According to Joe Offer above (10 Dec 98 - 04:03 PM), Matilda's theft made the singer sell his "cat" (cart?) and horse. That means, he sold these after the woman had left and he had no cash left to buy food etc. When that money was spent and the foundation of his economic existence was gone as well, he had to write "calypso" lyrics. Sad, sad. Those wicked women force us to write sad songs which may even top the charts.