Now old Mr. Johnson had troubles of his own He had a yellow cat that wouldn't leave his home He tried and he tried to get 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 k** the cat on sight He loaded up his shotgun with nails and dynamites 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 it'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 he did 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 like them 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 he was a goner But the cat came back, just wouldn't stay away Now the cat was a possessor of a family of a own With seven little kittens and along came a cyclone Blew the houses all apart and tossed the cat 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