“Ding, Dong, Bell”
Description
"Ding, dong, bell, Pussy's in the well." Johnny Green (or Tam Linn) put her in. Tommy Stout pulls her out. "What a naughty boy was that, To try to drown poor pussy cat, Who never did him any harm, And killed the mice in his father's barn"
Notes
The Baring-Goulds report that Katherine Elwes Thomas believed this to come from Bristol, where there was a tradition of ringing the city bells at any excuse. A reasonable speculation, but no more. - RBW
References
- Opie-Oxford2 134, "Ding, dong, bell" (1 text)
- Baring-Gould-MotherGoose #43, p. 56, "(Ding dong bell)"
- Roud #12853
- BI, OO2134