Now old Mr. Johnson had troubles of his own Had a yellow cat that wouldn't leave his home He tried and he tried to give that cat away Gave it to a man going 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, just wouldn't stay away
Now 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 they thought he was a goner But the cat came back, just wouldn't stay away
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 dragged the river for the little boy that's drowned
But the cat came back the very next day The cat came back they thought he was a goner But the cat came back, just wouldn't stay away
Gave it to a man going up in a balloon Told him for to take it to the man on 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 they thought he was a goner But the cat came back, just wouldn't stay away
They 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 they thought he was a goner But the cat came back, just wouldn't stay away away away away
Away across the ocean they could send the cat at last Vessel out alone today, taking 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 they thought he was a goner But the cat came back, just wouldn't stay away
On a telegraph wire sparrows sitting in a bunch The cat was feeling hungry, thought she'd take them for a lunch Climbed softly up the pole, and when she reached the top Put her foot on the electric wire, which tied her in a knot
But the cat came back the very next day The cat came back they thought she was a goner But the cat came back, just wouldn't stay away
Now the cat was a possessor of a family of her own Seven little kittens 'til there came a cyclone Blew the house all apart, tossed the cats around The air was full of kittens and not a one was found
But the cat came back the very next day The cat came back they thought she was a goner But the cat came back, just wouldn't stay away away away away Just wouldn't stay away