Ye Frogs Wooing

By Walter Crane

Ballad
1.     It was the frog lived in the well,     Heigh-ho! says Rowley;     And the merry mouse under the mill,     With a Rowley, Powley, Gammon, and Spinach,     Heigh-ho! says Anthony Rowley. 2.     The frog he would a-wooing ride, Heigh-ho, &c.     Sword and buckler at his side, With a, &c. 3.     When upon his high horse set, Heigh-ho, &c.     His boots they shone as black as jet, With a, &c. 4.     When he came to the merry mill-pin, Heigh-ho, &c.     "Lady Mouse, are you within?" With a, &c. 5.     Then came out the dusty mouse, Heigh-ho, &c.     "I am the lady of this house," With a, &c. 6.     "Hast thou any mind of me?" Heigh-ho, &c.     "I have e'en great mind of thee," With a, &c. 7.     "Who shall this marriage make?" Heigh-ho, &c.     "Our lord, which is the rat," With a, &c. 8.     "What shall we have to our supper?" Heigh-ho, &c.     "Three beans in a pound of butter," With a, &c. 9.     But when the supper they were at, Heigh-ho, &c.     The frog, the mouse, and e'en the rat, With a, &c. 10.     Then came in Tib, our cat, Heigh-ho, &c.     And caught the mouse e'en by the back, With a, &c. 11.     Then did they separate, Heigh-ho, &c.     The frog leaped on the floor so flat, With a, &c. 12.     Then came in Dick, our drake, Heigh-ho, &c.     And drew the frog e'en to the lake, With a, &c. 13.     The rat he ran up the wall, Heigh-ho, &c.     And so the company parted all, With a, &c.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem is a delightful narrative filled with whimsy and a dose of the absurd. It captures elements of traditional folk tales and nursery rhymes, using anthropomorphized animals to tell a story of courtship, marriage, and unexpected disruptions. The recurring phrase "Heigh-ho, &c." and the nonsensical "Rowley, Powley, Gammon, and Spinach" serve as refrains, creating a rhythmic flow and a playful tone that engages the reader or listener.

Thematically, the poem underscores the precariousness of life, symbolized by the animal characters' sudden separation. The frog's courtship of the mouse, their marriage officiated by a rat, and their subsequent separation by a cat and a drake, all reflect the unpredictable nature of existence. The poem's structure, consisting of single stanza episodes, allows for swift progression of events, enhancing the sense of unpredictability and absurdity. The use of animals as characters in the poem also serves as a form of satire, exaggerating human behaviors and societal norms to amuse and provoke thought. Despite the fun tone, the ending offers a sobering reflection on the fleeting nature of happiness, and the inevitability of change and disruption in life.

Understanding Ballads

A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music, that has been a cornerstone of storytelling across various cultures. Traditionally passed down orally, ballads are known for their rhythmic structure and often tell tales of love, adventure, and heroism.

Ballads are characterized by their strong rhythm and repetition, making them both memorable and engaging. Here are some defining features:

  • Narrative Structure: Ballads typically tell a story, often a dramatic or emotional tale that unfolds in a straightforward, chronological order.
  • Quatrain Stanzas: Most ballads are composed of quatrains (four-line stanzas) with a rhyme scheme of ABAB or ABCB, which adds to the musicality of the verse.
  • Repetition: Refrains or repeated lines are common in ballads, helping to emphasize key themes or emotions and making the ballad easier to remember.
  • Oral Tradition: Many ballads originated from oral traditions, which means they were passed down through generations by word of mouth before being written down.

From medieval minstrels to contemporary songwriters, ballads have continued to evolve, remaining a beloved form of expression that captures the human experience in a way that is both poetic and accessible.