My grandfather used to sing an old song that included the chorus "More
work for the undertaker, another little job for the tombstone maker,
in the local cemetery they've, been very very busy with a brand new
grave... for Freddie's fragments" (or whatever the ending for the
particular verse was).  How do I find the rest of the words to the
song?
The beginning of that verse was something like "Little Freddie
Finkleton the fat boy, went to see his Uncle Brown. When he left the
house, his uncle gave him a brand new half a crown.  Little Freddy
feeling very thirsty, went into a shop, bought (something, something
something).... drank ten ginger beer, and then there was a big loud
POP!"  Then the chorus...  Another verse dealt with a man called Sammy
who was polishing railroad track with a lump of mouldy fat, when a
runaway engine came down the track .. "He held up his hand, for he
verily believed, he could hold a locomotive back!  BOOM!"  "More work
for the undertaker, etc. ... busy with a brand new grave... for Sammy
shunted."  There were several more verses and I'd like to find them.

Hello Canadagoose,

Thank you for your question.


The song you’re referring to appears to be "More Work for the
Undertaker"
sung by Dan W Quinn.

I found the original recording at the WFMU - Antique Phonograph Music
Program (Playlist of January 12, 2002) where 78s and cylinders are
played on actual period reproducing devices.

More Work for the Undertaker
Dan W Quinn
Edison 2-minute cylinder 1901
Tinkly Piano Pop Song.  

WFMU: Antique Phonograph Music Program
http://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/2093

Click on the link “Hear this show” to listen to the whole show.
It lasts 1:07 hours. 

If you prefer to go directly to the song More Work for the Undertaker,
all you have to do is advance the recording to 35:30 minutes.
http://www.wfmu.org/listen.ram?show=2093


Here are the words taken from the recording:

“Listen to a song I’m going to sing you
You can laugh until you haven’t any breath 
People nowadays seem to think it very funny
When they hear of a violent death.


Poor little Solomon Levy
To him was blown apart
He searched our house the other night
To find a big escape of gas.


More work for the undertaker, 
Another little job for the casket maker, 
At the local cemetery they've been very very busy 
And a brand new grave
Solomon blew himself.


Ruben he was standing on Broadway
A cable car they heard an awful lot
He wanted to see how the old thing worked 
So he looked down in the slot
The car came up behind him
But they didn’t hear the bell
The bump of the car
Came his at rest
From Broadway down till till weeeeeeeee


More work for the undertaker, 
Another little job for the casket maker, 
At the local cemetery they've been very very busy 
And a brand new grave
A message by cable


A boy named Jack was playing football
He was what you call a center right
They picked him up in pieces
When it ended in a crush
His father quickly sent for
What was left of Jack
When he opened the box 
They suddenly exclaimed
Why they only sent a quarter back.


More work for the undertaker, 
Another little job for the casket maker, 
At the local cemetery they've been very very busy 
and a brand new grave
Football and that’s all.”


Search Criteria:
“More work for the undertaker” +song


I am confident the above verses taken from this Edison record are the
missing verses you were looking for.


Best Regards,
Bobbie7-ga

---

Request for Answer Clarification by canadagoose-ga on 06 Mar 2003 16:39 PST

The song you provided me with may be a version of the one I remember,
but the only thing it has in common is the chorus.  None of the verses
match what I remember, so there must be other versions out there
please keep looking, or do I have to request a refund and start all
over again?

---

Clarification of Answer by bobbie7-ga on 06 Mar 2003 17:35 PST

Hello Canadagoose,

I will do further research and get back to you as soon as possible. 

Thank you for your patience.

Bobbie7-ga

---

Clarification of Answer by bobbie7-ga on 06 Mar 2003 17:41 PST

Hello again Canadagoose,

It will not be necessary to ask for a refund. If I am not able to
locate the exact verses you require I will request the removal of my
answer.

You will not be charged and your question will remain open for another
researcher to answer.

Best Regards,
Bobbie7-ga

---

Clarification of Answer by bobbie7-ga on 07 Mar 2003 06:32 PST

Dear Canadagoose,

After hours of research online I still have not located the verses
that your grandfather sang to you so I’ll have to do some offline
research.

