Now old Mister Johnson had troubles of his own
He 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've weighed a pound
Now they drag 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 man going up in a balloon
Told him for to take it to the man on the moon
The balloon came down about 90 miles away
Where he is now, 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 'em for a lunch
Climb softly up the pole, when she reached the top
Put her foot in 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 'till there came a cyclone
Blew the houses all apart and 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