CATS - Skimbleshanks, The Railway Cat lyrics
rate meWe are pulled back to the present as "Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat"<br />
introduces himself. A friendly uncle to all of the cats, Skimbleshanks <br />
attends the trains he rides, and makes sure every detail is perfect.<br />
<br />
SOLO: <br />
Skimbleshanks the railway cat, the cat of the railway train <br />
There's a whisper down the line at eleven thirty-nine <br />
When the night mail's ready to depart <br />
Saying, "Skimble, where is Skimble has he gone to hunt the thimble <br />
We must find him or the train can't start!" <br />
<br />
SKIMBLESHANKS: <br />
All the guards and all the porters and the stationmaster's daughters <br />
Would be searching high and low <br />
Saying "Skimble, where is Skimble for unless he's very nimble <br />
Then the night mail just can't go" <br />
<br />
At eleven forty-two with the signal overdue <br />
And the passengers all frantic to a man <br />
That's when I would appear and I'd saunter to the rear <br />
I'd been busy in the luggage van! <br />
<br />
ALL: <br />
Then he gave one flash of his glass-green eyes <br />
And the signal went "All clear!" <br />
They'd be off at last for the northern part of the northern hemisphere! <br />
Skimbleshanks, the railway cat, the cat of the railway train <br />
<br />
SKIMBLESHANKS: <br />
You might say that by and large it was me who was in charge <br />
Of the sleeping car express <br />
From the driver and the guards to the bagmen playing cards <br />
I would supervise them all more or less <br />
<br />
ALL: <br />
Down the corridor he paces and examines all the faces <br />
Of the travellers in the first and the third <br />
He established control by a regular patrol <br />
And he'd know at once if anything occurred <br />
<br />
He would watch you without winking and he saw what you were thinking <br />
And it's certain that he didn't approve <br />
Of hilarity and riot so that folk were very quiet <br />
When Skimble was about and on the move <br />
<br />
You could play no pranks with Skimbleshanks <br />
He's a cat that couldn't be ignored <br />
So nothing went wrong on the northern mail <br />
When Skimbleshanks was aboard <br />
<br />
SKIMBLESHANKS: <br />
It was very pleasant when they'd found their little den <br />
With their name written up on the door <br />
And the berth was very neat with a newly folded sheet on <br />
And not a speck of dust on the floor <br />
<br />
There was every sort of light you could make it dark or bright <br />
And a button you could turn to make a breeze <br />
And a funny little basin you're supposed to wash your face in <br />
And a crank to shut the window should you sneeze <br />
Then the guard looked in politely and would ask you very brightly <br />
"Do you like your morning tea weak or strong?" <br />
<br />
But I just behind him and was ready to remind him <br />
For Skimble won't let anything go wrong <br />
When they crept into their cozy berth and pulled the counterpane <br />
<br />
They ought to reflect that it was very nice <br />
To know that they wouldn't be bothered by mice <br />
They can leave all that to the railway cat <br />
The cat of the railway train <br />
<br />
ALL: <br />
Skimbleshanks, the railway cat, the cat of the railway train <br />
<br />
SKIMBLESHANKS: <br />
In the watches of the night I was always fresh and bright <br />
Every now and then I'd have a cup of tea <br />
With perhaps a drop of scotch while I was busy keeping on the watch <br />
Only stopping here and there to catch a flea <br />
<br />
They were fast asleep at Crewe <br />
And so they never knew that I was walking up and down the station <br />
They were sleeping all the while I was busy at Carlisle <br />
Where I met the stationmaster with elation <br />
<br />
They might see me at Dumfries if I summoned the police <br />
If there was anything they ought to know about <br />
When they got to Gallowgate there they did not have to wait <br />
For Skimbleshanks will help them to get out <br />
<br />
ALL: <br />
And he gives you a wave of his long brown tail <br />
Which says, "I'll see you again" <br />
You'll meet without fail on the midnight mail <br />
The cat of the railway train <br />
<br />
You'll meet without fail on the midnight mail <br />
The cat of the railway train
