Old Deuteronomy

Old Deuteronomy's lived a long time
He's a cat who has lived many lives in succession
He was famous in proverb and famous in rhyme
A long while before Queen Victoria's accession

Old Deuteronomy's buried nine wives
And more, I am tempted to say ninety-nine
And his numerous progeny pospers and thrives
And the village is proud of him in his decline

At the sight of that placid and bland physiognomy
As he sits in the sun on the vicarage wall
The oldest inhabitant croaks
"Well, of all things, can it be really?
Yes, no, ho, hi, oh my eye!
My mind may be wandering but I confess
I believe it is Old Deuteronomy!"

Old Deuteronomy sits in the street
He sists in the high street on market day
The bullocks may bellow, the sheep they may bleat
But the dogs and the herdsmen will turn them away

The cars and the lorries run over the curb
And the villagers put up a notice, "Road closed"
So that nothing untoward may chance to disturb
Deuteronomy's rest when he feels so disposed

The digestive repose of that feline's gastronomy
Must never be broken whate'er may befall

And the oldest inhabitant croaks
"Well, of all things, can it be really?
Yes, no, ho, hi, oh my eye!
My mind may be wandering but I confess
I believe it is Old Deuteronomy!"

Well, of all things, can it be really?
Yes, no, ho, hi, oh my eye!

My legs may be tottery, I must go slow
And be careful of Old Deuteronomy