While I'm at it, there's another little ditty I used to hear in my native New Brunswick. The Miramichi was blamed as the source. It becomes quite colourful. It starts

"Oh, the cats couldn't kitten and the doggies couldn't pup,
and the old man couldn't get his rhubarb up.
He tried all day and he tried all night...."

That's all I can remember. Anyone know the rest? GeneJ