I have a copy of a recorded version - can't recall if it is Val Doonican, or someone else. I concur with Gurney (on 13 Nov 05 - 01:53 AM) about "oiled and embrocated it". I also recall one of the early lines slightly differently (this may be me mishearing):

instead of "And a tail to let you know it when he wanted to be fed"

I remember it as "And a tail to let you know which end it wanted to be fed"

(or maybe "...which end he wanted to be fed.)

Don