I see what you mean, Smutspot. The version in the database certainly doesn't match what I grew up with. In southeastern Wisconsin, it was "Johnny Verbeck." In June, the Prairie Home Companion solicited camp song lyrics for their July 4 program. The whole camp songbook is still available if you search their Web site. Here are the THREE versions of the song that were posted there:

Johnny Rebek
Sausage Machine I

Chorus: Oh mister Johnny Rebek, how could you be so mean
I told you you'd be sorry for inventing that machine
now all the neighbors cats and dogs will nevermore be seen
they'll all be ground in sausages in Johnny Rebek's machine

1. One day a little boy came walking in the store
he bought a pound of sausages, and laid it on the floor
then he started whistling, he whistled up a tune,
and all the little sausages went dancing around the room

2. One day the machine broke, the darn thing wouldn't go,
so Johnny Rebek he crawled inside to see what made it so.
His wife was having a nightmare, walking in her sleep,
she gave the crank a heck of a yank and Johnny Rebek was meat.

Sang occasionally at Chin-Be-Gota Scout camp near Antigo, Wis.
Vive L'avenir!
—Dave Scott

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Johnny Vorbeck
Sausage Machine II

Chorus: Mr. Johnny Vorbeck how could you be so mean?
I told you'd be sorry for inventing that machine.
Now all the neighbors cats and dogs will never more be seen.
They'll all be turned to sausages in Johnny Vorbeck's machine.

1. One day a little Dutch boy came wailing in the store.
He bought a pound of sausages and laid them on the floor.
He then began to whistle, he whistled up a tune.
And all the little sausages began dancing round the room. Repeat chorus.

2. One day the thing got busted, the darn thing wouldn't go.
So Johnny Vorbeck, he climbed inside to see what made it so.
His wife she had a nightmare, while walking in her sleep.
She gave the crank A HECK OF A YANK -- and Johnny Vorbeck was meat! Repeat chorus.

While this may or may not be sponsored by Bertha's Kitty Boutique it was sung at every Alexander family camp-out for more than thirty years (and still going). This was as much a tradition as taped versions of PHC (we camped out of reception range and taped favorite shows to play on Saturday afternoons). Don't know the origin or the tune but its easy to pick up.
—Mark Alexander and Family, Clifton Park New York

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Johnny Rebec the Dutchman
Sausage Machine III
I learned this song from my Dad a long long time ago and my brothers and sisters still sing it and laugh a lot.

Johnny Rebec the Dutchman, what makes you be so mean?
I told you you'd be sorry for inventing that machine.
Now all the neighbor's cats and dogs will never more be seen.
They'll all be ground to sausages in Johnny Rebec's machine.

One day the machine was broken; The darned thing wouldn't go.
So Johnny Rebec crawled in to see what made it so.
Along came his wife a walking down the street.
She gave the crank a heck of a yank and Johnny Rebec was meat.

Ohhh Johnny Rebec the Dutchman, what makes you be so mean?

My mother, hearing the song recently, laughingly recalled a song she sang as a child at camp entitled "Go get the ax, there's a fly on baby's head!" Unfortunately for all of us she couldn't recall all the words. If anyone else knows the words, I would enjoy reading them here.
—AJM