My dad, who would be 88 now, taught it to me when I was very young. I see some variations, but I learned it well and still can recite the lyrics he taught me. He spoke it (in syncopation), but put on this ending which he sung; "On the road to Mandalay; Where the flying fishes play; and the dawn comes up like thunder; from China 'cross the bay."

I know of no one else who had even heard of it. I'm shocked that it was considered a camp song. Oh, and it's "When the whistles rang boom boom." It's a song about craziness, where whistles ring boom-boom, not toot-toot (they way they really do.)

Note: He also taught me Mini the Moocher (about a prostitute) and St. James Infirary, a '20s jazz number, also sung by Cab Calloway, (about a woman dying of STDs in New Orleans.) It's a great song.