Hi< Sorry, I pressed the wrong button. I first heard the excuse song long before I listened to folk music on a record by Gerard Hoffnung ( he of musical cartoons fame )and I believe it was called the Bricklayers Lament. It was performed as a poem along with other humorous poems such as A french Widow In Every Bedroom ( based on misprinted guide books )unfortunately I no Longer have the record and can't say whether Hofnung wrote the poem. I haven't managed to aquire a copy of the record yet but am still looking