I’ve got a good idea where it’s gone to

First Published 1892
Writer/composer CW Murphy Roud RN10698

Music Hall Performers TB Fayme
Folk performances Collected from the singing of:
Hancy, Charlie; England : Suffolk, 1970s		 

As sung by Charlie Hancy

Now I once had a cat, 'twas a female cat,
And its christian name was Hannah.
It had a voice, a just sweet voice between a foghorn and a piano.
It used to go about the house meowing and a-hissing,
But strange to say, since yesterday our poor old cat's been missing.

But I've got a good idea where it's gone to:
There's a pork-pie shop close by,
And without the slightest doubt, I'm bound to find out,
I'll meet him when I go to buy a penny pie.

Now I had a watch, 'twas a splendid watch,
And the holes were filled with jewels.
It came in handy now and again for just to raise the wind on.
My wife she said, 'Oh Charlie dear, I'll take along someone to clean it.'
But strange to say that since that day, my watch I've never seen it.

But I've got a good idea where it's gone to:
Where there's three brass balls hang high.
She was running short of Scotch, and she politely pawned my watch,
Ten to one it will stop there 'til I die.

Now my ma-in-law with the excess of jaw,
For ten long years she's made me rough it,
But I'm glad to say that yesterday the old sod, she snuffed it.
Blew her nose and passed away just as the clock struck seven,
And on her coffin lid you'll see, my ma-in-law she's gone to heaven.

But I've got a good idea where she's gone to:
Down below she's hid away.
For on this earth she raised a storm, now she's gone where it is warm,
For I can hear her sing, tarara-bumpty-ay.

A song written by the prolific CW Murphy and performed by the music hall comedian TB Fayme. I can only find two references to this song being sung in the music halls, both notices placed in The Era in the early 1890s:

Dec. 3, 1892,  The Era 

 Feb. 25, 1893, The Era

I have been unable to access any contemporary sheet music or lyrics, so the words are taken from the singing of Charlie Hancy as collected by John Howson.

I have pieced together this mini biography of the original singer from searches in Victorian newspapers:

TB Fayme appeared regularly in music halls and pantomimes across the UK between 1890 and 1907, often described as an “eccentric character comedian”. He wrote a number of songs including Only a leaf, which had particular success in Australia and New Zealand in the early 20th century. According to a post on the Mudcat Forum he was born in Leeds and his real name was Tom Bapty Sharp. The Era Almanack reported that he died in October 1907.

Sources: