Doug Elliot in his book "Crawdads, Doodlebugs & Creasy Greens" includes several traditional verses to "Muskrat, Oh Muskrat" along with some that he made up hizownself. He takes credit for the more upbeat verses.

MUSKRAT, OH MUSKRAT (from Doug Elliot)

Muskrat, Oh muskrat, what makes your tail so slick?
I been living in the swamp so durn long
I'm lucky I ain't sick, Lord, lucky I ain't sick.

Rooster, oh rooster what makes your spurs so hard?
I been scratching in your barnyard all of my life
And I'm a getting tired, Lord......

Redbird, oh redbird what makes you head so red?
I been eating your corn so darn long
I'm lucky I ain't dead, lord....

Groundhog oh groundhog, what makes your back so brown?
I been diggin in the dirt so darn long
Making my home in the ground, lord, diggin my hole in the ground.

Bullfrog, oh bullfrog what makes your back so green?
It's so I can hide in the weeds in the swamp
There I'll never be seen, lord,...

Chipmunk oh chipmunk what makes your cheeks so round?
I been gathering those seeds and nuts
I'm gonna store 'em in my hole in the ground, lord, store 'em in my hole in the ground.

Caterpillar oh caterpillar, don't you hate to creep and crawl?
I'll be flying high one day
So I don't miond at all, lord,...

Rattlesnake oh rattlesnake what makes your teeth so white?
I been lying in the sun so darn long
You're lucky I don't bite, lucky I don't bite.

If I had to guess, I would say that Elliot was responsible for the frog, chipmunk and caterpillar, but I don't really know.

rich r