Here is the version I learnt from my father in the 1950s.


Listen to the song I'm going to sing you
You'll laugh till you haven't any breath
People seem to think it very funny
When they hear of a violent death
Poor little Solomon Snoozer behaved just like an ass
He searched the house with a candle
Looking for a big escape of gas.
Chorus: And there was more work for the Undertaker
Another little job for the tombstone maker
At the local cemetery they've been very busy
On a brand new grave - Snoozer's snuffed it.

Simon Shuter laboured on the railway, his work he was very clever at
One day he was polishing the railway tracks with a lump of mouldy fat
Up came a runaway engine. He stood upon the track
He held up his hands for he firmly believed
He could push the locomotive back.

Chorus: And there was more work for the Undertaker
Another little job for the tombstone maker
At the local cemetery they've been very busy
On a brand new grave – for Simon had been shunted.

Reuben he was standing on Broadway.
Of cable cars he'd heard an awful lot.
He wanted to see how the old thing worked
So he looked down in the slot.
A car came up behind him.
He didn't hear the bell.
The bump of the car changed his address
From Broadway down to...

Chorus: And there was more work for the Undertaker
Another little job for the tombstone maker
At the local cemetery they've been very busy
On a brand new grave for Reuben by cable.

Now little Freddy Fickleton the fat boy went to visit his Uncle Brown
And just as he was leaving Uncle gave him half a crown
So feeling very, very thirsty Fred went into a shop
Drank ten lemonades a dozen ginger beers
And then there was a terrible pop.

Chorus: And there was more work for the Undertaker
Another little job for the tombstone maker
At the local cemetery they've been very busy
On a brand new grave –for Freddy had busted.

Peter Pickles visited the circus and saw what he never could forget
One of the performers jumped from the top of the tent into a net.
Early the very next morning, Peter tried a similar drop
Jumped from a building twenty storeys high
And landed on a big fat cop.

Chorus: And there was more work for the Undertaker
Another little job for the tombstone maker
At the local cemetery they've been very busy
On a brand new grave –for Peter and the policeman.