# The Cat Came Back

Originally published as "The Cat Came Back: A Nigger Absurdity" and later changed to "The Cat Came Back: A Comic Negro Absurdity". Newer versions are generally called "The Cat Came Back" or "And the Cat Came Back", but also "The Cat That Couldn't Stay Away", "The Cat That Wouldn't Stay Away", or simply "The Cat". The poem was written in by Harry S. Miller, but has subsequently had many revisions and additions by anonymous authors. (See "The Cat Came Back" on Wikipedia.)
☞ The Song that Beats "McGinty." ☞
"THE CAT CAME BACK"
WORDS AND MUSIC BY
AUTHOR OF
"I'm 17 To-day," "Not on Your Life, Says Dolan," "Keep Your Eye on Duffy," his latest big "Hit" being
"HE'S GOT FEATHERS IN HIS HAT," "WHEN YOU'RE SINGLE," &c., &c.
PUBLISHED BY
WILL ROSSITER,
The Popular Song Publisher,
MAIN OFFICES, 56 FIFTH AVE., CHICAGO. Branch, 377 Sixth Ave., New York.
N.B. Song Pirates are hereby notified that this Song is Copyright, 1893, by Will Rossiter, Chicago.
A COMIC NEGRO ABSURDITY.
THE CAT CAME BACK
Copyright 1893, by WILL ROSSITER, CHICAGO.
Words and Music by HARRY S. MILLER.
Dar was ole Mister Johnson, he had troubles ob his own; He had an ole yaller cat that couldn't leave its home. He tried eb'ry thing he knew to keep de cat away; Eben sent it to de preacher, an' he tole it for to stay.
CHORUS.
But de cat came back, couldn't stay no longer, Yes de cat came back de very next day; De cat came back—thought she were a goner, But de cat came back for it wouldn't stay away.
De cat did hab some company one night out in de yard, Some one frowed a boot-jack, an' dey frowed it mighty hard, Caught de cat behind de ear, she thought it rather slight When along dar comes a brick-bat an' in knocked it out ob sight.—
Away across de ocean dey did send de cat at last, Vessel only out a day and making water fast; People all begin to pray, de boat begin to toss, When a nodder vessel came along and took de people off.—Cho.
On a telegraph wire sparrows sitting in a bunch; Cat a feeling hungry, thought she'd like 'em for a lunch. Climbing softly up de pole, an' when she reached de top Put her foot upon de 'lectric wire, which tied her in a knot.—Cho.
One time did gib de cat away to man in a balloon An' tole him for to gib it to de man in de moon; But de b'loon it busted, sho, an' eb'rybody sed It wer seben miles away or more dey picked de man up dead.—Cho.
De cat was a possessor ob a fam'ly ob its own Wid seben little kittens til dar comes a cyclone. Blowed de houses all apart an tossed de cat around; While de air was full ob kittens not a one was eber found.—Cho.
De cat it were a terror and dey say it wer be best To gib it to a nigger who was going out West. De train going 'round de curve struck a broken rail, Not a blessed soul aboard de train wer left to tell de tale.—Cho.
A man down on de corner swore to kill de cat at sight, Loaded up a musket full ob nails and dynamite, Waited in de garden for de cat to come around; Half-a-dozen little pieces ob de man was all dey found.—Cho.
Little boy took de cat away, he got a dollar note, Took it down to de ribber in a little open boat, Tied a brick around its neck an' stone about a pound; Now dey're grappling in de ribber for a little boy that's drowned.—
While de cat lay a-sleeping an' a resting one day, 'Round came an organ grinder an' he began to play; De cat look'd around awhile an' kinder raised her head When he played Ta-rah-dah-boom-da-rah, an' de cat dropped dead.
CHORUS.
But its ghost came back to tell you about it; Yes, its ghost came back, between you and I. Its ghost came back, may be you will doubt it, But its ghost came back just to bid 'em all goodbye.
———ASK TO SEE——— "SWEET NELLIE BAWN."
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929.
This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
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