[00:25.84]Growltiger was a Bravo Cat who travelled on a barge
[00:29.1]In fact he was the roughest cat that ever roamed at large
[00:32.82]From Gravesend up to Oxford he pursued his evil aims
[00:36.22]Rejoicing in his title of The Terror of the Thames
[00:43.48]His manners and appearance did not calculate to please
[00:26.92]His coat was torn and seedy, he was baggy at the knees
[00:30.73]One ear was somewhat missing, no need to tell you why
[00:34.41]And he scowled upon a hostile world from one forbidding eye
[00:38.59]The cottagers of Rotherhithe knew something of his fame
[01:03.93]At Hammersmith and Putney people shuddered at his name
[01:09.14]They would fortify the henhouse, lock up the silly goose
[01:14.68]When the rumour ran along the shore: Growltiger's on the loose!
[01:26.21]Woe to the weak canary that fluttered from its cage
[01:29.82]Woe to the pampered Pekinese that faced Growltiger's rage
[01:33.74]Woe to the bristly bandicoot that lurked on foreign ships
[01:37.41]And woe to any cat with whom Growltiger came to grips!
[01:41.80]But most to cats of foreign race his hatred had been vowed
[01:46.62]To cats of foreign name and race no quarter was allowed
[01:51.31]The Persian and the Siamese regarded him with fear
[01:56.13]Because it was a Siamese had mauled his missing ear
[02:09.98]Now on a peaceful summer night all nature seemed at play
[02:15.22]The tender moon was shining bright, the barge at Molsey lay
[02:21.2]All in the balmy moonlight it lay rocking on the tide
[02:26.32]And Growltiger was disposed to show his sentimental side
[02:36.64]Growltiger's bucko mate Grumbskin long since had disappered
[02:41.98]For to the Bell at Hampton he had gone to wet his beard
[02:47.93]And his bosun Tumblebrutus, he too had stolen away
[02:53.23]In the yard behind the Lion he was prowling for his prey
[03:00.25]In the forepeak of the vessel Growltiger sat alone
[03:05.43]Concentrating his attention on the lady Griddlebone
[03:10.86]And his raffish crew were sleeping in their barrels and their bunks
[03:15.96]As the Siamese came creeping in their sampans and their junks
[03:21.88]Growltiger had no eye or ear for aught but Griddlebone
[03:27.27]And the lady seemed enraptured by his manly baritone
[03:33.32]Disposed to relaxation and awaiting no surprise
[03:38.87]But the moonlight shone reflected from a thousand bright blue eyes
[03:45.14]And closer still and closer the sampans circled round
[03:49.50]And yet from all the enemy there was not heard a sound
[03:53.95]The foe was armed with toasting forks and cruel carving knives
[03:58.86]And the lovers sang their last duet in danger of their lives
[04:09.2]Oh, how well I remember the Old Bull and Bush
[04:13.16]Where we used to go down on a Sattadau night
[04:17.47]Where, when anythink happened, it come with a rush
[04:22.22]For the boss, Mr. Clark, he was very polite
[04:26.92]A very nice house, from basement to garret
[04:31.27]A very nice house. Ah, but it was the parrot
[04:36.28]The parrot, the parrot named Billy M'Caw
[04:41.65]That brought all those folk to the bar
[04:44.35]Ah, he was the life of the bar!
[04:49.16]Of a Saturday night, we was all feeling bright
[04:53.24]And Lily La Rose - the barmaid that was
[04:58.54]She'd say, "Billy, Billy M'Caw!
[05:03.77]Come give us, come give us a dance on the bar!"
[05:08.20]And Billy would dance on the bar
[05:17.36]And then we'd feel balmy, in each eye a tear
[05:22.23]And emotion would make us all order more beer
[05:28.82]Lily, she was a girl what had brains in her head
[05:33.58]She wouldn't have nothing, no, not that much said
[05:38.8]If it come to an argument or a dispute
[05:42.38]She'd settle it offhand with the toe of her boot
[05:46.89]Or as likely as not put a fist through your eye
[05:51.20]But when we was happy, and just a bit dry
[05:56.22]Or when we was thirsty, and just a bit sad
[06:01.5]She would rap on the bar with that corkscrew she had
[06:06.69]And say "Billy, Billy M'Caw!
[06:11.92]Come give us a tune on your pastoral flute!"
[06:16.45]And Billy'd strike up on his pastoral flute
[06:25.48]And then we'd feel balmy, in each eye a tear
[06:30.24]And emotion would make us all order more beer
[06:36.65]"Billy, Billy M'Caw!“
[06:40.68]Come give us a tune on your moley guitar!"
[06:45.53]And Billy'd strike up on his moley guitar
[06:54.70]And then we'd feel balmy, in each eye a tear
[06:59.59]And emotion would make us all order more beer
[07:07.15]Billy, Billy M'Caw!
[07:10.88]Come give us a tune on your moley guitar!
[07:17.12]He was the life of the bar.
[07:26.34]Then Gilbert gave the signal to his fierce Mongolian horde
[07:29.71]With a frightful burst of fireworks, the Chinks they swarmed aboard
[07:36.77]Then Griddlebone she gave a screech, for she was badly skeered
[07:43.1]I am sorry to admit it
[07:47.18]But she quickly disappeared
[07:51.16]She probably escaped with ease
[07:54.50]I'm sure she was not drowned
[07:57.39]But a serried ring of flashing steel Growltiger did surround
[08:04.47]The ruthless foe pressed forward in stubborn rank on rank
[08:11.22]Growltiger to his vast surprise was forced to walk the plank
[08:18.56]He who a hundred victims had driven to that drop
[08:25.8]At the end of all his crimes was forced to go kerflip kerflop
[08:32.85]Oh there was joy in Wapping when the news flew through the land
[08:38.75]At Maidenhead and Henley there was dancing on the Strand
[08:45.4]Rats were roasted whole at Brentford and Victoria Dock
[08:50.51]And a day of celebrations was commanded in Bangkok
[09:15.48]"These modern productions are all very well
[09:22.78]But there's nothing to equal, from what I hear tell
[09:31.17]That moment of mystery when I made history . . ."