The Cat Came Back: Unpacking the Meaning of a Persistent Feline
"The Cat Came Back" is a song with a surprisingly complex history and enduring appeal. While often sung in nursery schools and day camps, its origins and underlying themes reveal a darker, more nuanced story. This article explores the multifaceted meaning of this seemingly simple children's tune.
From Minstrel Song to Children's Favorite
Originally written in 1893 by Harry S. Miller, "The Cat Came Back" began as a minstrel song. Miller appears to have primarily written "coon songs" (a more general label for songs written based on stereotypes of Black people.) On the page of lyrics in the below historical score, the song is marketed as "a comic Negro absurdity," is written in dialect, and includes a racial slur in a later verse.
However, over time, sanitized versions of the song have become a staple in early childhood education. It's used as a tool for teaching young children about rhythm and harmony, its repetitive structure and simple melody making it easy for kids to grasp basic musical concepts.
The Plot: A Cat That Defies All Odds
The song centers around Mr. Johnson (or Wilson, depending on the version) and his relentless attempts to get rid of his cat. He tries everything: giving the cat away to various people, sending it off in increasingly outlandish scenarios, but the cat always returns.
In one verse, he gives it to someone riding in a balloon, a trip that ends when the balloon drops far away with the person's whereabouts unknown. In another, a neighbor tries killing the cat with a shotgun, but accidentally blows himself up instead ("97 pieces of the man is all they found…"). Additional verses see Mr. Johnson handing the cat over to a man travelling west on a train that soon derails, killing everyone onboard except the cat; a little boy with a dollar riding up a river in his boat (which leads to the boy drowning and the river being dragged, while the cat, who had a rope tied around its neck, escapes unharmed), and a ship sailing across the ocean (an incoming gust of wind results in every passenger dying, but the cat survives).
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Interpretations and Themes
The song's enduring popularity can be attributed to several factors:
- Defiance of Authority: Children often find the cat's refusal to be ruled by Mr. Johnson amusing. The cat's ability to defy adult authority and the laws of physics and geography resonates with children's own desires for independence. He defies adult authority-to say nothing of the laws of physics and geography-and this is as reassuring as it is terrifying.
- Dark Humor: The original versions of the song contain a dark, almost gallows humor. The increasingly absurd and violent attempts to get rid of the cat, and the cat's miraculous survival, create a sense of morbid amusement. Lyrics differ from version to version but most share the same a dark twist: Anyone who tries to get rid of the cat ends up dead.
- Resilience: The cat's persistent return, despite all odds, can be interpreted as a symbol of resilience and determination. It's a reminder that even in the face of adversity, one can persevere.
Modern Adaptations and Interpretations
Recognizing the problematic origins of the song, many modern adaptations have removed the racist elements and softened the violent themes. Some versions depict the owner trying to pawn the cat off on Santa Claus or sending it away in an air balloon, replacing the original verses' gruesome outcomes with more lighthearted scenarios.
Fred Penner, a Canadian musician, played a significant role in popularizing a child-friendly version of the song. Penner adapted the lyrics from the original, which was written in a stereotypical dialect typical of blackface shows, and added some of his own verses for live performances. He also envisioned the song as a cartoon, comparing the cat to Wile E. Coyote, who always survived impossible situations.
Musical Structure and its Educational Value
"The Cat Came Back" is not just about the lyrics; its musical structure also contributes to its appeal and educational value. The song's combination of a strong and consistent beat pattern with amusing and humorous lyrics suit it well for use in teaching the concepts of rhythm and tempo to children. Like many children's songs, the song has a strong, well-defined beat pattern.
The chord progression repeats every 8 beats, so one might think of the song as being in either 2/ time or 8/ time (whichever denominator is used for reference time, i.e. 2/4 or 8/4 time if the beat is a quarter note, etc.). Original sheet music by Harry S. The chord progression lends itself to a bass line that is natural minor descending, and harmonic minor ascending, i.e. in the key of A-minor, the 8 beats (in 8/ time) would play out as A, A, G, G, F, F, E, G♯. This is practically the lament bass used in many chaconnes, e.g, Additionally, the bass line may be played as melodic minor (i.e. including both an F♯ and a G♯ on the way up).
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Questions for Reflection
The song can also be used as a springboard for discussion and critical thinking. Here are some questions that can be posed to children after listening to "The Cat Came Back":
- What color was the cat in this story?
- Why do you think Mr. Johnson wanted to give the cat away?
- How do you think the cat felt each time Mr. Johnson gave him away?
- How many times did the cat go back to Mr. Johnson?
- Can a cat really a drive a truck, fly a plane or eat up an entire field of corn? Is this story real or make-believe?
- How did the story end? How do you think the cat felt when the little girl took him home? Why do you think he felt that way?
- Which was your favorite part in the story? The yellow cat with the man going far away? The yellow cat with the farmer? The yellow cat with the trucker? The yellow cat with the pilot? The yellow cat with the train conductor?
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