The Cat Came Back

(Sonny James' version)

Words & Music:

Harry S. Miller

 

Sonny James made this a hit in 1956 and seems to be the first to employ the somewhat funkier, bluesy, Rockabilly version of the song.  It is based on the classic version of the chords, but has the rising blues bass line.  Modify the intro's bluesy bass line (a chord tone, blues note or passing tone on each downbeat) during the verses and chorus to fit the chords.

 

INTRO:  [play 2x]

D |----0--1--2h.o.3----|

A |-1------------------|  [listen to the recording for timing]

E |-----------------1--|

 

CHORUS:

[n.c.]

The cat came back, the cat came back.

  Eb                              F

I thought he was a goner, but the cat came back.

          F              Bb

'Cause he wouldn't stay away.

 

     Bb [stop chord]

Now, old Uncle John had troubles of his own.

[n.c.]                        F

He had an ol' yellow cat that wouldn't leave home.

         Bb

He tried everything he knew to keep the cat away.

     Bb[stop chord]

Even gave it to a preacher an' he told it for to stay.  But...

 

CHORUS:

 

Now, they gave the ol' cat to the man in a balloon.

They told him to leave it with the Man in the Moon.

The balloon it bursted and everybody said

Ten miles away, they picked the man up dead.  But...

 

CHORUS:

 

Now, the farmer on the corner's gonna kill the cat on sight.

He's loaded up his gun full of nails an' dynamite.

Well, he waited in the garden 'til the cat came around.

Seven little pieces of the man was all they found.  But...

 

CHORUS:

 

Now, the cat was a terror and he thought it was best

To give him to a fella who was headin' out West.

The train went around the corner & it hit a broken rail.

Not a soul aboard the train lived to tell the tale.  But...

 

CHORUS: