Puss! Puss! Puss!

PUSS! PUSS! PUSS!

There once was a sly old pussy-cat, 
Who used to come out at night,
Looking for poor little mice to eat,
Then tell them it served them right!
I came out of my nest one night, 
And pussy came after me,
Spoke to me nice, captured her "mice"
As easy as easy could be.


Every night it was "Puss! Puss! Puss! 
Come out and play with me,"
Every night it was "Puss! Puss! Puss!" 
Played with my L. S. D.
She called me "a dear" then she bit my ear,
After coaxing me so nice,
She was the saucy old cat,
And I was the poor little "mice"

She'd beautiful hair and lovely eyes,
A voice you could hear for miles, 
Dear little nose, that was always cold,
Through sleeping out on the tiles. 
I invited her home to tea,
And after we had such a lark, 
Played all the night, without any light, 
For pussy could see in the dark.

She patted my face so playfully,
I thought it was love she meant,
Till I'd got nothing to feed her on,
Then under her paw I went.
She rolled me over, and made me squeak,
Then walked off as proud as you please, 
Now while she has meat, and "nicies" to eat,
I'm nibbling at stale bread and cheese!

Another song from the Halls of the 1890s remembered by traditional singers in the later part of the 20th century.

The original song was written and composed by the prolific TW Connor and featured in the repertoire of  George Beauchamp. 

It was collected from the singing of Cecilia Costello by Charles Parker and Pam Bishop. You can hear her sing it at the Vaughn Williams Memorial Library site or on the Musical Traditions CD Cecilia Costello – “Old Fashioned Songs” (MTCD363-4)