Thread: A-coming

Major Payne:
"Somebody's gonna answer for this blood from my lip.
I want names.
I wanna know who's responsible.
Don't all run at once.
I guess nobody's responsible.

Guess I just had that one a-comin'.
Well, you know what y'all got comin' ?
Seven 23-hour days...
full of fun and adventure.
I'm gonna make you boys strong !"

What is "A-coming" ? It would be great if you will supply some more examples with this phrase.
Thanks in advance.

This isn't really a word so much as a way of saying "coming". "I guess I had that one coming" is the same as saying "I probably deserved that" when something bad happens to you. "a-comming" is just a weird way of saying it that isn't generally used. The particular movie this is from isn't really a prime example of how people talk in real life, Major Payne speaks the way he does to make the movie funnier.

I don't know the source or context of this but it sounds like someone imitating a stereotypical uneducated southerner's speech.

Originally Posted by sperk

I don't know the source or context of this but it sounds like someone imitating a stereotypical uneducated southerner's speech.

Its a comedy movie about training kids in military camp and you are correct.

You find verbs with a- in poetry and songs frequently. It seems to get added to progressive forms only and I feel it increases the sense of progression. Another example:

Right Now I'm A-Roaming

Robin

Thanks to all.
bitpicker, nice link!

Originally Posted by sperk

I don't know the source or context of this but it sounds like someone imitating a stereotypical uneducated southerner's speech.

I would add that if you're going to prefix a progressive verb form with a-, it's почти обязательно to drop the -g at the end!

"Plan Number 6 is where we come a-ridin' into town, a-whompin' an' a-stompin' ever' last livin' thing that moves within a' inch of its life..."
(from the Western-parody Blazing Saddles)

"On a sunny day
In the month of May
A hobo came a-hikin'..."
(from the folk song "Big Rock Candy Mountain")