Lyr Req: The Cat Came Back - Alt. Verse Needed

Subject: The Cat Came Back - Alt. Verse Needed
From: Áine
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 04:49 PM

I'm going to teach this song to my daughter's Girl Scout troop this weekend on a campout, and I need a new/different/alternative verse to use instead of the last one, ('Now the cat sat on the porch and he ate a piece of cheese, An Irishman came by, he was feeling well at ease. The cat he was a-smiling, for he was fully fed; The Irishman sang "Britannia!" and the cat fell dead') in the version I found in the Digital Tradition. Even though I googled from here and beyond, it's the best version for this group. However, I don't think these 10-year old girls will quite ken the meaning of why the cat fell dead.

Can anyone find or write another verse that I can use to end the song with? And don't suggest anything too gross or having to do with the end of world, please. I'd really appreciate the help. Believe it or not, these little ladies have never heard this song; but, I think they'd find it very funny.

All the best, Áine

Subject: RE: The Cat Came Back - Alt. Verse Needed
From: Amos
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 05:10 PM

AIne:

See email -- need some guidance on your preferences...

Love,

A

Subject: RE: The Cat Came Back - Alt. Verse Needed
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 05:16 PM

I wrote a last verse to replace the one I learned that began, "the atom bomb fell one bright summer day...."



The scientists sent the cat up into outer space
Sent it in a shuttle far beyond the human race.
It passed a hundred galaxies and finally found its goal
Then the shuttle disappeared into a black hole....

But the cat came back....

Allison

Subject: RE: The Cat Came Back - Alt. Verse Needed
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 05:26 PM

the cat raised his head.....Best wishes Be Blessed

Subject: RE: The Cat Came Back - Alt. Verse Needed
From: Amos
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 05:35 PM

There were twenty-seven girl scouts a camping in the woods
And that kitty came around just a-looking for some food!
They fed him fifty-seven Smores, but he wasn't satisfied
But after he ate ninety-three, that cat blew up and died!

And he never came back, and he never came around
That kitty was a goner, 'cuz he couldn't come back,
He was spread all over town!

Subject: RE: The Cat Came Back - Alt. Verse Needed
From: Áine
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 06:08 PM

BRILLIANT!! Thanks to both Allison and Amos ;-) The girls will love these new additions to the folk tradition (even if they don't know what that is).

I knew I could count on ya'll to come up with the good stuff!

And if anyone else has any ideas, let's hear 'em. ;-)

All the best, Áine

Subject: RE: The Cat Came Back - Alt. Verse Needed
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 06:38 PM

I always end up with
"Hit the Road, Cat,
and don't you come back no more, no more, no more no more,
Hit the Road, Cat, and don't you come back no more..."

That last verse is a bit of a puzzler isn't it? I've never used it. But here's a suggestion for a changed version which is a bit clearer when it comes to giving a reason the Cat might (mistakenly) be assumed to be dead:

The Cat he sat up on the porch and ate a piece of cheese
A Crocodile came walking by, as smiley as you please.
The Cat he was a-smiling too, for he was fully fed;
Till the Crocodile smiled wider still, and swallowed Pussy's head - but...

Subject: RE: The Cat Came Back - Alt. Verse Needed
From: Áine
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 07:19 PM

That's a very interesting possibility you've got there, Kevin. I ran your verse by Caitlin, and she shuddered when I sang the last line. Now, that could be because of my singing, don't ya know. ;-)

All the best, Áine

Subject: RE: The Cat Came Back - Alt. Verse Needed
From: CapriUni
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 10:31 PM

So... uhm.... exactly why did the cat fall over dead at hearing "Britannia!?"

Is it because an Irishman singing it would be an impossibility?

...never would have thought the impossible could kill a cat... after all, don't they do six impossible things before breakfast? ;-)

Subject: RE: The Cat Came Back - Alt. Verse Needed
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 27 Apr 04 - 07:28 AM

Or the last line could be:

Till the Crocodile smiled wider still, and the Cat just lost his head - but...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Cat Came Back - Alt. Verse Needed
From: Áine
Date: 27 Apr 04 - 09:08 AM

Much better, Kevin! Caitlin's not awake yet; but, I think she'll like your alteration. I'll let you know later today.

All the best, Áine

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Cat Came Back - Alt. Verse Needed
From: jacqui.c
Date: 27 Apr 04 - 09:23 AM

So, what's wrong with the original last verse?

The farmer on the corner said he's kill the cat on sight,
He loaded up his gun full of nails and dynamite,
He waited in the garden 'til the cat came round'
Seven little pieces of the man was all they found...etc.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Cat Came Back - Alt. Verse Needed
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 27 Apr 04 - 09:35 AM

"Last verse" in a song like this is misleading really, because the order is pretty arbitrary, and varies from rime to time as well as person to person.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Cat Came Back - Alt. Verse Needed
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 10:58 PM

If all you want is another verse or two to make the song longer, there are plenty of verses to choose from in this old thread: Chords Req: The cat came back (cisco houston). Some of them could use some judicious editing.

