Fortunately, Wolfgang, there's only one Tiger.

Just to get these all together (and hopefully, into the database), here are the versions I have:

1. So-called 'original' version, with background info - contributed by rich r
(I don't have the second version he mentions - think it's expired from the threads)
Each verse sung twice
2. Josh White version, transcribed from Longines Symphonette "Legendary Folk Songs".
Interesting, because it has a refrain, and the verses aren't repeated.
(This is the one I sing.)
3. Version from my father-in-law, Bill Garneau, who INSISTS these are the right words.

Let's get #1 and #2 into the database..........Tiger

#1
"The Lone Fish Ball" appears in a 1926 publication by Sigmund Spaeth (Read 'Em And Weep, The Song's You Forgot To Remember). He includes it in his chapter of songs from the Reconstruction Days, i.e. right after the Civil War. Spaeth claims the song was printed in a collection of college songs in 1868 (Carmina Collegensia ed. by H R Waite). The song was subtitled "Founded on a Boston Fact (in the chorus of which all assembled companies are expected to unite)." Spaeth says it was one of the earliest of group of community songs, with the leader doing the two line phrase and then the crowd repeating it. The more recent version comes from the 1988 book "Joe Has A Head Like A Ping-Pong Ball" (aka A Prairie Home Companion Folk Song Book) by Marcia & Jon Pankake. In this version the poor sould cashes in his chips as well as his pence.

rich r

THE LONE FISH BALL (version from Sigmund Spaeth, 1926)

There was a man went up and down,
To seek a dinner thro' the town.

What wretch is he who wife forsakes,
Who best of jam and waffles makes!

He feels his cash to know his pence,
And finds he has but just six cents.

He finds at last a right cheap place,
And enters in with modest face.

The bill of fare he searches through,
To see what his six cents will do.

The cheapest viand of them all,
Is "Twelve and a half cents for two Fish-ball."

The waiter he to him doth call,
And gently whispers - "One Fish-ball."

The waiter roars it through the hall,
The guests they start at "One Fish-ball!"

The guest then says, quite ill at ease,
"A piece of bread, sir, if you please."

The waiter roars it through the hall,
"We don't give bread with one Fish-ball."

Who would have bread with his Fish-ball,
Must get it first, or not at all.

Who would Fish-ball with fixin's eat,
Must get some friend to stand a treat.

#2
One Meatball - Josh White version

A little man walked up and down,
He found an eating place in town,
He read the menu through and through,
To see what fifteen cents could do.

One meatball, one meatball,
He could afford but one meatball.

He told the waiter near at hand,
The simple dinner he had planned.
The guests were startled, one and all,
To hear that waiter loudly call, "What,

"One meatball, one meatball?
Hey, this here gent wants one meatball."

The little man felt ill at ease,
Said, "Some bread, sir, if you please."
The waiter hollered down the hall,
"You gets no bread with one meatball.

"One meatball, one meatball,
Well, you gets no bread with one meatball."

The little man felt very bad,
One meatball was all he had,
And in his dreams he hears that call,
"You gets no bread with one meatball.

"One meatball, one meatball,
Well, you gets no bread with one meatball."

#3
One Meatball - Bill Garneau version

Oh, a man was walkin' down the street, lookin' for a place to eat.
A man was walkin' down the street, lookin' for a place to eat.

Oh, he found himself a gorgeous place, and entered in with gorgeous grace.
He found himself a gorgeous place, and entered in with gorgeous grace.

Then he took his purse his pocket hence, but all he found was fifteen cents.
He took his purse his pocket hence, but all he found was fifteen cents.

He scanned the menu through and through, to see what fifteen cents could do.
He scanned the menu through and through, to see what fifteen cents could do.

Now, the only thing that would do at all, was to buy just one, just one meatball.
The only thing that would do at all, was to buy just one, just one meatball.

So he called the waiter down the hall, and softly whispered "One meatball."
He called the waiter down the hall, and softly whispered "One meatball."

The waiter bellowed down the hall, "The gentleman here wants one meatball."
The waiter bellowed down the hall, "The gentleman here wants one meatball."

Then the guests, they turned both one and all, to see who wanted one meatball.
The guests, they turned both one and all, to see who wanted one meatball.

The wretched man grew ill at ease, and softly whispered, "Bread, sir, please."
The wretched man grew ill at ease, and softly whispered, "Bread, sir, please."

The waiter bellowed down the hall, "You get no bread with one meatball."
The waiter bellowed down the hall, "You get no bread with one meatball."