Don’t believe what you read on Wiki, because it usually isn’t true. That Wiki story is a total fabrication. The song has been unchanged since it was first written.
re: “Don’t believe what you read on Wiki, because it usually isn’t true. That Wiki story is a total fabrication. The song has been unchanged since it was first written.”
No, the article is quite correct about the other verse being written back in the 1950’s. I’m a music history (classic and pop music) buff and it is quite true that the “clown” verse was written for kids to sing. You are correct that it wasn’t in the original version, but you can find the “clown” verse in kid’s music song books that go back to the 1950’s.
Wiki isn’t always wrong, but it’s true you need to check things out.