A Courting Song - Over the Garden Wall, Frank Fairfield

Write a loving letter, boy

With swoops and sweeps and curls

Calligraphers are just the thing to help you win your girl

Then you’ll need to dress up smart

The tailor’s here by chance

He’ll stitch your trousers, hole your belt in fine couture of France

Your shoes, my goodness, how they’re worn, but you’re too young to know

That nothing courts a woman’s scorn more than scuffs on the toe

The cobbler can attend to that

Meanwhile, you must have cake

The baker and patissier need work, for goodness' sake

Hi dee diddly um de dum de day

What a merry time we’ll have upon your wedding day

Hi dee diddly um de dum de day

There’s work for all when little boys get married

That pointy cone upon your head, you can’t be wearing that

The milliner will fix you up

With a proper high silk hat

The bride, of course, she’ll need a dress

On that we must agree

The seamstress, my young lover

Oh, how grateful she will be

The rings, by gum, did I forget?

Well that’s my favorite part

The vows, the whole romantic mess

Now that’s a jeweler’s art

And so you see our handiwork

Is yours if you’re inclined

But our livelihood’s at stake

So don’t you go and change your mind

Hi dee diddly um de dum de day

What a merry time we’ll have upon your wedding day

Hi dee diddly um de dum de day

There’s work for all when little boys get married