My mother used to quote this to me! I never heard her sing more than the first 2 lines. So I was thrilled when I ran across this today. I did my best to transcribe it, but there are still a few gaps. I couldn’t find any other source.


PICKLE IN THE MIDDLE (And the Mustard on Top)
Words and music by John Tackaberry and Carl Sigman.
As recorded by The Four King Sisters with Buddy Cole and his Orchestra, on RCA Victor 20-1903-A, 1946, as heard at the Internet Archive.

Pickle in the middle with the mustard on top,
Just the way I like ‘em an’ they’re all red hot,
Tasty little hot dog, toasted right,
With a bark as tender as its bite.

Ev’rybody’s happy and the laughter runs high,
Till the sun gets pickled in the sauerkraut sky,
Plus a little raindrop when you’ve got
Pickle in the middle,
Sizzlin’ off the griddle,
Pickle in the middle and the mustard on top.

The peanut man, the ice-cream man,
Shout their wares like nobody can;
Like nobody can except one man:
Favorite funny old frankfurter man.

Red hot! red hot!
Red-hots are all he’s got.

Pickle in the middle and the mustard on top.
I could eat a bushel but my tummy says stop.
You may laugh at frankfurters and their sort,
But you’ll find one in the Supreme Court.

Never hear the vendor shoutin’ “turkey” or “duck,”
Still I bet they end up with a million bucks.
Leavin’ that dog dry(?) in their shop,
Pickle in the center,
Summer or the winter,
Pickle in the center with the mustard on top.

[Instrumental break]

Red hot! red hot!
Red-hots are all he’s got.

Pickle in the middle and the mustard on top,
Just the way you like it with a bottle of pop.
Eat ‘em at the circus ...
They’re out there … at a baseball game.

Shouldn’t have to worry ‘bout the number you ate.
You can get a bottle of bicarbonate.
You will have more ulcers than you’ve got.
Pickle in the middle,
Sizzlin’ off the griddle,
Pickle in the middle with the mustard on the top.


[Louis Prima also recorded this in 1946, on Majestic 7179 A, but he omitted some of the above lyrics.
The catch phrase that the song is based on was introduced by Artie Auerbach, a comedian who appeared regularly on the Jack Benny Program, and the song was written later.]