A poem by James Russell Lowell
The Courtin'
God makes sech nights, all white an' still Fur 'z you can look or listen, Moonshine an' snow on field an' hill, All silence an' all glisten.
Zekle crep' up quite unbeknown An' peeked in thru' the winder, An' there sot Huldy all alone, 'Ith no one nigh to hender.
A fireplace filled the room's one side With half a cord o' wood in--There warn't no stoves (tell comfort died) To bake ye to a puddin'.
The wa'nut logs shot sparkles out Towards the pootiest, bless her, An' leetle flames danced all about The chiny on the dresser.
Agin the chimbley crook-necks hung, An' in amongst 'em rusted The ole queen's arm thet gran'ther Young Fetched back from Concord busted.
The very room, coz she was in, Seemed warm from floor to ceilin', An' she looked full ez rosy agin Ez the apples she was peelin'.
'Twas kin' o' kingdom-come to look On seek a blessed cretur, A dogrose blushin' to a brook Ain't modester nor sweeter.
He was six foot o' man, A 1, Clean grit an' human natur'; None couldn't quicker pitch a ton Nor dror a furrer straighter. He'd sparked it with full twenty gals, He'd squired 'em, danced 'em, druv 'em, Fust this one, an' then thet, by spells--All is, he couldn't love 'em.
But long o' her his veins 'ould runA ll crinkly like curled maple, The side she breshed felt full o' sun Ez a south slope in Ap'il.
She thought no v'ice hed sech a swing Ez hisn in the choir; My! when he made Ole Hunderd ring, She knowed the Lord was nigher.
An' she'd blush scarlit, right in prayer, When her new meetin'-bunnet Felt somehow thru' its crown a pair O' blue eyes sot upun it.
Thet night, I tell ye, she looked some! She seemed to 've gut a new soul, For she felt sartin-sure he'd come, Down to her very shoe-sole.
She heered a foot, an' knowed it tu; A-raspin' on the scraper,--All ways to once her feelin's flewL ike sparks in burnt-up paper.
He kin' o' l'itered on the mat, Some doubtfle o' the sekle, His heart kep' goin' pity-pat, But hern went pity Zekle.
An' yit she gin her cheer a jerk Ez though she wished him furder, An' on her apples kep' to work, Parin' away like murder.
"you want to see my Pa, I s'pose?" "Wal...no...I come dasignin'"--"To see my Ma? She's sprinklin' clo'es Agin to-morrer's i'nin'."
To say why gals acts so or so, Or don't, 'ould be presumin'; Mebby to mean yes an' say no Comes nateral to women.
He stood a spell on one foot fust, Then stood a spell on t'other, An' on which one he felt the wust He couldn't ha' told ye nuther.
Says he, "I'd better call agin;" Says she, "Think likely, Mister;" Thet last word pricked him like a pin, An'... Wal, he up an' kist her.
When Ma bimeby upon 'em slips, Huldy sot pale ez ashes, All kin' o' smily roun' the lips An' teary roun' the lashes.
For she was jes' the quiet kind Whose naturs never vary, Like streams that keep a summer mind Snowhid in Jenooary.
The blood clost roun' her heart felt glued Too tight for all expressin', Tell mother see how metters stood, And gin 'em both her blessin'. Then her red come back like the tide Down to the Bay o' Fundy, An' all I know is they was cried In meetin' come nex' Sunday.
-THE END-
1. Frog went a-courtin', and he did ride, Uh-huh,Frog went a-courtin', and he did ride, Uh-huh,Frog went a-courtin', and he did ride.With a sword and a pistol by his side, Uh-huh.
2. 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.Gave three loud raps and a very big roar, Uh-huh.
3. Said, "Miss Mouse, are you within?" Uh-huh,Said he, "Miss Mouse, are you within?" Uh-huh,Said, "Miss Mouse, are you within?""Yes, kind sir, I sit and spin," Uh-huh.
4. 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.
5. "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
6. 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.
7. Uncle Rat went runnin' downtown, Uh-huh,Uncle Rat went runnin' downtown, Uh-huh,Uncle Rat went runnin' downtown.To buy his niece a wedding gown, Uh-huh
8. Where shall the wedding supper be? Uh-huh,Where shall the wedding supper be? Uh-huh,Where shall the wedding supper be?Way down yonder in a hollow tree, Uh-huh
9. What should the wedding supper be? Uh-huh,What should the wedding supper be? Uh-huh,What should the wedding supper be?Fried mosquito in a black-eye pea, Uh-huh.
