The Online 78-rpm Discography Project says Papa Charlie Jackson's recording of THE CAT'S GOT THE MEASLES was earlier. (Paramount 12259-A, recorded Jan. 1925). Authorship was credited to "Murphy-Smiley." I don't know who Murphy and Smiley were; the recording seems to be a one-man performance, Jackson accompanying himself on the banjo.

By the way, I learned that Jackson's instrument was actually a "hybrid banjo-guitar," with 6 strings tuned like a guitar, but with a banjo body.

YouTube has two copies of the recording: This copy is cleaner, evidently from a Document CD. This copy has more hiss, but shows the original record label. Here's my transcription:

[There is one word or phrase in verse 3 that stumps me. "Big-iron" is just a guess.]


CAT'S GOT THE MEASLES
As sung by Papa Charlie Jackson, 1925

1. Now the cat's got the measles. The dog got the whoopin' cough, doggone my soul, Lord, Lord.
The cat's got the measles. The dog got the whoopin' cough.
Doggone a man let a woman be his boss, doggone my soul.

2. Now I ain't no devil, born in the lion's den, doggone my soul, Lord, Lord.
I ain't no devil, born in the lion's den,
But my chief occupation's takin' women from their monkey men, doggone my soul.

3. Says I ain't good lookin'. My teeth don't shine like pearl, doggone my soul, Lord, Lord.
I ain't good lookin'. My teeth don't shine like pearl,
But I've got something, babe, to carry me through this big-iron(?) world, doggone my soul.

4. Now I think I heard a rumblin' deep down in the ground, doggone my soul, Lord, Lord.
I think I heard a rumblin' deep down in the ground.
Well, it must 'a' been the devil chainin' my good gal down, doggone my soul.

5. Now the men don't like me just because I speaks my mind, doggone my soul, Lord, Lord.
The men don't like me just because I speak my mind,
But the women cry papa, just because I take my time, doggone my soul.

6. Now the cat's got the measles. The dog got the whoopin' cough, doggone my soul, Lord, Lord.
The cat's got the measles. The dog got the whoopin' cough.
Doggone a man let a woman be his boss, doggone my soul.