Deuteronomy: You've heard of several kinds of cat And my opinion now is that You should need no interpreter to understand our character You've learned enough to take the view That cats are very much like you You've seen us both at work and games And learnt about our proper names Our habits and habitat But how would you ad-dress a cat
Chorus: So first, your memory I'll jog And say: A cat is not a dog
Deuteronomy: Now dogs pretend they like to fight They often bark, more seldom bite But yet a dog is, on the whole, What you would call a simple soul The usual dog about the town Is much inclined to play the clown And far from showing too much pride Is frequently undignified He's such an easy-going lout He'll answer any hail or shout
Chorus: The usual dog about the town Is inclined to play the clown Again I must remind you that A dog's a dog; a cat's a cat
Deuteronomy: With cats, some say, one rule is true Don't speak 'til you are spoken to Myself I do not hold with that I say, you should ad-dress a cat But always bear in mind that he resents familiarity You bow, and taking off your hat, ad-dress him in this form: "O Cat!"
Before a cat will condescend To treat you as a trusted friend Some little token of esteem is needed, like a dish of cream And you might now and then supply Some caviar or Straussburg pie Some potted grouse or salmon paste He's sure to have his personal taste
And so in time you reach your aim And call him by his NAME
Chorus: A cat's entitled to expect These evidences of respect
So this is this and that is that And there's how you ad-dress a cat
A cat's entitled to expect These evidences of respect
So this is this and that is that And there's how you ad-dress a cat