The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #123870 Message #2731484
Posted By: Joybell
25-Sep-09 - 08:15 PM
Thread Name: Origins: Black Cat Piddled in the White Cat's Eye
Subject: Origins: Black Cat Piddled in the White Cat's Eye
For no particular reason I'm curious about the title of this tune. Also words if they exist.
A tune by this name was collected by Rob Willis from the Cape Barren Islands. That's well documented and its connections with other English tunes is also known.
From 2 sources, one of them Rob Willis, I note that this line was/is used as a paradiddle (drum phrase).
On an old thread here Sandy Paton noted a fragment to the tune of "The Girl I left Behind Me"
Here's what he said: "Mike Myers, in London, was known to sing (to the same tune)
Oh the black cat piddled in the White cat's eye
And the White cat said "Cor Blimey!"
And the black cat said, "You silly sod,
You shouldn't stand behind me!"."
So I'm thinking maybe a military origin.
Also I'm wondering where it fits with another title I heard, in the 1960s, for a tune called:
"Black Man Piddled in the White Man's Shoe".
Title may belong here too -- "In a White Man's Shoe".
It's the words I'm curious about rather than the tune connections.
Any ideas?
Cheers, Joy