The cat came back the very next day

Old Mr. Johnson had problems of his own.
He had a yellow cat that just wouldn't leave him alone.
He tried and he tried to give the cat away.
He gave it to a little man going far away...

But the cat came back the very next day.
Yes, the cat came back. They thought he was gone,
But the cat came back. He just wouldn't stay away.

He gave it to a little boy with a dollar note.
He told the boy to take the cat up river on a boat.
The boat turned over and was never found,
And now they drag the river for the little boy who drowned...

But the cat came back the very next day.
Yes, the cat came back. They thought he was gone,
But the cat came back. He just wouldn't stay away.

The man around the corner said he'd shoot the cat on sight.
He loaded up his shotgun full of nails and dynamite.
He waited... and he waited... 'till the cat came walking round
And ninety-nine pieces of the man was all they found...

But the cat came back the very next day.
Yes, the cat came back. They thought he was gone,
But the cat came back. He just wouldn't stay away.

The H-bomb fell the very next day.
The A-bomb fell in the very same way.
Russia went! England went! And then the USA.
The entire human race was left without a chance to pray...

But the cat came back the very next day.
Yes, the cat came back. They thought he was gone,
But the cat came back. He just wouldn't stay away.

I used to sing that every afternoon when I was but a wee lad.