The Celt Came Back/The Cat Came Back
The Cat Came Back
Lyrics and music by Harry Miller
Now old Mr. Johnson had some troubles of his own,
He had a yellow cat that just wouldn't leave his 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. We thought he was a goner
But the cat came back. He just wouldn't stay away.
The man around the corner said he'd shoot the cat on sight,
He loaded up his shotgun with nails and dynamite,
He waited and he waited for the cat to come around,
But 97 pieces of the man is all they found.
He gave it to a little boy with a dollar note,
Told hm 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.
He gave it to a man going up in a balloon,
He said for to give it to the man up in the moon,
The ballroom came down about 90 miles away,
Where the man is now, I dare not say.
He gave it to a man going way out west,
He said for to give 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.
The cat it had some company one night out in the yard
Someone threw a boot and they threw it mighty hard
It caught the cat behind the ear, she thought it rather slight,
When along came a brick and knocked the cat out of sight
Away across the ocean they did sent the cat at last,
The 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.
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.
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 toss the cat around,
The air was full of kittens and not a one was ever found.
The atom bomb fell just the other day,
The H-bomb fell in the very same way;
Russia went, England went, and then the USA
The human race was finished without a chance to pray
Background from Daniel Womack: There are far too many verses to list them all. The song was written in 1893 it has been used to help teach children the concept of rhythm and temo. The verse melody seems to be loosely based on "The Moonshiner" which too is based more closely on "The Wild Rover". It was also the basis of a short animated film in 1988 by the same name. There are two variations on this melody that appear on the podcast. I'm going to post them both. First, Marc's version with his Dubliner's Tabby Cats:
The Cat Came Back (The Cat's Perspective)
Lyrics by Marc Gunn
(Performed by Marc Gunn & The Dubliners Tabby Cats on Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers)
I was a crazy cat for many a year,
My years are advancing. Now I sleep in a chair.
But old Mr. Johnson still wants me to play
If I don't get active, he'll send me away.
I'm a yellow tabby, kinda flabby and I'm coming home
And if you don't like me, then leave me alone!
I'll eat when I'm hungry. I'll sleep when I'm tired
And if you try to wake me, you'll wish you had died.
His neighbor ambushed me with shotgun and dynamite.
My cat senses warned me, so I put up a fight.
I clawed at his cigarette. It fell to the floor.
It lit the dynamite as I ran out the door.
KA-BOOM!
He gave me to a boy with a dollar and a note
To drown me in the river when we were afloat.
I saw the rope come towards me and let out a yowl.
The boat tipped on over. The poor boy was drowned.
GURGLE!
He gave me to a man going up in a balloon.
I clung to his head. I am no buffoon.
The man tried to free me, but then lost control.
I stole his parachute as he crashed 'gainst a knoll.
KER-SPLAT!
He took me to the mill where the meat was ground.
He left off the lights, so I wouldn't look around
But I saw that food processor come closer to me.
I jumped to the floor. He tripped bloodily.
CRUNCH!
Mr Johnson, Mr Johnson, I know you hate me
But I have nine lives and you haven't even three.
Blessed are the cat lovers. Blessed are all kitties
So love me or leave me alone for to sleep.
PURR.
Background by Marc Gunn: This cat song melody is based on "The Cat Came Back", but sung from the cat's perspective about an old yellow tabby cat that just wants to grow old in peace but old Mr. Johnson seems to have it out for the poor kitty.
The last version we see on the podcast is a version done by Fugli:
The Celt Came Back
Lyrics by various artists, music by Harry Miller
Arrangement by Fugli
(Performed by Fugli on On the Woad)
Old King Arthur's got problems all his own.
He's got a thick skinned bard that will not leave his home.
He tried and he tried. It put him to the test.
He sent him with a knight who was going on a quest
But...
The Celt came back, the very next day
The Celt came back; he thought he was a goner
But the Celt came back
He just wouldn't say away, away, away hey
The local Lord swore he'd shoot the bard on sight
So he loaded up his canon and packed his powder tight.
He waited and he waited for the bard to come around.
Little bitty pieces of the castle's all they found
And...
He sent him with Merlin flying high in a balloon.
He asked him for to take him to the man up in the moon.
The balloon came down about 90 leagues away.
Where that wizard is now, well I cannot say.
Still...
He sent him with a serf with a ten shilling note,
See the lady of the lake take him out on a boat.
They tied a rock around his neck. It must've weight ten stone
But now they drag the shoreline because the boat came back alone
And...
He sent him with a merchant sailing far across the sea.
He locked him in a trunk and threw away the key.
A storm came up. It swept the ship away.
If anyone survived we can only pray
But...
He gave him to a knight to use him for a pell.
He said, "Beat him soundly. I want to hear him yell."
The knight put on his armor and he sharpened up his sword
But nobody since has heard from that knightly lord.
Still...
He tied him up with rope and threw him in the bog.
He called to all the huntsmen who brought along their dogs.
They chased him all night long until the night turned into day
But nobody left who had survived the awful prey.
Still...
Now Greek fire fell just the other day.
The light from the skies in a similar way.
Egypt, Greece, Samaria, Rome all have gone away.
The entire ancient world is lying in decay
But...
If there is anything I've missed, any information you know to be incorrect, or if there is a song you've heard on the podcast that you would like to see included, please do not hesitate to contact me at lyrics@renaissancefestivalmusic.com.
