Johnny Fell Down in the Bucket

Johnny fell down in the bucket,
The bucket fell down in the well.
His wife cut the rope to the bucket
And Johnny fell down into...
Tring-ling-ling-ling-ling-ling tra-la-la-la
Sweet as the voices we hear from afar,
Tring-ling-ling-ling-ling-ling tra-la-la-la
He played on his Spanish guitar.

While Johnny was walking in Hades
As meek and as calm as a lamb,
He stepped on a red-hot poker,
And said Well, I'll be...

Satan said, Look here, young fellow,
We'll allow no cussin in....

Sung by Miss Gloria Trail, Farmington, Arkansas, 5 October 1941

Source: Vance Randolph, Ozark Folksongs, #420

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I don't quite get how the second verse is supposed to be organized. Can you explain, Embargo?

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Click to play

-Joe Offer-

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Here's the Traditional Ballad Index entry:

Johnny Fell Down in the Bucket

DESCRIPTION: "Johnny fell down the bucket, The bucket fell down the well, His wife cut the rope... And Johnny fell down into -- (nonsense chorus)." "Johnny was walking in Hades, As meek and calm as a lamb, She stepped on a red-hot poker, And said, Well, I'll be --"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1941 (Randolph)
KEYWORDS: humorous Hell wordplay
FOUND IN: US(So)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Randolph 420, "Johnny Fell Down the Bucket" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #7631
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Hallelujah"
NOTES: Like "Hallelujah" or "Hopalong Peter," this is one of those "hidden word" songs -- the verse leads you to expect the last word, which is usually not fit for polite company. But instead of saying the word, it breaks off into the chorus. - RBW
File: R420

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The Ballad Index Copyright 2011 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.