Testi Soundtracks :: C

Old Deuteronomy

Skimbleshanks



Old Deuteronomy & Jemima

the railway cat,



All

the cat of the railway train

There's a whisper down the line at eleven thirty-nine

When the night mail's ready to depart

Saying, "Skimble, where is Skimble has he gone to hunt the thimble

We must find him or the train can't start!"



Skimbleshanks

All the guards and all the porters and the stationmaster's daughters

Would be searching high and low

Saying "Skimble, where is Skimble for unless he's very nimble

Then the night mail just can't go"

At eleven forty-two with the signal overdue

And the passengers all frantic to a man

That's when I would appear and I'd saunter to the rear

I'd been busy in the luggage van!



All

Then he gave one flash of his glass-green eyes

And the signal went "All clear!"

They'd be off at last for the northern part of the northern hemisphere!

Skimbleshanks, the railway cat, the cat of the railway train



Skimbleshanks

You could say that by and large it was me who was in charge

Of the sleeping car express

From the driver and the guards to the bagmen playing cards

I'd supervise them all more or less



All

Down the corridor he paces and examines all the faces

Of the travellers in the first and the third

He establishes control by a regular patrol

And he'd know at once if anything occurred

He would watch you without winking and he saw what you were thinking

And it's certain that he didn't approve

Of hilarity and riot so that folk were very quiet

When Skimble was about and on the move

You could play no pranks with Skimbleshanks

He's a cat that cannot be ignored

So nothing went wrong on the northern mail

When Skimbleshanks was aboard



Skimbleshanks

It was very pleasant when they'd found their little den

With their name written up on the door

And the berth was very neat with a newly folded sheet on

And not a speck of dust on the floor

There was every sort of light you could make it dark or bright

And a button you could turn to make a breeze

And a funny little basin you're supposed to wash your face in

And a crank to shut the window should you sneeze



Rumpelteazer

Achoo!



Skimbleshanks

Then the guard looked in politely and would ask you very brightly

"Do you like your morning tea...



All

Weak or strong?"



Skimbleshanks

But I just behind him and was ready to remind him

For Skimble won't let anything go wrong



Queens

When they crept into their cozy berth and pulled the counterpane



Toms

They ought to reflect that it was very nice

To know that they wouldn't be bothered by mice

They can leave all that to the railway cat



All

The cat of the railway train

Skimbleshanks, the railway cat, the cat of the railway train



Skimbleshanks

In the watches of the night I was always fresh and bright

Every now and then I'd have a cup of tea

With perhaps a drop of scotch while I was busy keeping on the watch

Only stopping here and there to catch a flea

They were fast asleep at Crewe

And so they never knew that I was walking up and down the station

They were sleeping all the while I was busy at Carlisle

Where I met the stationmaster with elation

They might see me at Dumfries if I summoned the police

If there was anything they ought to know about



All

When they got to Gallowgate there they did not have to wait

For Skimbleshanks would help them to get out



And he gives you a wave of his long brown tail

Which says, "I'll see you again"

You'll meet without fail on the midnight mail

The cat of the railway train



The cat of the railway train



A third crash interrupts the celebration, and this time the villainous Macavity appears! Two of his henchman invade the proceedings and kidnap Old Deuteronomy! Two felines familiar with Macavity, Demeter (a frightened kitten who had been previously abducted by Macavity) and the older and more sensual Bombalurina (a goodtime girl who gets along with everyone) sing what they know of "Macavity