10. Well, first to come in was a flyin' moth, Uh-huh,First to come in was a flyin' moth, Uh-huh,First to come in was a flyin' moth.She laid out the table cloth, Uh-huh.
11. Next to come in was a juney bug, Uh-huh,Next to come in was a juney bug, Uh-huh,Next to come in was a juney bug.She brought the water jug, Uh-huh.
12. Next to come in was a bumbley bee, Uh-huhNext to come in was a bumbley bee, Uh-huhNext to come in was a bumbley bee.Sat mosquito on his knee, Uh-huh.
13. Next to come in was a broken black flea, Uh-huh,Next to come in was a broken black flea, Uh-huh,Next to come in was a broken black flea.Danced a jig with the bumbley bee, Uh-huh.
14. Next to come in was Mrs. Cow, Uh-huh,Next to come in was Mrs. Cow, Uh-huh,Next to come in was Mrs. Cow.She tried to dance but she didn't know how, Uh-huh.
15. Next to come in was a little black tick, Uh-huh,Next to come in was a little black tick, Uh-huh,Next to come in was a little black tick.She ate so much she made us sick, Uh-huh.
16. Next to come in was a big black snake, Uh-huh,Next to come in was a big black snake, Uh-huh,Next to come in was a big black snake.Ate up all of the wedding cake, Uh-huh.
17. Next to come was the old gray cat, Uh-huh,Next to come was the old gray cat, Uh-huh,Next to come was the old gray cat.Swallowed the mouse and ate up the rat, Uh-huh.
18. Mr. Frog went a-hoppin' up over the brook, Uh-huh,Mr. Frog went a-hoppin' up over the brook, Uh-huh,Mr. Frog went a-hoppin' up over the brook.A lily-white duck come and swallowed him up, Uh-huh.
19. A little piece of cornbread layin' on a shelf, Uh-huh,A little piece of cornbread layin' on a shelf, Uh-huh,A little piece of cornbread layin' on a shelf.If you want anymore, you can sing it yourself, Uh-huh.
Copyright © 1992 Special Rider Music
Courtin' in the Kitchen
Ireland.
Come single belle and beau, unto me pay attention.
Don't ever fall in love, it's the devil's own invention.
Once I fell in love with a maiden so bewitchin',
Miss Henrietta Bell out of Captain Kelly's kitchen.
Chorus:
With my too-ral-oo-ral-I and my too-ral-oo-ral-ad-dy
Too-ral-oo-ral-I and my too-ral-oo-ral-ad-dy.
At the age of seventeen, I was 'prenticed to a grocer,
Not far from Stephen's Green, where Miss Henry used to go, sir.
Her manners were sublime and she set my heart a-twitchin'
And she invited me to a hooley in the kitchen.
Chorus:
With my too-ral-oo-ral-I and my too-ral-oo-ral-ad-dy
Too-ral-oo-ral-I and my too-ral-oo-ral-ad-dy.
Next Sunday being the day that we were to have the "flare up"
I dressed myself quite gay, and I frizzed and oiled my hair up.
The Captain had no wife, faith he had gone out fishin'
And we kicked up high life, down below stairs in the kitchen.
Chorus:
With my too-ral-oo-ral-I and my too-ral-oo-ral-ad-dy
Too-ral-oo-ral-I and my too-ral-oo-ral-ad-dy.
With her arms around my waist, she slyly hinted marriage,
To the door in dreadful haste, came Captain Kelly's carriage.
Her eyes soon filled with hate and poison she was spittin'
When the Captain at the door walked right into the kitchen.
Chorus:
With my too-ral-oo-ral-I and my too-ral-oo-ral-ad-dy
Too-ral-oo-ral-I and my too-ral-oo-ral-ad-dy.
When the Captain came downstairs though he saw my situation,
In spite of all my prayers I was marched off to the station.
For me they'd take no bail, but to get home I was itchin'
And I had to tell the tale, how I came into the kitchen.
Chorus:
With my too-ral-oo-ral-I and my too-ral-oo-ral-ad-dy
Too-ral-oo-ral-I and my too-ral-oo-ral-ad-dy.
I said she did invite me, but she gave a flat denial.
For assault she did indict me, and I was sent for trial.
She swore I robbed the house, in spite of all her screechin'
And I got six months "hard" for my courtin' in the kitchen.
Chorus:
With my too-ral-oo-ral-I and my too-ral-oo-ral-ad-dy
Too-ral-oo-ral-I and my too-ral-oo-ral-ad-dy.
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