I used to sing a version of this but am now unsure what words I would prefer to sing near the end.

Some versions have "I live alongside of the Ups and Downs" or "I live at the side of the Ups and Downs"; others have "I live at the sign of the Ups and Downs". I have read/heard somewhere that "The Ups and Downs" was the nickname of a regiment whose number looks the same upside down. 69?

If it is "at the side"/"alongside" that would imply that he follows the regiment for some purpose. If it's "at the sign" that would presumably refer to a pub named for the regiment.

Anyone have any light to shed?