The Cat Came Back

Harry S. Miller

Originale

Versione Afrikaans dei Groep Twee

THE CAT CAME BACK Dar was ole Mister Johnson, he had troubles ob his own; He had an ole yaller cat that wouldn'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. 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. 2. De cat did hab some company one night out in de yard. Some one frowed a bootjack, an' dey frowed it mighty hard, Caught de cat behind de ear, she thought it rather slight, When along dar comes a brickbat an' it knocked it out ob sight. 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. 3. Away acrowss de ocean dey 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. 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. 4. 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. 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. 5. One time did gib de cat away to a man in a balloon An' tole him her 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. 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. 6. De cat it were a possessor ob a fam'ly ob its own Wid seben little kittens till dar comes a cyclone, Blowed de houses all apart and tossed de cat around; While de air was full ob kittens not a one was eber found. 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. 7. De cat it were a terror and dey said it wer de best To gib it to a n*g*#@ 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. 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. 8. 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. 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. 9. Little boy took de cat away, he got a dollar note, Took it down 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. 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. 10. 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-dahboom-da-rah, an' de cat dropped dead. But its ghost came back to tell you all 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.

THE CAT CAME BACK Ou Jan Wilson had 'n kat wat die ou niet wou verlaat: Hij 't alles geprobeer om die kat daar weg te keer; selfs na die predikant om raad van hom te krij. Die predikant die het gesê: "Die kat moet daar bly". Maar die kat kom weer, want hy wil nie langer wag. Die kat kom weer, net die volgende dag; Die kat kom weer. Glo vir my dis waar Die ander dag môre was die kat weer daar. Hullie sit hom op 'n skip en hul stuur hom na Ceylon, Die skip die was gelaai met 'n twaalf duisend ton. Nie ver nie van die land daar het die skip gesink, En al die matrose op die skip het verdrink. Maar die kat kom weer, want hy wil nie langer wag. Die kat kom weer, net die volgende dag; Die kat kom weer. Glo vir my dis waar Die ander dag môre was die kat weer daar. Hullie sit hom in 'n ballon en die man die neemt dit aan; Die katje te gaan gee vir die man in die maan. Die ballon het gebars met 'n enorme skoot, Tien myl van die plek lê die man morsdood. Maar die kat kom weer, want hy wil nie langer wag. Die kat kom weer, net die volgende dag; Die kat kom weer. Glo vir my dis waar Die ander dag môre was die kat weer daar.