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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 stationmaster'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 gave one flash of his glass-green eyes
And the signal went "All clear!"
They'd be off at last for the northern part of the northern hemisphere!
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.
Down the corridor he paces and examines all the faces
Of the travelers in the first and the third.
He established control by a regular patrol
And he'd know at once if anything occurred.
He would watch you without winking and he saw what you were thinking
And it's certain that he didn't approve
Of hilarity and riot so that folk were very quiet
When Skimble was about and on the move.
You could play no pranks with Skimbleshanks.
He's a cat that can not be ignored,
So nothing went wrong on the northern mail
With Skimbleshanks aboard!
It was very pleasant when they'd found their little den
With their name written up on the door
And the berth was very neat with a newly folded sheet
And not a speck of dust on the floor
There was every sort of light you could make it dark or bright
And a button you could turn to make a breeze
And a funny little basin you're supposed to wash your face in
And a crank to shut the window should you sneeze (Achoo!!!)
Then the guard looked in politely and would ask you very brightly
"Do you like your morning tea weak or strong?"
But I just behind him and was ready to remind him
For Skimble won't let anything go wrong
When they crept into their cozy berth and pulled the counterpane
They all could reflect that it was very nice
To know that they wouldn't be bothered by mice
They could leave all that to the railway cat,
The cat of the railway train
Skimbleshanks, the rail way cat,
The cat of the railway train!
Skimbleshanks, the rail way cat, The cat of the railway train!
In the watches of the night I was always fresh and bright
Every now and then I'd have a cup of tea
With perhaps a drop of scotch while I was busy keeping on the watch
Only stopping here and there to catch a flea.
They were fast asleep at Crew and so they never knew
That I was walking up and down the station,
They were sleeping all the while I was busy at Carlisle
Where I met the stationmaster with elation!
They might see me at Dumfries if I summoned the police
If there was anything they ought to know about.
When they got to Gallowgate there they did not have to wait
For Skimbleshanks will help them to get out!
And he gives you a wave of his long brown tail
Which says, "I'll see you again!"
We will meet without fail on the midnight mail
The cat of the railway train!
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