There's a black rat up town, man he's most too evil to live It's a black rat up town, man he's most too evil to live If I catch him in my kitchen, boys he's gonna have me to kill Know he sneaks in my kitchen, man eat up all of my bread Know he sneaks in my kitchen, man eat up all of my bread Soon as he got his belly full, boys he started cuttin' up in my bed I caught the wink of his eye, man through the keyhole in my door I caught the wink of his eye, man through the keyhole in my door I'm going to get my 44 out of pawn, I bet he won't cut here no more And that's the reason my baby, she don't speak well of me no more That's the reason my baby, she don't speak well of me no more It's got me so uneasy, partner I don't know where to go Cairo, Cairo is my baby's home Cairo, Cairo is my baby's home I'm goin' home, partner and I swear it won't be long