Have you seen the cat ?

[left-of-center2012]

[Siwsan]

1. That reminds me of a song my dad used to sing to sing to us. Somehow we weren't traumatized.

Both by the song and my Dad's singing voice. For a Welshman, he was an enthusiastic singer, but completely tone deaf.

Maybe this dog has 'thrown in' with Johnny.

Away out in the forest
There lived a mean old man
His name was Mr. Johnny Rebeck
And he could surely plan
All the neighbors' cats and dogs
Were always at his feet
So he invented a machine
That turned them all to meat

Hey Mr. Johnny Rebeck,
How could you be so mean
We told you you'd be sorry
For inventing that machine
All the neighbors' cats and dogs
Will never more be seen
They've all been ground to sausages
In Johnny Rebeck's machine

One day a boy came walking,
He walked into the store
He bought a pack of sausages
And placed them on the floor
Then he began to whistle,
He whistled up a tune
And all the little sausages,
They danced around the room

Hey Mr. Johnny Rebeck,
How could you be so mean
We told you you'd be sorry
For inventing that machine
All the neighbors' cats and dogs
Will never more be seen
They've all been ground to sausages
In Johnny Rebeck's machine

One day the darn thing busted,
The darn thing wouldn't go
So Johnny Rebeck climbed inside
To see what made it so
His wife she had a nightmare
While walking in her sleep
She gave the crank a great big yank
And Johnny Rebeck was meat

Hey Mr. Johnny Rebeck,
How could you be so mean
We told you you'd be sorry
For inventing that machine
All the neighbors' cats and dogs
Will never more be seen
They've all been ground to sausages
In Johnny Rebeck's machine

[left-of-center2012]

2. OK -- that's weird

[Siwsan]

3. It is, but thinking about him singing it ALWAYS makes my heart happy

Honestly, between that and 'The Cannibal King' - he most definitely left us with some wonderfully weird memories. I'd LOVE to sing them to my grandniece, but her parents are hard core vegans with NO sense of humor about such things. Although I wonder if my nephew would forget himself and smile if I started to sing either one of these songs because I know his grandpa sang them to him, too.

The cannibal king with the big nose ring
Fell in love with the dusty ma-a-aid
And every night by the pale moon light
Across the lake he wa-a-d-e

He hugged and he kissed his pretty little miss
Under the bamboo tree-e-e
And every night by the pale moon light, it sounded like this to me-e-e

A-RUMP (kissing sound) (kissing sound)
A-RUMP (kissing sound) (kissing sound)
A-RUMP-DA-DE-A-DE-A-A-A
A-RUMP (kissing sound) (kissing sound)
A-RUMP (kissing sound) (kissing sound)
A-RUMP-DA-DE-A-DE-A-A-A

We’ll build a bungaloo big enough for two, big enough for two, my darling, big enough for three
And when we’re married, happy we’ll be, under the bamboo, under the bamboo tree

If you’ll be M-I-N-E mine
I’ll be T-H-I-N-E thine
And I’ll L-O-V-E love you all the T-I-M-E time
You are the B-E-S-T best of all the R-E-S-T rest
And I’ll L-O-V-E love you all the T-I-M-E time
RACK ‘EM, SACK ‘EM any ole time
Match in a gas tank — BOOM BOOM

[yonder]

4. What a great song and have never a heard a similar one

though I'd bet it comes from an old ballad or story cycle that could be hundreds of years old. I may try chasing down any relatives.

It would've been fun to have known your dad and would guess he had many more up his sleeve.

Edit: it's the third verse that gives it the 'old' feel for me.

[Siwsan]

5. I suspect they are songs his father sang to him.

My dad was a true treasure. I was fortunate to be the one with him, at the end. My mom, sister and I were with him around the clock when he was in hospice. The day mom had to go back and get her checkbook and my sister wanted to spend some time with her kids, was the day he crossed to the other side of the veil. I remember telling him there were some beautiful birds out at the pond and maybe he should go and see them. I opened the window, sat down next to him, and within a few minutes he was gone.

I was also the last one he consciously spoke to, and the last to feel him return a hand squeeze. My dad and I had an unbreakable bond, in this world.

[yonder]

6. I'm sorry for your loss. Memories, as rich as they can be,

are a poor substitute for a loved ones presence.

I did a little digging on the song, perhaps not as old as I thought, maybe of Dutch or German origin, goes by many names and apparently was often used at scouting camps. One comment mentioned that because of little variation in the collected versions, it likely hasn't had a chance to evolve and may even have been written and published. Still, hand-me-down tradition in tunes, song and story is what rocks my boat and I can mark this day with a new song. And say howdy and thanks to your dad, from me, in your thoughts.

Apologies to the OP too, for hijacking the thread.

Here's a link to mudcat.org and some interesting reading:

http://awe.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=76690&messages=98&page=1

[Totally Tunsie]

8. Shortly after a passing in my family, I read the following:

"A hospital is the place where a father holds his child for the first time,
and where a child holds his father for the last."

Your story makes me think of this.

[Siwsan]

9. Aww. That brings a tear to my eyes

I have long suspected Dad waited until it was just the two of us, to take his exit. Dad was a Marine and he took a great deal of pride that his eldest daughter also served in the military - even if it was the Navy! He called me a 'swabbie', even though I out ranked him! We spent a whole lot of time sipping on Manhattans while trading stories of our time in the military.

Not long before he died I was telling him that he needed to eat more because because I didn't want to outweigh my own father. He took my hand and squeezed it incredibly hard, considering his physical condition. I said 'OUCH, Dad! You are still so strong!" He smiled and then took my hand and kissed it. That was the last time he ever interacted with any of us.

[Totally Tunsie]

10. It sounds as though you were quite a team and have some wonderful memories.

Your love and respect for him comes through in your writing. I'm truly sorry for your loss, Siwsan.

My Dad and I were similarly close - I was his only child, and my mother was a particularly difficult person with whom to live. Fittingly, my Navy Dad was my only "port in the storm", and we were best buddies from my toddler days. Father/Daughter...no relationship like it!

[IcyPeas]

7. gross