Subject: RE: Songs for Cats...Corrrrrrrr.
From: GUEST,Jessi
Date: 13 Nov 08 - 05:44 PM

SOMEONE PLEASE SEND ME THE LYRICS THE CAT CAME BACK SUNG BY GARRISON KEILLOR PLEASE [e-mail]

---

E-mail sent to requestor.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Songs for Cats...Corrrrrrrr.
From: oldhippie
Date: 13 Nov 08 - 08:16 PM

Here's a start, Jessi, there are more verses.

THE CAT CAME BACK

Old man Johnson had troubles of his own.
Had a little cat that wouldn't leave him alone.
He tried and tried to give him away,
He gave him to a man going far, far away.

But the cat came back, the very next day,
the cat came back, they thought he was a goner,
But the cat came back, he just couldn't stay away, away, away.

He gave it to a man going up in a balloon
Told him to give it to the man in the moon
The balloon came down about 20 miles away
And where that man is we just can't say.

But the cat came back...

He gave him to a man going way, way out west,
told him to give it to the one he favoured best,
first the train jumped track, then it hit the rail,
And no one is alive today to tell the gruesome tale.

But the cat came back...

Subject: RE: Songs for Cats...Corrrrrrrr.
From: oldhippie
Date: 13 Nov 08 - 08:19 PM

THE CAT CAME BACK


Old Mister Johnson had troubles of his own
He had a yellow cat which wouldn't leave its home;
He tried and he tried to give the cat away,
He gave it to a man goin' far, far away.

But the cat came back the very next day,
The cat came back, we thought he was a goner
But the cat came back; it just couldn't stay away.
Away, away, yea, yea, yea

The man around the corner swore he'd kill the cat on sight,
He loaded up his shotgun with nails and dynamite;
He waited and he waited for the cat to come around,
Ninety seven pieces of the man is all they found.

But the cat came back the very next day,
The cat came back, we thought he was a goner
But the cat came back; it just couldn't stay away.
Away, away, yea, yea, yea

He gave it to a little boy with a dollar note,
Told him for to take it up the river in a boat;
They tied a rope around its neck, it must have weighed a pound
Now they drag the river for a little boy that's drowned.

But the cat came back the very next day,
The cat came back, we thought he was a goner
But the cat came back; it just couldn't stay away.
Away, away, yea, yea, yea

He gave it to a man going up in a balloon,
He told him for to take it to the man in the moon;
The balloon came down about ninety miles away,
Where he is now, well I dare not say.

But the cat came back the very next day,
The cat came back, we thought he was a goner
But the cat came back; it just couldn't stay away.
Away, away, yea, yea, yea

He gave it to a man going way out West,
Told him for to take it to the one he loved the best;
First the train hit the curve, then it jumped the rail,
Not a soul was left behind to tell the gruesome tale.

But the cat came back the very next day,
The cat came back, we thought he was a goner
But the cat came back; it just couldn't stay away.
Away, away, yea, yea, yea

The cat it had some company one night out in the yard,
Someone threw a boot-jack, and they threw it mighty hard;
It caught the cat behind the ear, she thought it rather slight,
When along came a brick-bat and knocked the cat out of sight

But the cat came back the very next day,
The cat came back, we thought he was a goner
But the cat came back; it just couldn't stay away.
Away, away, yea, yea, yea

Away across the ocean they did send the cat at last,
Vessel only out a day and making water fast;
People all began to pray, the boat began to toss,
A great big gust of wind came by and every soul was lost.

But the cat came back the very next day,
The cat came back, we thought he was a goner
But the cat came back; it just couldn't stay away.
Away, away, yea, yea, yea

On a telegraph wire, sparrows sitting in a bunch,
The cat was feeling hungry, thought she'd like 'em for a lunch;
Climbing softly up the pole, and when she reached the top,
Put her foot upon the electric wire, which tied her in a knot.

But the cat came back the very next day,
The cat came back, we thought he was a goner
But the cat came back; it just couldn't stay away.
Away, away, yea, yea, yea

The cat was a possessor of a family of its own,
With seven little kittens till there came a cyclone;
Blew the houses all apart and tossed the cat around,
The air was full of kittens, and not a one was ever found.

But the cat came back the very next day,
The cat came back, we thought he was a goner
But the cat came back; it just couldn't stay away.
Away, away, yea, yea, yea

The atom bomb fell just the other day,
The H-Bomb fell in the very same way;
Russia went, England went, and then the U.S.A.
The human race was finished without a chance to pray.

But the cat came back the very next day,
The cat came back, we thought he was a goner
But the cat came back; it just couldn't stay away.
Away, away, yea, yea, yea