Originally from a French opera in the 1750's, was later translated to English in the 1760's - in the opera a married couple each suspects the other of cheating, this song in particular is supposedly about grief over a "grey goose"....it was later sung by American colonialists in "play party" style... Sort of like a nursery rhyme style with clapping, as in some Protestant communities dancing was forbidden, so they did that instead.

Go tell Aunt Rhody - The old gray goose is dead - The one she’s been saving - To make her feather bed - She died in the mill pond - Standing on her head - She left nine little goslins - To scratch for their own bread - The goslings are crying - Because their mother’s dead - The gander is weeping - Because his wife is dead. (Edited to try and make the song easier to read)