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This wasn't a fun week. So today I was determined to have some fun. I've been going through and remixing the songs I teach my students and came upon this little tune I prepared for Halloween a few years back. It's not too early for Halloween is it? Anyway.......after spending a number of hours tracking and mixing this I realized the lyrics may be a bit graphic for my students, even though it is considered a children's song. So I opted to not use it in the class. But today I spent a few hours remixing and mastering it. Forgive the length, but cats do have nine lives.
I played all the instruments and sang all the vocal parts. I used the musical typing feature to do the strings and winds. The drums and percussion are modified Apple Loops.
I originally found this in a book of folk songs which credits no writer. The only song writing credit is "American." But several sources credit it to Harry S. Miller. Since he is reported to have written it in 1893, I feel confident it is now in public domain.
I played all the instruments and sang all the vocal parts. I used the musical typing feature to do the strings and winds. The drums and percussion are modified Apple Loops.
I originally found this in a book of folk songs which credits no writer. The only song writing credit is "American." But several sources credit it to Harry S. Miller. Since he is reported to have written it in 1893, I feel confident it is now in public domain.
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Lyrics
The Cat Came Back
Written By: Harry S. Miller (1893)
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 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; it just couldn't stay away.
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.
He gave it to a little boy with a dollar note,
Told him to take it up the river in a boat;
He tied a rope around its neck, it must have weighed a pound
Now they drag the river for a little boy that's drowned.
He gave it to a man going up in a balloon,
He told him 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.
He gave it to a man going way out west,
Told him to take it to the one he loves the best;
First the train hit the curve, then it jumped the rail,
Not a soul was left behind to tell the gruesome tale.
The cat it had some company one night out in the yard,
Someone threw a boot-jack, and they threw it mighty hard;
It hit the cat behind the ear, he thought it rather slight,
Along came a brick and knocked the cat out of sight
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.
Up on a wire, sparrows sitting in a bunch,
The cat was feeling hungry, thought he'd like them for a lunch;
Climbing softly up the pole, and when he reached the top,
Put her foot upon the wire, which tied him in a knot.
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.
Written By: Harry S. Miller (1893)
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 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; it just couldn't stay away.
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.
He gave it to a little boy with a dollar note,
Told him to take it up the river in a boat;
He tied a rope around its neck, it must have weighed a pound
Now they drag the river for a little boy that's drowned.
He gave it to a man going up in a balloon,
He told him 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.
He gave it to a man going way out west,
Told him to take it to the one he loves the best;
First the train hit the curve, then it jumped the rail,
Not a soul was left behind to tell the gruesome tale.
The cat it had some company one night out in the yard,
Someone threw a boot-jack, and they threw it mighty hard;
It hit the cat behind the ear, he thought it rather slight,
Along came a brick and knocked the cat out of sight
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.
Up on a wire, sparrows sitting in a bunch,
The cat was feeling hungry, thought he'd like them for a lunch;
Climbing softly up the pole, and when he reached the top,
Put her foot upon the wire, which tied him in a knot.
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.
Gaylen75
Way cool.