The Little Frog and the King

One day, Lil’ Froggy was lazing around the swamp when he began to make the long journey across the country to a faraway place. He hopped up the steep mountain, down the other side until he came to rest before a large white castle.

Inside this castle lived a king. The king wore beautiful clothes and had beautiful things, but because he had everything done for him, he was very bored most of the time. So he sent for anyone and everyone in the kingdom to come and entertain him.

Now Lil’ Froggy had a good voice and could belt out a good tune. So he sang many, many songs for the king...

Gonna lay down my burden, down by the riverside,
Down by the riverside, down by the riverside,
Gonna lay down my burden, down by the riverside,
Down by the riverside.

The king clapped and cheered. He really enjoyed Lil’ Froggy’s singing. He said to Lil’ Froggy, “Come and stay with me in this fine palace so you can sing and dance for me every day. I will give you the tastiest food to eat and finest clothes to wear.”

Lil’ Froggy tilted his head to one side and croaked, “Thank you, your majesty, but no thank you. I would love to stay, but a little froggy like me ought to be free, and a little froggy like me belongs in the big deep swamp by the river, and so to the swamp I shall return.”

The king was sad, because nowhere in his kingdom had he met anyone who could console him with song like Lil’ Froggy could.

Lil’ Froggy said, “But whenever you need me, whenever you long to hear a froggy tune again, just lay down your crown, take off your robe, put on your overalls and, dig up a nice hole in the mud outside your palace and I will come hopping over to sing you by my very best song.”

And so Lil’ Froggy made a long journey back home to the swamp.

And whenever the king was lonely, he would lay down his crown, take off his robe, put on his overalls and dig up a nice hole in the mud near the moat outside his palace, and sure enough, Lil Froggy would be there croaking,

Gonna lay down my burden, down by the riverside,
Down by the riverside, down by the riverside,
Gonna lay down my burden, down by the riverside,
Down by the riverside.