“The Cat Came Back”

Description

(Old Mister Johnson) makes many attempts to rid himself of his cat -- blowing it up, shipping it away, etc. But in every instance "The cat came back the very next day... They thought he was a goner, but the kitty came back...."

Notes

Spaeth, in _A History of Popular Music in America_, says that Henry S. Miller's version of this song was popular in 1893; presumably it was written about that time. - RBW

Recordings

• Yodeling Slim Clark, "The Cat Came Back" (Continental 8063, n.d.)
• Fiddlin' John Carson, "And The Cat Came Back" (Okeh 40119, 1924)
• Riley Puckett, "The Cat Came Back" (Columbia 15656-D, 1931; rec. 1930) (Decca 5442, 1937)
• Fiddlin' Doc Roberts, "And The Cat Came Back" (instrumental) (Challenge 307, 1927; Silvertone 8179, 1928)

References

1. Randolph 444, "The Cat Came Back" (1 text, 1 tune)
2. Randolph/Cohen, pp. 350-352, "The Cat Came Back" (1 text, 1 tune -- Randolph's 444)
3. Spaeth-ReadWeep, p. 147, "The Cat Came Back" (fragmentary text, partial tune)
4. Silber-FSWB, p. 400, "The Cat Came Back" (1 text)
5. DT, CATBACK CATBACK2
6. Roud #5063
7. BI, R444