Curly the Cat

by Ralph McTell

Cats can't sing like a nightingale
No, no, no, they screech and wail
And though they think that it's nice to hear
If you're not a cat, it's a pain in the ear

The milkman's boots go squeak, squeak, squeak
The cats are cross they just can't get to sleep
It's quite obvious what these cats must do
If they want any sleep they must get him some shoes

How could they buy the milkman's shoes?
They'd got no money so what could they use?
Then Curly the Cat said "We can't go wrong
If we all get together and sing a nice song"

"Where will we get the money?" said Simon
"It seems so hopeless I feel like crying,"
But Curly the Cat who was known as a tryer
Said, "Here's what we'll do, we'll form a cat's choir."

Tabby cats and alley cats, cats fatter and thinner
Black cats and brown cats, tabby cats and ginger

So deep in the night the choir begins
Just softly at first then more loudly they sing
They were yowling together as gently they swayed
But you should have heard the noise they made

Cats can't sing like a nightingale
No, no, no, they screech and wail
And though they think that it's nice to hear
If you're not a cat, it's a pain in the ear

A window flew open - out came a shoe
A sneaker, a plimsoll an old wellie boot
Wasn't it all such a wonderful ruse?
But that's how the milkman got his old new shoes!

Cats can't sing like a nightingale
No, no, no, they screech and wail
And though they think that it's nice to hear
If you're not a cat, it's a pain in the ear