Andrew Lloyd Webber Follow

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 to the northern part
Of the northern hemisphere
Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat
The Cat of the Railway Train

You might say that by and large
It was me who was in charge
Of the Sleeping Car Express

From the driver and 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 you 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 couldn't be ignored
So nothing went wrong on the Northern Mail
When Skimbleshanks was 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 on
And not a speck of dust on the floor

There was every sort of light
You could make it dark and 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
Then the guard looked in politely
And would ask you very brightly
Do you like your morning tea weak or strong?

But I was 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 ought to reflect that it was very nice
To know that they wouldn't be bothered by mice
They can leave all that to the Railway Cat
The Cat of the Railway Train

Skimbleshanks the Railway 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 up the watch
Only stopping here and there to catch a flea

They were fast asleep at Crewe 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 Gallowgat
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'
You'll meet without fail on the Midnight Mail
The Cat of the Railway Train

You'll meet without fail on the Midnight Mail
The Cat of the Railway Train

Skimbleshanks the Railway Cat
The Cat of the Railway Train
There's a whisper down the line at eleven thirty-nine