Now Mr Izzy Rubenstein, who was very old,
One day playing tiddley-winks, he caught a nasty cold.
His great-great-grandson wrapped him up and put him into bed,
His lawyer called next morning, and this is what he said:
'Oh, is Mr Izzy ill? Izzy? Izzy?
Will he make a will? Will he? Will he?
I am Izzy's lawyer and I'm calling round because
I want to know is Izzy ill, or Izzy as he was?'

Now no-one tried to answer him, unto his dismay,
The lawyer's face went very pale as he was heard to say,
'I've been in charge of his affairs since 1862,
He owes me six and eightpence, so tell me quickly, do:
Oh, is Mr Izzy ill? Izzy? Izzy?
Has he caught a chill? Has he? Has he?
The slightest cold often turns to 'flu,
Appendicitis, tonsilitis and bronchitis too.
Is he breathing still? Is he? Is he?
I am Izzy's lawyer and I'm calling round because
I want to know is Izzy ill, or Izzy as he was?'

This is a 'comedy foxtrot' dating back to 1929, written by Arthur Leclerq and recorded by Randolph Sutton. It's still popular in Suffolk pubs, usually sung unaccompanied, and was particularly associated with Ted Chaplin, who was horseman and carriage-driver for Tony Harvey, another excellent pub singer, who died earlier this year. I was fortunate enough to see them at the renowned Low House, in Laxfield, before the infamous Landlord From Hell ousted the Tuesday song sessions from the pub. That gentleman has now gone to where so many people wished him to go, and under new management there are, I believe, regular sessions again. Happy days.