h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

In all the discussion about the value of geese as a gift to one's beloved, the question of just what these particular geese are laying has been completely ignored. Yet if one closely examines the picture, one can see a broad hint in the illustration of the goose holding a herring in its mouth.

Ah, yes. Five rings for the herring swimming . . . whereever.

The song, when properly sung without pause between the sixth and the fifth verse (going backwards), is "six geese a-laying five gold rings". A goose that lays golden rings would be a valuable gift, indeed.

And what of the sixth goose and her ring? Well, any farmboy knows that no goose lays every single day.