SWING IT HIGH, SWING IT LOW

IF IT HOLLERS LET IT GO,

IF IT'S DROWNED THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO TAKE CARE OF THAT:

YOU MUST GRAB IT BY ITS FEET, SWING IT HIGH AND SWING IT NEAT,

(FOR) YOU MIGHT SAVE LIFE AT THAT IF YOU CAN SWING THE CAT !

VERSES:

1.

IT WAS JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT WHEN I HEARD THE CAPTAIN SHOUT,

" CURSE THE DEVIL BELOW BUT THERE ARE RATS ABOUT !"

THEY WERE STREAMING CROSS THE GANGPLANKS,

THEY WERE TEARING UP THE SHEETS,

EVERY SAILOR HAD HUNDRED SNAPPING AT HIS FEET.

2.

"WHAT CAN WE DO ?!", CRIED THE SAILORS AS THE RATS BEGAN TO DANCE,

"IT'S HOPELESS SITUATION, BUT WE HAVE ONE CHANCE.

EVERY MAN GO ASHORE, SEARCHING THIS WAY AND THAT,

DON'T DARE TO SHOW YOUR FACES 'TILL YOU FIND CAT !"

3.

WELL, WE SPRANG TO THE DOCKS AND WE BOLTED THROUGH THE TOWN

EVERY YOUNG MAN AND OLD MAN SEARCHING UP AND DOWN.

THREE-HUNDRED SAILORS ON THE LOOSE, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT ?

AND EVERY SALTY SAILOR SURE HE FOUND CAT !

4.

BACK TO THE SHIP WE [bad word] WITH OUR PRIZES

THERE WERE CATS OF MANY COLORS, THERE WERE CATS OF MANY SIZES,

WHEN THE RATS SAW [bad word] SURE THEY ALL BEGAN TO SHOUT,

"CURSE THE DEVIL BELOW BUT THERE ARE CATS ABOUT!"
 [bad word] 
5.

WELL, WE LET OUR KITTIES LOOSE ON THAT UNSUSPECTING HOARD

AND THE RATS BY THE THOUSANDS SCRAMBLED OVERBOARD,

THEY WERE SWEPT OUT TO SEA, EVERY GERMY LITTLE TAIL,

(AND) WITH THE MORNING LIGHT UPON US SURE WE HOISTED SAIL.

6.

Some sunny day you might meet us as we're out upon the sea,

We'll be flying Jolly Roger on a tropical breeze.

(And) though we're [bad word] with kittens, don't be scared of that

For we'll [bad word] you aboard if you can Swing The Cat !

7.

NOW WE SAIL THE MIGHTY OCEAN (AND WE'RE SUCH HAPPY CREW),

WITH OUR KITTIES HERE TO HELP US THERE IS NOTHING MUCH TO DO !

(FOR) IF CAT CATCHES TWO FISH HE IS SURE TO GIVE YOU ONE,

AND HE'LL SING YOU OFF TO SLEEP WHEN YOUR DAY IS DONE.