English
First: Adam Buckham Prev.: High Germany Return to Song Table Next: I Want To Have a Little Bomb Last: The Wraggle Taggle Gypsies 		 I once went a-courting

"I once went a-courting" is a rare, fine jolly song that I came across in Geoffrey Brace's Something to Sing. Geoffrey Brace says that it is the story of how a young couple get the better of their parents is as old as time and occurs in songs, stories, plays and operas all over the world.
I especially enjoy the spoken surprise bits before the sturdy chorus of "Down, down, derry down, day".