What are you going to do about Mary

AKA Mary on jollity farm
First Published 1929
Lyrics Fred Holt Music Harry Castling/Raymond Wallace Roud 32673

Music Hall Performers Randolph Sutton
Leslie Sarony
Tommy Handley
Folk performances Source Singers
Showers, Charlie 1972 England: Somerset

Farmer Giles had lots of ani-miles
And sold them all ‘cos farming didn’t pay
All his ducks and pigs started to disappear
When suddenly someone cried out “Mr auctioneer!”
 
What are you going to do about Mary
The cow on comical farm
Don’t want your ducks, don’t want your pigs
Don’t want your fowls or your other thingamajig’s
Don’t want your ox, don’t want your cocks
Or the dog that goes bowwow
What are you going to do about Mary
The poor old cow

 
Listen here, said Mr auctioneer
I’ll be glad if you will explain the reason why
Pardon me old chap, the other fellow cried
I’ve milked her since she was a baby, I’m dissatisfied
 
Chorus x2

A comic song from the tail end of Music Hall, very popular in the 1930s and recorded by a wide range of singers, including the great Leslie Sarony. It was collected from the singing of Charlie Showers in 1972, who remembered it as Mary on Jollity Farm, referring to another song popular in the 30s Jollity Farm.

Sources: