When Froggy Went a’ Courtin’
This song is about frogs.
We could leave it there but seeing as humans are still semi-amphibious with a heavy reliance on hydration, moisturisers, and conditioners it’s clear that we aren’t too far out of the pond ourselves. So maybe they have something to teach..
Whenever frogs are singing in the evening I think about the fact that they are out there living their perfect lives.
Totally engrossed in the moment and singing like they were born to do.
Millions of years of evolution have led up to this moment and now they are doing the thing — Looking for mates, claiming their territory and simply letting the world know that they exist.
Fearlessly, without doubt and in full embrace of their deepest instinct, they are aligned with their life’s purpose and vibrate in unison with it.
Sounds like true love to me…
when froggy went a courting
down to the brae
in the pale moonlight
a fine wet skin he was sportin
made from tartan
oh so bright
when froggy went a courting
under the stars
in the middle of the night
down to the brae in the pale
the pale moonlight.
and he said:
You can croak on my love if you hike my kilt up high enough
We can ribbit from the hilltops this highland frog’s not giving up
Ooh ba ba oo oo Oooh ba ba oo ooooh
Ooh ba ba oo oo Oooh ba ba oo ooooh
a fine fiddle he was playing’
all the notes rose up so clear and bright
through the meadow he was gaeing
up on his tippy toes dancing light
a fine fiddle he was playing
under the stars
in the middle of the night
down to the brae in the pale
the pale moonlight
and he said:
You can croak on my love if you hike my kilt up high enough
We can ribbit from the hilltops this highland frog’s not giving up
Ooh ba ba oo oo Oooh ba ba oo ooooh
Ooh ba ba oo oo Oooh ba ba oo ooooh
his sweet love she was waiting
at the altar in the pale moonlight
sweet love they’d be makin’
can you hear the fiddle?
can you hear the fiddle playing?
see the reed beds swaying
love always finds a way
down by the brae
under the stars
in the pale moonlight
in the middle of the night
and he said:
You can croak on my love if you hike my kilt up high enough
We can ribbit from the hilltops this highland frog’s not giving up
Ooh ba ba oo oo Oooh ba ba oo ooooh
Ooh ba ba oo oo Oooh ba ba oo ooooh
Production Notes
This was the first song to come together from all the submissions I received and the only one so far I’ve made any lyrical contributions to.
Seajade gave the adorable verses, and using much the same process as the others, I picked a few chords and sung along with the words. At a certain point I knew the song needed a fun singalong feeling chorus and in a rather surprising and spontaneous fashion, I came up with it on the spot.
In conceptual continuity with much of my work it happened to be a rather crude sex joke.. funny where the subconscious takes you.. an almost amphibious instinct. Sea was thankfully accomodating to this on the provision that I include a fiddle break and the frog recordings she had collected.
The song has lot’s of little musical jokes that are often less than subtle so I’m sure with a bit of careful listening you will see what was happening there.
I couldn’t quite get the fiddle section together.. but there is definitely an opening there for any far off fiddle players that hear the call. (Hit me up)
Almost everything was done in one or two takes and the final bounce was more or less unmixed. I tried my best to lean into the natural theme and fun that the song was all about. I don’t normally make things in this sort of obnoxiously happy style that I often have nothing but contempt for and it always surprises me when it comes out — especially so effortlessly.
This one was annoyingly catchy, sometimes just outright annoying, so I might have wanted to get through it quickly too..
Seajade is a wonderful writer, poet and person whose work I highly recommend you check out.
Blending carefully curated images, storytelling, poetry, adventure and a healthy dose of humour Sea has a cheeky and playful side to their work but it’s also rich in imagery, careful word choices, graceful techniques, and meaningful themes.