“Mrs. Bond”
Description
"Oh, what (shall we have/have you got) for dinner, (Mrs.) Bond? There's beef in the larder and ducks in the pond." Mrs. Bond offers good meat to her customers, and sends the ostler to kill the ducks. They flee him. She at last goes out herself
Notes
Much of this revolves around the duck cry "Dilly, dilly, come and be killed." The Baring-Goulds note that there are actually traditions of such animal calls, though this is the only one I've ever heard quoted in any other context. - RBW
Opie-Oxford2: "'Mrs Bond' was originally 'introduced and sung by Mr Bannister Junior in the character of Jerry Sneak', in Foote's 'The Mayor of Garret' (1763). The song was popular, and was immediately issued by rival music publishers ....'" - BS
References
- Opie-Oxford2 62, "Oh, what have you got for dinner, Mrs Bond?" (1 text)
- Baring-Gould-MotherGoose #822, pp. 306-307, "(Oh, what have you got for dinner, Mrs. Bond)"
- Roud #4580
- BI, BGMG822