Lyrics and music by Harry Miller
Now old Mr. Johnson had some troubles of his own,
He had a yellow cat that just wouldn't leave his 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. We thought he was a goner
But the cat came back. He just wouldn't stay away.
The man around the corner said he'd shoot the cat on sight,
He loaded up his shotgun with nails and dynamite,
He waited and he waited for the cat to come around,
But 97 pieces of the man is all they found.
He gave it to a little boy with a dollar note,
Told hm 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.
He gave it to a man going up in a balloon,
He said for to give it to the man up in the moon,
The ballroom came down about 90 miles away,
Where the man is now, I dare not say.
He gave it to a man going way out west,
He said for to give 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.
The cat it had some company one night out in the yard
Someone threw a boot and they threw it mighty hard
It caught the cat behind the ear, she thought it rather slight,
When along came a brick and knocked the cat out of sight
Away across the ocean they did sent the cat at last,
The 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.
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.
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 toss the cat around,
The air was full of kittens and not a one was ever found.
The atom bomb fell just the other day,
The H-bomb fell in the very same way;
Russia went, England went, and then the USA
The human race was finished without a chance to pray
Background from Daniel Womack: There are far too many verses to list them all. The song was written in 1893 it has been used to help teach children the concept of rhythm and temo. The verse melody seems to be loosely based on "The Moonshiner" which too is based more closely on "The Wild Rover". It was also the basis of a short animated film in 1988 by the same name. There are two variations on this melody that appear on the podcast. I'm going to post them both. First, Marc's version with his Dubliner's Tabby Cats:
The Cat Came Back (The Cat's Perspective)
Lyrics by Marc Gunn
(Performed by Marc Gunn & The Dubliners Tabby Cats on Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers)
I was a crazy cat for many a year,
My years are advancing. Now I sleep in a chair.
But old Mr. Johnson still wants me to play
If I don't get active, he'll send me away.
I'm a yellow tabby, kinda flabby and I'm coming home
And if you don't like me, then leave me alone!
I'll eat when I'm hungry. I'll sleep when I'm tired
And if you try to wake me, you'll wish you had died.
His neighbor ambushed me with shotgun and dynamite.
My cat senses warned me, so I put up a fight.
I clawed at his cigarette. It fell to the floor.
It lit the dynamite as I ran out the door.
KA-BOOM!
He gave me to a boy with a dollar and a note
To drown me in the river when we were afloat.
I saw the rope come towards me and let out a yowl.
The boat tipped on over. The poor boy was drowned.
GURGLE!
He gave me to a man going up in a balloon.
I clung to his head. I am no buffoon.
The man tried to free me, but then lost control.
I stole his parachute as he crashed 'gainst a knoll.
KER-SPLAT!
He took me to the mill where the meat was ground.
He left off the lights, so I wouldn't look around
But I saw that food processor come closer to me.
I jumped to the floor. He tripped bloodily.
CRUNCH!
Mr Johnson, Mr Johnson, I know you hate me
But I have nine lives and you haven't even three.
Blessed are the cat lovers. Blessed are all kitties
So love me or leave me alone for to sleep.
PURR.
Background by Marc Gunn: This cat song melody is based on "The Cat Came Back", but sung from the cat's perspective about an old yellow tabby cat that just wants to grow old in peace but old Mr. Johnson seems to have it out for the poor kitty.
The last version we see on the podcast is a version done by Fugli:
The Celt Came Back
Lyrics by various artists, music by Harry Miller
Arrangement by Fugli
(Performed by Fugli on On the Woad)
Old King Arthur's got problems all his own.
He's got a thick skinned bard that will not leave his home.
He tried and he tried. It put him to the test.
He sent him with a knight who was going on a quest
But...
The Celt came back, the very next day
The Celt came back; he thought he was a goner
But the Celt came back
He just wouldn't say away, away, away hey
The local Lord swore he'd shoot the bard on sight
So he loaded up his canon and packed his powder tight.
He waited and he waited for the bard to come around.
Little bitty pieces of the castle's all they found
And...
He sent him with Merlin flying high in a balloon.
He asked him for to take him to the man up in the moon.
The balloon came down about 90 leagues away.
Where that wizard is now, well I cannot say.
Still...
He sent him with a serf with a ten shilling note,
See the lady of the lake take him out on a boat.
They tied a rock around his neck. It must've weight ten stone
But now they drag the shoreline because the boat came back alone
And...
He sent him with a merchant sailing far across the sea.
He locked him in a trunk and threw away the key.
A storm came up. It swept the ship away.
If anyone survived we can only pray
But...
He gave him to a knight to use him for a pell.
He said, "Beat him soundly. I want to hear him yell."
The knight put on his armor and he sharpened up his sword
But nobody since has heard from that knightly lord.
Still...
He tied him up with rope and threw him in the bog.
He called to all the huntsmen who brought along their dogs.
They chased him all night long until the night turned into day
But nobody left who had survived the awful prey.
Still...
Now Greek fire fell just the other day.
The light from the skies in a similar way.
Egypt, Greece, Samaria, Rome all have gone away.
The entire ancient world is lying in decay
But...
If there is anything I've missed, any information you know to be incorrect, or if there is a song you've heard on the podcast that you would like to see included, please do not hesitate to contact me at lyrics@renaissancefestivalmusic.com.
--posted by Daniel Womack of the Brobdingnagian Bards
1:42 AM
