My sisters and I sang this song throughout our childhoods in the 70s but never knew the origin. Then, about 10 years ago (2000) the 5th Ave Theater in Seattle clebrated their 75th anniversary with acts that had played the theater throughout the years. I was stunned, when a husband & wife vaudeville act (I believe from the 1930s)began to sing the song just as we had learned it. Interestingly enough, I had taught the song to my son and he was on stage with the act for the finale. How fortuna spins her wheel..

Oh the liquor was spilt on the barroom floor
and the bar was closed for the night
and out of his hole crawled a little brown mouse
who sat in the pale moonlight

He licked up the liquor on the barroom floor
and on his haunches he sat
and all night long you could hear him ROAR
Bring out the gosh darn cat!

Well the cat came out about half past four
and ate up the little brown mouse
and the moral of my story is....
don't take a drink on the house
poor mouse.