I first learned it from Jim Kweskin and the Jug Band, but I think Jane Voss and Hoyle Osborne recorded it as well as Tim and Mollie O'Brien.

I think the version I sing is an amalgamation of all of the above, plus some folk processing on my part:


PAPA'S ON THE HOUSETOP
(Leroy Carr, adapted by Eve Goldberg)

Mama said to Papa, be quiet as a mouse
So Papa climbed up on the top of the house
Made a lot of whoopee, made a lot of noise
Stood up and cheered with the rest of the boys

CHORUS:
Baby's in the cradle, brother's on the town
Sister's in the parlour, flying up and down
Mama's in the kitchen, messing all around
And Papa's on the housetop, he won't come down

Well the blues they come, yes the blues they come
Nobody knows where the blues come from
The blues they go, yes the blues they go
And everybody's happy when the old blues go

(chorus)

Papa saw a chicken out in the yard
He picked up a rock and he hit him hard
He hit him hard and he killed him dead
Now the chicken's in the gravy and the gravy's on the bread

(chorus)

Hush little baby don't you cry
The blues are gonna leave you by and by
Papa come in just a little bit sore
Put the baby in the cradle, tossed the blues out the door

(chorus)