#MyNFB : A Lyrical Ode to Evelyn Lambart’s Mr. Frog Went A-Courting
#MyNFB : A Lyrical Ode to Evelyn Lambart’s Mr. Frog Went A-Courting
During the summer, we issued a call for blog post submissions and many of you responded, eager to share your love of various NFB titles. Inspired by Evelyn Lambart’s Mr. Frog Went A-Courting, die-hard NFB fan David Van Poppel went as far as writing his own song lyrics, to the tune of the classic folk song employed by Lambart in her animated short. Play the video (at the bottom) and sing along!
Mr. David Went A-Digging: A Lyrical Ode to Evelyn Lambart’s Mr. Frog Went A-Courting
By David Van Poppel
Mr. David went a-digging, he did find, m-hm, m-hm,
Davey went a-digging, he did find,
A strange little cartoon, made before 1975,
M-hm, m-hm, m-hm.
A frog marches with a sword and gun, m-hm, m-hm,
A frog marches with a sword and gun,
He proposes to a mouse, announcing “You are the one,”
M-hm, m-hm, m-hm.
Uncle Rat gives the union his blessing, m-hm, m-hm,
Uncle Rat gives the union his blessing,
And buys the mouse a gown that she’ll be dressing,
M-hm, m-hm, m-hm.
Before the wedding, they hold a breakfast, m-hm, m-hm,
Before the wedding, they hold a breakfast,
A moth and a spider are among the guests,
M-hm, m-hm, m-hm.
Off to the ceremony, they set sail, m-hm, m-hm,
Off to the ceremony, they set sail,
But a snake swallows them up like a whale,
M-hm, oh no, m-hm.
Evelyn Lambart’s short is animated, m-hm, m-hm,
Evelyn Lambart’s short is animated,
Using detailed cut-outs that she created,
M-hm, m-hm, m-hm.
Over a mostly black background, m-hm, m-hm,
Over a mostly black background,
Vibrant fungi and flora astound,
M-hm, m-hm, m-hm.
Derek Lamb performs a ditty, m-hm, m-hm,
Derek Lamb performs a ditty,
Providing a narration that’s extra witty,
M-hm, m-hm, m-hm.
Lamb is accompanied by a lute, m-hm, m-hm,
Lamb is accompanied by a lute,
Andrew Huggett’s playing is astute,
M-hm, m-hm, m-hm.
Well, Davey fell in love with the cut-out method, m-hm, m-hm,
He first fell in love with the cut-out method,
When he saw The Adventures of Prince Achmed,
M-hm, m-hm, m-hm.
This storybook style is meticulous, m-hm, m-hm,
This storybook style is meticulous,
Its components so detailed, yet minimalist,
M-hm, m-hm, m-hm.
With stop-motion and 2D elements, m-hm, m-hm,
With stop-motion and 2D elements,
Lambart instills childhood wonderment,
M-hm, m-hm, m-hm.
When David went a-digging, what did he find, m-hm, m-hm,
When David went a-digging, what did he find,
Mr. Frog Went A-Courting, such a charming ride,
M-hm, m-hm, m-hm.
M-hm, m-hm, m-hm.
Watch Mr. Frog Went A-Courting :
Mr. Frog Went A-Courting, Evelyn Lambart, provided by the National Film Board of Canada
