Well, perhaps I stand corrected? I just found the following: https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=72397#1246800

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Thread #72397   Message #1246800
Posted By: GUEST,ClaireBear
13-Aug-04 - 10:44 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Onion Songs
Subject: Lyr Add: FEED YOUR BABIES ONIONS (from Kenny Hall)

This thread would not be complete without a song Kenny Hall used to sing called "Feed Your Babies Onions," which is one of those silly A-part only lyrics for a fiddle tune. There are many references to this as a song name in the forum, but I haven't found the actual lyric on any of those other threads, so here goes...

Can't help you identify the fiddle tune beyond that it's a waltz and the A part's in major while the B part is in the relative minor until the last line, which is the same as the last line of the A part (I do know the tune, but wouldn't know how to transcribe it), but the original lyric went like this:

FEED YOUR BABIES ONIONS

Feed your babies onions
So you can find them in the garden when it's dark
Feed your babies onions
So you can find them in the dark.

It was a great start but way too short. So I added lyrics for the B part:

You'll find them in the potting shed
Find them in the flowerbed
Underneath the roses red
You will find them in the dark.

Then I added other verses, such as these, leaving the chorus instrumental as Kenny Hall did when he sang his one verse. I usually ad lib them, but here are some I always sing (I say "I always sing" but I don't think I've ever sung this except alone, in the car):

Feed your babies turnips,
And they will go and live at someone else's house.
Feed your babies turnips,
They'll live at someone else's house.

Feed your babies ice cream
And they'll be fat but they'll be very happy kids.
Feed your babies ice cream
And they'll be very happy kids.

Feed your babies garlic
And they'll grow up to know the finer things in life.
Feed your babies garlic
They'll know the finer things in life.

Feed your babies nothing
And they will shrivel up and finally blow away.
Feed your babies nothing
And they will finally blow away.

Who else has a verse?

Claire

PS I can attest to the accuracy of the turnips, ice cream and garlic verses as I feed these to my own child -- well, not the turnips but I tried 'em once and sure enough he looked as though he wished he lived somewhere else -- but just in case you wondered, I'm not endorsing feeding your babies nothing. That verse is cautionary.