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The Cat Came Back is a classic, humorous nursery rhyme about a stubborn cat that just won’t stay away, no matter how hard people try to get rid of it. Children love this rhyme because of its repetitive pattern, silly situations, and the funny surprise that the cat always returns in the end. The playful storytelling keeps kids engaged and makes them eager to sing along. For early learners, the rhyme supports memory skills, listening abilities, and language development through repetition and predictable wording. Parents and teachers also enjoy using it during music time because it encourages expression, rhythm awareness, and laughter. Overall, this light-hearted rhyme creates a joyful learning moment while helping young children build confidence with words and sounds.
The Cat Came Back Song Lyrics
Here’s a playful rendition of The Cat Came Back words, a classic and humorous children’s song about a persistent feline that always returns, no matter what!
Old Mister Johnson had troubles of his own
He had a yellow cat which wouldn’t leave its home;
He tried and he tried to give the cat away,
He gave it to a man goin’ far, far away.
But the cat came back the very next day,
The cat came back, we thought he was a goner
But the cat came back; it just couldn’t stay away.
Away, away, yea, yea, yea
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, we thought he was a goner
But the cat came back; it just couldn’t stay away.
Away, away, yea, yea, yea
He 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 have weighed a pound
Now they drag the river for a little boy that drowned.
But the cat came back the very next day,
The cat came back, we thought he was a goner
But the cat came back; it just couldn’t stay away.
Away, away, yea, yea, yea
He gave it to a man going up in a balloon,
He told him for to take it to the man in the moon;
The balloon came down about ninety miles away,
Where he is now, well I dare not say.
But the cat came back the very next day,
The cat came back, we thought he was a goner
But the cat came back; it just couldn’t stay away.
Away, away, yea, yea, yea
He 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, we thought he was a goner
But the cat came back; it just couldn’t stay away.
Away, away, yea, yea, yea
The cat it had some company one night out in the yard,
Someone threw a boot-jack, and they threw it mighty hard;
It caught the cat behind the ear, she thought it rather slight,
When along came a brick-bat and knocked the cat out of sight
But the cat came back the very next day,
The cat came back, we thought he was a goner
But the cat came back; it just couldn’t stay away.
Away, away, yea, yea, yea
Away across the ocean they did send the cat at last,
Vessel only out a day and making 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, we thought he was a goner
But the cat came back; it just couldn’t stay away.
Away, away, yea, yea, yea
On a telegraph wire, sparrows sitting in a bunch,
The cat was feeling hungry, thought she’d like ’em for a lunch;
Climbing softly up the pole, and when she reached the top,
Put her foot upon the electric wire, which tied her in a knot.
But the cat came back the very next day,
The cat came back, we thought he was a goner
But the cat came back; it just couldn’t stay away.
Away, away, yea, yea, yea
The cat was a possessor of a family of its own,
With seven little kittens till there came a cyclone;
Blew the houses all apart and tossed the cat around,
The air was full of kittens, and not one was ever found.
But the cat came back the very next day,
The cat came back, we thought he was a goner
But the cat came back; it just couldn’t stay away.
Away, away, yea, yea, yea.
Other Versions of the The Cat Came Back Song
Over the years, The Cat Came Back has appeared in several fun and slightly different versions, each adding its own twist while keeping the catchy, repetitive spirit children love.
Old Mister Johnson had troubles, you see,
He had a little cat as playful as could be;
He sent the cat away on a big balloon one day,
He thought the cat was gone to a place far away.
But the cat came back, the very next day,
The cat came back, they thought he’d gone away;
But the cat came back, he just wouldn’t stay,
Yes, the cat came back the very next day.
He sent him on a train that went choo-choo down the track,
He waved goodbye and thought he wouldn’t see the cat;
The train went far, it went clickety-clack,
But somehow, some way, the cat came back.
