Lyr Add: Grandmother's Cat (Harry Hunter)

Subject: Lyr Add: GRANDMOTHER'S CAT (parody, Harry Hunter)
From: pavane
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 04:44 AM


GRANDMOTHER'S CAT
(Parody of Grandfather's Clock)
Written by Harry Hunter (C1880)

My grandmother's cat was too large for the shelf
So he slept twenty years on the floor
More artful by half than the old girl herself
He was constantly meowing for more
He was nursed from the morn of the day that he was born
And was always her treasure and pride
And he caught mice, always on the hop
Till the old boy died

CHORUS
Twenty years without slumbering, puss, puss, puss [puss missing here?]
Their life seconds numbering, puss, puss, puss
But he stopped short, never to mouse again
Till the old boy died

A song with no conceivable merit (like many here?), so I have only transcribed the first verse
If you want the rest, it is in the Bodleian Ballad Library here: Grandmother's cat

NHJ

Subject: RE: Grandmother's cat
From: English Jon
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 06:05 AM

"A song with no conceivable merit "

corrr... wojameen?

EJC

Subject: RE: Grandmother's cat
From: pavane
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 06:16 AM

Only an opinion, of course!

Subject: RE: Grandmother's cat
From: MMario
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 08:42 AM

it's entertaining - kids like it (I've heard it done for kids shows) and when you know the original (which surprisingly a lot of people do NOT) that adds another chuckle. Not something I would do a lot - but handy to know about.

Subject: RE: Grandmother's cat
From: pavane
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 08:47 AM

I bet they'd be tickled by the rude version too! (My Grandfathers C**k was too large for his jock..)

Subject: RE: Grandmother's cat
From: SharonA
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 09:00 AM

I concur with English Jon's Cat: any song in praise of cats is intrinsically meritorious. Thabk you, pavane, for posting that lovely ballad. Now, please pardon me while I observe the ritual of refusing my human's latest food offering... when WILL she learn to anticipate my changing tastes?

Artie on the windowsill

Subject: RE: Grandmother's cat
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 09:22 AM

If it's of no conceivable merit, I'm tempted to ask why you posted it.  If it was worth posting at all, why not do the whole thing?  Actually, I'm quite sure I've seen the full text somewhere in the last week or so, but I can't remember where.  There is a modern parody of this parody in the DT, incidentally:

MY GRANDMOTHER'S CAT

See also  MY GRANDFATHER'S COCK

Subject: RE: Grandmother's cat
From: pavane
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 09:28 AM

Malcolm, you are quite right. My comment was a feeble attempt at humour, and I can see from other postings that it makes a good song for children. But I still don't have time to transcribe everything that may be of interest, sadly (especially as I am at work). Perhaps someone else will pick it up.

Subject: RE: Grandmother's cat
From: pavane
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 10:41 AM

OK I will keep posting CAT songs - there is a Dame Durden parody somewhere, in which she keeps cats, not servants. Oh yes, here is a link to the image: An old maid kept five great Tom-cats
I'll transcribe the lyric when I get around to it.

Subject: RE: Grandmother's cat
From: pavane
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 10:52 AM

This is one is called CAT, but it is really about a pussy! CATWill definitely transcribe it soon

Subject: RE: Grandmother's cat
From: MMario
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 11:02 AM

An Old Maid looks fun! I'll get that one and post it here if it's okay with you pavane

Subject: RE: Grandmother's cat
From: pavane
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 11:31 AM

Fine by me - I am pushed for time at present

Subject: Lyr Add: AN OLD MAID (parody of DAME DURDEN)
From: MMario
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 11:51 AM

THE OLD MAID
A Parody on "Dame Durden"
[tune: Dame Durden] (Bodlian Library)

AN old mid kept five great Tom-cats
To show her love to males;
She also kept five he-pug dogs,
To wag their curly tails:
"Twas Tim and Bob, And Jem and Bob and
Tommy old and stale;
And Humb [and Dump] and Pomp, and Stump, and
Towser sick and pale,
'Twas Tim Scratch'd Humpy!
And Bob scratch'd Dumpy!
And Jem scratch'd Stumpy!
And Hob scratch'd Pompey!
And Tommy old and stale,
And Towser sick and pale;
And Pompey was a charming dog to carry a curly tail.

The old maid every day at noon
Did her bed-fellows call;
But neither cats nor dogs would stir,
Till she began to bawl.
"twas…"

'Twas on the first day of Leap-year
When maids go courting flats,
The old maid brought a husband home
And kick'd out dogs and cats
'Twas…
And Pompey was ready to hang himself but only hung his tail.

Note: the printed copy did not have the words in the square brackets at that location, but the meter and subsequent copies of the chorus show that they should be there

Subject: RE: Grandmother's cat
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 27 Jul 01 - 05:18 PM

That particular one was printed by G. Smeeton of 74, Tooley Street, London; date unknown.  There are also editions there from Catnach (between 1813 and 1838) and one unknown printer.

Subject: RE: Grandmother's cat
From: MMario
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 08:33 AM

Grazie; Malcolm. I honestly intended to go back and search out the provenence on that. thanks for doing it.

Subject: RE: Grandmother's cat
From: pavane
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 08:45 AM

The particular copy I used from Bodley was described as follows:

Miss Victor's Songs
Printer: March, R. and Co. (London)
Date: between 1877 and 1884
Imprint: Richard March & Co., St. James's Walk, London, E.C. Printer's Series: (March's Edition of New Songs and Ballads).
Note: Two sheets forming a songbook. Mutilated; lacking one ballad. With advertisements

Subject: RE: Grandmother's cat
From: raredance
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 10:14 PM

The parody "My Grandmother's Cat" that is in the DT should I believe properly credit Garrison Keillor as the writer. It appears on "Prairie Home Comedy, Radio Songs and Sketches by Garrison Keillor" (1988, PHC 21302) and also on "Songs of The Cat" by Garrison Keillor and Frederica von Stade (1991 HBP 17398). Interestingly the little short "chorus" lines are different on the two recorded versions, which in turn differ in part from the lyrics in the DT. Probably one of those cases where GK came up with clever new couplets each time he did it.

rich r