The Bullfrog
from Miscellaneous Songs by Sara Bouchard
about
A song improvised on the spot by Sara Bouchard, vocal, and Alan Biller, guitar. The words are based on a transcription of a Cherokee myth.
lyrics
From "Cherokee History, Myths and Sacred Formulas" by James Mooney:
There is another story of a girl who, every day when she went down to the spring for water, heard a voice singing, Kûnu'nu tû'tsahyesǐ', Kûnu'nu tû'tsahyesǐ', "A bullfrog will marry you, A bullfrog will marry you." She wondered much until one day when she came down she saw sitting on a stone by the spring a bullfrog, which took the form of a young man and asked her to marry him. She consented and took him back with her to the house. But although he had the shape of a man there was a queer bullfrog look about his face, so that the girl's family hated him and at last persuaded her to send him away. She told him and he went away, but when they next went down to the spring they heard a voice: Ste'tsǐ tûya'husǐ, Ste'tsǐ tû'yahusǐ', "Your daughter will die, Your daughter will die," and so it happened soon after.
There is another story of a girl who, every day when she went down to the spring for water, heard a voice singing, Kûnu'nu tû'tsahyesǐ', Kûnu'nu tû'tsahyesǐ', "A bullfrog will marry you, A bullfrog will marry you." She wondered much until one day when she came down she saw sitting on a stone by the spring a bullfrog, which took the form of a young man and asked her to marry him. She consented and took him back with her to the house. But although he had the shape of a man there was a queer bullfrog look about his face, so that the girl's family hated him and at last persuaded her to send him away. She told him and he went away, but when they next went down to the spring they heard a voice: Ste'tsǐ tûya'husǐ, Ste'tsǐ tû'yahusǐ', "Your daughter will die, Your daughter will die," and so it happened soon after.
credits
from Miscellaneous Songs,
released January 1, 2011
license
all rights reserved
tags
about
Sara Bouchard Richmond, Virginia
I am a multi-disciplinary artist and songwriter with a strong foothold in American roots. As an artist, I investigate ways to interact with and represent the American landscape through song. As a musician, I perform original and traditional tunes - drawn from bluegrass, old-time, jazz, country and blues - with my band SALT PARADE. ... more
discography
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Mar 2024 -
May 2023 -
Jun 2019 -
Feb 2014
contact / help
Sara Bouchard recommends:
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Spring to Rust
by Union Street Preservation SocietyCheck out Union Street Preservation Society, an Americana roots string band, featuring Sara on mandolin and vocals.
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Postcards From the Country
by Trae SheehanWest Virginia country-folk singer-songwriter Trae Sheehan aims to find a balance between the traditional and the modern on his new LP.
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Meet Me at the River
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