Growltiger was a bravo cat who travelled on a barge.
In fact, he was the roughest cat that ever roamed at large.
From Gravesend up to Oxford, he pursued his evil aims.
Rejoicing in his title of the 'Terror of the Thames.'
His manners and appearance did not calculate to please.
His coat was torn and seedy, it was baggy at the knees.
One ear was somewhat missing, no need to tell you why.
And he scowled upon a hostile world from one forbidding eye.
The cottagers of Rotherhithe knew something of his fame.
At Hammersmith and Putney, people shuddered at his name.
They would fortify the hen house, lock up the silly goose
When the rumor ran along the shore: Growltiger's on the loose!
Woe to the weak canary that fluttered from its cage,
Woe to the pampered Pekinese, that faced Growltiger's rage,
Woe to the bristly bandicoot that lurks on foreign ships,
And woe to any cat with whom Growltiger came to grips.
But most to cats of foreign race, his hatred had been vowed
To cats of foreign name and race, no quarter was allowed.
The Persian and the Siamese regarded him with fear.
Because it was a Siamese had mauled his missing ear.
Now On a peaceful summer night, all nature seemed at play.
Tender moon was shining bright, the barge at Molsey lay.
All in the balmy moonlight, it lay rocking on the tide.
And Growltiger was disposed to show his sentimental side.
The forepeak of the vessel, Growltiger stood alone.
Concentrating my attention on the lady Griddlebone.
And my raffish crew were sleeping in their barrels and their bunks
As the Siamese came creeping in their sampans and their junks.
Growltiger had no eye or ear for aught, but Griddlebone,
And the lady seemed enraptured by my manly baritone.
Disposed to relaxation and awaiting no surprise,
But the moonlight shone reflected from a thousand bright blue eyes.
And closer still and closer the
Sampans circled 'round.
And yet from all the enemy there was not heard a sound.'
The foe was armed with toasting forks and cruel carving knives.
And the lovers sang their last duet in danger of their lives.
Una tepida notte d'estate, allorche la natura
Eranel pieno fulgore, e la resca rugiada
Splendeva al chiar di luna sopra la verzura
Si poteva vedere il galeone ancorato
Oscillare in silenzio nel vento profumato
Dalla marea del naviglio serenamente cullato
In quella tepida notte che c'e dunque di male
Se in tnata poesia anche il pirata divento sentimentale?
Oscillare in silenzio nel vento profumato
Dalla marea do naviglio serenamente cullato
Quella tepida notte
Quella tepida notte
Quella tepida notte.
Then Genghis gave the signal to his fierce Mongolian hordes.
Abandoning their sampans, the chinks they swarmed aboard.
Abandoning their sampans, their pullaways, their junks.
They battened down the hatches on the crew within their bunks.
Then Griddlebone, she gave a screech for she was badly skeered.
I am sorry to admit it, but she quickly disappeared.
She Probably escaped with ease, I'm sure she was not drowned,
But a serried ring of flashing steel Growltiger did surround.
The ruthless foe pressed forward in stubborn rank on rank
Growltigert to his vast surprise, was forced to walk the plank.
He who a hundred victims had driven to that drop.
At the end of all his crimes was forced to go kerflip, kerflop.
There was joy in Wapping when the news flew through the land.
At Maidenhead and Henley there was dancing on the strand.
Rats were roasted whole in Brentford and Victoria Dock
And a day of celebration was commanded in Bangkok!
These modern productions are all very well,
But there's nothing to equal from what I hear tell.
That moment of mystery when I made history
