Thanks to Jim Dixon for posting these lyrics to Reggie Hall's "The Joke," and to others for the discussion.

I recently (around Mardi Gras, naturally) re-heard the song on the "More New Orleans Party Classics" compilation CD (the predecessor to that CD, same title minus "More," is absolutely essential, but that probably goes without saying around here), and looked for its lyrics, which led me to this site and this old thread. Much appreciated.

And of course its tune is "He's Got the Whole World In His Hands," which makes its chorus lyric / punchline "But he really was a real estate man" all the more enjoyable.

As a final note, the song is now on YouTube: Reggie Hall, "The Joke"