Again, Randolph's source claimed she learned it around 1900. Sure wish he had drawn her out on the subject. Randolph always did informative headnotes to each song where he had anything to go on, citing previous publication, etc., but in this case no more info is given.

I'm convinced this was either a parody of a hymn, or an original satirical song, composed either in England or in the US, c. 1890-1900. There's a good chance it may have been intended as a parody of Harrigan and Braham's "Salvation Army", but there's no real paper trail and intervening versions 1900-1940 are entirely missing. No documentation to prove the 1900 timing, either apart from that remark of hers.

Also we have no good sources for anything but the first verse previous to the 1950s. Yet I doubt Brigger or anyone he knew wrote additional verses. Frustrating!

Best bet: It may yet turn up in one of those folios of comic songs that were so popular in both Britain and America around the turn of the century. Or on an obscure 78 rpm record maybe. Music hall origin is possible, given the Harrigan-Braham tie.

Can anyone knowledgeable about the British, American (or Canadian, Australian, etc.) music hall suggest a research route?

Bob