I have just sent out an e-mail inquiring about the existence of
another version of “More Work for the Undertaker” with different
verses.

This may take a few days but as soon as they respond I will let you
know.

Thank you for your patience.

Best Regards,
Bobbie7

---

Clarification of Answer by bobbie7-ga on 07 Mar 2003 09:22 PST

Dear Canadagoose,

To keep you updated I have now found out that there is another
recording of “More work for the undertaker.”

It was a 1901 sound recording by Fred W. Leigh.

I am making more inquiries and am trying to locate the recording or
the lyrics for this version.

Thanks
Bobbie7-ga

---

Clarification of Answer by bobbie7-ga on 07 Mar 2003 17:26 PST

Good evening Canadagoose,

I have good news. I received a response from Mr. Max Tyler, the
historian of the British Music Hall Society with the following
message:

“More work for the Undertaker written by Fred Leigh in 1895 has
certainly got verses about Little
Freddie Figgleton, and Sammy Shuter. If you like to give me your
postal address I will pop a copy of the song in the post for you.”

Here is his contact information:

Mr. Max Tyler
maxt@hist.freeserve.co.uk


Just send him your request and your address and he will mail the words
of the song “More work for the Undertaker” directly to you.


This generous historian has mailed songs to other people as well as
you can see from the following excerpt:

“I wrote to the historian of the British Music Hall Society, Mr. Max
Tyler, to ask if he would be good enough to supply me with the words
of the song and hopefully confirm the details of the life of its
composer, and this he did most generously.”
http://www.fulwood.com/fulwood/history/jack_the_ripper_theory.htm


The Hiss and Boo Company has Mr. Tyler’s contact information for
inquiries.

“Finally the British Music Hall Society’s affable historian Max Tyler
is always willing to share the secrets of his vast private collection
with enquirers.” His e-mail address is maxt@hist.freeserve.co.uk
http://www.hissboo.co.uk/musichall_songs.shtml
 

“Their Historian is Max Tyler, 76 Royal Close, Chichester, West Sussex
PO19 2FL; please enclose return postage with enquiries. (Please note
that their memorabilia is in safe storage but is available for
inspection subject to adequate notice being given.)”
http://www.greatallied.fsnet.co.uk/docs/societies.htm


I hope this response has provided you with the information you were
seeking. If anything I have written is not clear, please post a
request for Answer Clarification and I will do my best to meet your
needs.

Thank you
Bobbie7-ga

---

Request for Answer Clarification by canadagoose-ga on 07 Mar 2003 20:08 PST

Thank you Bobbie, good job!  I have sent a message to Mr. Tyler.  It
certainly sounds like you tracked it down.  Thanks for the work.

---

Clarification of Answer by bobbie7-ga on 07 Mar 2003 20:17 PST

Canadagoose,
You're very welcome.
I'm glad to have helped.
Bobbie7-ga

Today I received a copy of the words and music to the song I was
looking for, from Max Tyler, the historian for the British Music Hall
Society, whom you advised me to contact.  Well done, and thanks!

Just a thought, Canadagoose...

I know my maternal grandfather had the habit of making up additional
(usually silly) verses to popular songs of his youth.  It's possible
that the words you remember your grandfather singing had begun with
him.

Also, if the recorded version above was a commercial rendition of a
song that had been regionally popular, the artist may have either
picked and chosen from the available verses; or written his own in the
same vein.  The latter, of course, would make it possible to copyright
the material.

-Chromedome

Yes, that had occurred to me, but it appears from further research by
the original respondent that the verses I remember do indeed exist. 
My grandfather was very good at memorizing nonsense songs and stories,
so I don't doubt that he was repeating words that someonbe else had
made up or pssed to him.  He could recite all of Edward Lear!
Thanks for your comment.

Canadagoose,

I'm happy to hear that you received the words and music to the song
from Max Tyler. That was fast!
I hope to see you here again soon.

Best Regards,
Bobbie7