The lyrics used by the Les Humphries Singers are substantially different, eliminating the reference to 'kick[ing] the bucket', which, one supposes, would be puzzling to their European audiences.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jN2ZDIBpmU

I love songs that can't seem to decide whether they're in a Major or a minor key, of which this one is an excellent example.

But I'd still like to know if the song was based on Al Capp's character, or he invented the character after hearing the song.