Old Mr Johnson had troubles of his own And he had an old yellow cat that wouldn't leave home Tried everything he knew to do to keep the cat away He even gave him to a preacher and he told him to stay But the cat came back, very next day The cat came back, thought he was a goner But the cat came back, cause he wouldn't stay away Now the cat had company out in the back yard Somebody threw a boot and threw it awful hard Hit the cat behind the ear and he thought it was a slight And down came a brick and drove him out of sight... But the cat came back, very next day The cat came back, thought he was a goner But the cat came back, cause he wouldn't stay away Now, they gave the old cat to the man in the balloon And they told him to leave him with the man in the moon Well the balloon, it busted and everybody said, "Ten miles away they picked a man up dead"... But the cat came back, very next day The cat came back, thought he was a goner But the cat came back, cause he wouldn't stay away On the telegraph wire the birds were sittin' in a bunch
Saw an even number, thought he'd' have 'em for his lunch Climbed softly up the pole, until he reached the top Put his foot upon the electric wire, tied him in a knot... But the cat came back, very next day The cat came back, thought he was a goner But the cat came back, cause he wouldn't stay away Now the cat was a terror and they thought it would be best To give him to a feller who was goin' out West Train ran around a corner and hit a broken rail Not a blessed soul aboard the train lived to tell the tale... But the cat came back, very next day The cat came back, thought he was a goner But the cat came back, cause he wouldn't stay away Now the farmer on the corner swore he'd k** the cat on sight He loaded up his gun 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, very next day The cat came back, thought he was a goner But the cat came back, cause he wouldn't stay away