Gestures – How to Teach The Cat Came Back to Kids
Teaching The Cat Came Back with actions makes the rhyme more lively and helps children remember the words through movement and play. Simple, repeated gestures keep kids engaged and make group singing more fun and interactive.
- Pretend to pet a cat by gently stroking one hand with the other to show Mister Johnson’s cat at home.
- Shake your finger side to side with a funny face to act out trying to send the naughty cat away.
- Point far into the distance or make a throwing motion to show the cat being sent far, far away.
- Hold your hands above your eyes like binoculars as if looking to see whether the cat is gone.
- Jump slightly and point to yourself when singing “the cat came back” to show the surprise return.
- Clap or march in place during the chorus to keep the rhythm and encourage all children to join in together.
History & Quick Facts
The Cat Came Back is a humorous folk song that originated in the United States in the late 19th century. It was written by Harry S. Miller and was first published in 1893. The song tells a funny story about a man who repeatedly tries to get rid of a troublesome cat, only to find that the cat always returns. Because of its repetitive chorus and playful storytelling, the song quickly became popular in vaudeville shows and community sing-alongs. Over time, it was passed down through oral tradition and adapted into many children’s versions. Today, The Cat Came Back is widely known as a nursery rhyme and classroom song, loved for its catchy tune, humor, and easy-to-remember structure.
Interesting Facts
- This song was written way back in 1893 by Harry S. Miller, and people have been singing it for more than a hundred years!
- The story tells about a cat that just keeps coming back no matter what, which makes kids giggle every time they sing it.
- Long ago the song had more dramatic verses, and in one old version the cat even came back as a ghost—but today’s version is funnier and more kid-friendly.
- The rhyme has been sung in many different ways, and people often change the words slightly to make it unique for their classrooms or family sing-alongs.
- Because of its catchy rhythm and repeating chorus, this rhyme is often used to help children learn about beat and tempo in music.
- The Cat Came Back has also been turned into cartoons and fun sing-along videos, so kids can watch the cat’s silly adventures while they learn to sing the song.
Suitable Age & Learnings
The Cat Came Back rhyme is best suited for children aged 2 to 6 years, as its repetitive tune and funny storyline are easy for young learners to follow. It works well for toddlers, preschoolers, and early kindergarten kids during circle time, music sessions, or story-based learning.
- Listening and memory skills are strengthened as children hear the same chorus repeated and begin to remember the sequence of events.
- Language development improves because kids are exposed to simple sentence patterns and new words used in a playful context.
- Rhyming and sound awareness grow when children notice repeated sounds and predictable word endings in the song.
- Sense of rhythm and timing develops as children clap, march, or move along with the steady beat of the rhyme.
- Understanding cause and effect is encouraged when children see that no matter what happens, the cat always comes back.
- Vocabulary building happens naturally with words like cat, away, back, next day, and action-related terms that are easy for children to use in daily speech.
FAQs
1. What is the rhyming scheme of The Cat Came Back?
The rhyme mainly follows a simple AABB pattern, with repeated end sounds and a recurring chorus that makes it easy for children to remember and sing along.
2. Why do children enjoy The Cat Came Back so much?
Children love the rhyme because of its funny story, predictable repetition, and the surprise of the cat returning every time, which keeps them amused and engaged.
3. How can parents use this rhyme for learning at home?
Parents can sing it together with actions, encourage children to repeat lines, and talk about the story to build language skills, memory, and confidence.
The Cat Came Back is a timeless nursery rhyme that continues to delight children with its humor, rhythm, and playful storytelling. Its simple structure and repeating chorus make it perfect for young learners who are just beginning to enjoy music and words. Through singing, actions, and repetition, children build important early skills like listening, memory, and language development. Parents and teachers also appreciate how easy it is to adapt the rhyme for group activities or quiet time at home. Most of all, the rhyme brings smiles and laughter, making learning feel natural and fun. Sharing The Cat Came Back with children helps create joyful moments they will remember and sing again and again.
