How about this version, a la Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, around 1955:

Twas midnight on the ocean
Not a streetcar was in sight
The sun was shining brightly
In the middle of the night
A barefoot boy with shoes on
Stood there sitting in a tree
And when I put my glasses on
I heard this melody

Be kind to your web-footed friends
For a duck may be some-bodies mother
Be kind to the denizen of the swamp
He's a lily through and through
You may think that this is the end
Well, it isn't 'cause there is a-nother chorus

Twas midnight on the ocean as the rain began to snow
The cows were all a'crowin 'cause the time had come to go
This crazy mixed up guy was swimming all around the lawn
Lookin' for the ending of this crazy, mixed up song

Be kind to your web-footed friends
For a duck may be some-bodies mother
Be kind to the denizen of the swamp
He's a lily through and through
You may think that this is the end
Well, it isn't 'cause there is a-nother chorus

Twas midnight on the ocean as he slowly rushed away
He thought it was tomorrow 'cause it wasn't yesterday
And now he lives in Tennessee beside the pyramids
Raisin' lots of Nanny Goats with crazy mixed up kids

Be kind to your web-footed friends
For a duck may be some-bodies mother
Be kind to the denizen of the swamp
He's a lily through and through
You may think that this is the end
Well, it is