a break co ax… I would love to find that one! It’s been stuck in my head for 60 years…
The Brothers Four had a version of “Frogg” that was pretty good.
January 22nd, 2021 at 5:22 pm
It’s wonderful that there are so many recollections of this song. When I was in elementary school in the early 60’s we had a songbook that our class would use to select songs to sing. I liked this song – it was fun to sing – but I don’t remember all of it. What I do remember goes like this:
There was a frog lived in the lake
Sing song kitty won’t you ki-me-oh
But he got swallowed by a big black snake
Sing song kitty won’t you ki-me-oh
Ma key-me-oh, ma ki-me-oh
Ma dearie oh ma wear
Me high me ho
Me in comes Sally Single
Sometimes Penny Winkle
In stepped Muskrat
Bigger than a tom cat
Sing song kitty won’t you ki-me-oh?
Thanks to everybody for sharing your thoughts. Stay safe and happy!