SKIMBLESHANKS: THE RAILWAY CAT

Skimbleshanks the railway cat 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” All the guards and all the porters And the station master'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!” Then he gives one flash Of his glass green eyes And the signal goes “All Clear” And we're off at last for the northern part Of the northern hemisphere Skimbleshanks the railway cat Skimbleshanks the railway cat Skimbleshanks, Skimbleshanks Skimbleshanks the railway cat The cat of the railway train 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 would supervise them all, more or less I would watch you without winking And I see what you were thinking And it's certain that I wouldn't approve Of hilarity and riot, so the folk are very quiet When Skimble is about and on the move You can play no pranks with Skimbleshanks I'm a cat that cannot be ignored So nothing goes wrong on the northern mail When Skimbleshanks is abroad Oh it's very pleasant when you found your little den With your name written up on the door And the berth is very neat with a newly folded sheet And there's not a speck of dust on the floor Then the guard looks in politely And will ask you very brightly “Do you like your morning tea Weak or strong?” But I was just behind him And was ready to remind him For Skimble won't let anything go wrong When you creep into your cozy berth And pull up the counter pane You ought to reflect that it's very nice To know that you won't be bothered by mice You can leave all that to the railway cat The cat of the railway train Skimbleshanks the railway cat The cat of the railway train And he gives you a wave of his long brown tail Which says “I'll see you again” You will meet without fail on the midnight mail The cat of the railway train