This is a song I wrote in October 2025 based on the saying 'when the cat's away, the mice will play', and similar sayings in other languages.
When the cat's away
the mice will play
they'll play all day
or so they say
They'll play cards in the kitchen
and poker in the pantry
and dice on the deck
and ludo in the loft
When the cat's in France
The mice will dance
They'll dance a jig
With a peacock and a pig
They'll waltz in the wok
and conga up the clock
and tango round the table
and salsa in the stable
When the cat's in Spain
The mice won't complain
They'll have a ball
And party in the hall
They'll invite all their mates
and eat all the dates
and race round on rats
and wear silly hats
When the cat's away
the mice will play
they'll play all day
or so they say
Here's a recording, made in October 2025, featuring me on vocals and tenor ukulele.
Versions of the saying 'when the cat's away' in many languages
The Elephant Song | When you get to jiggit | Chaos | Winter | Everyday adventures | Hints of Blossom | A Panda in a Poncho | Plinkin Plookplooks | Spollagyn son tey | How Many Roads? | A Gnu in My Shoe | A Hen in My Hat | The Ballad of the Wug and the Cra | La Plume de ma Tante | Ukuleles On The Shore | Echoes on the Tongue | Dardledumdue | It's Okay To Be Odd | Monday Morning | Tall Tales | Sail Across The Sky | Two Left Feet | Thunder River | Ning | Lazybones | Goats | The Toaster Song | Hello Hi Hey | Thingamajig | Jolly Yuletide | The Pliffploff | Bubbles | Distraction | Little Lions | The Little Green Owl | Pannas Owen | Seize The Day | Music in the Air | Pocket Hedgehogs | Dust | Lillilu | Lost in a Good Book | Quiet Please | Ffaldiral | Melting 😅 | That's When We'll Do That Thing | As Easy As | What Did I Come In Here For? | Upside Down | Thoir An Aire! | Ho Ha Hey | Patience | Time | Farewell | Stuff and Nonsense | Ruith Air Falbh / Run Away! | The Other Side | Colourless Green Ideas | Noodling | Off To Sea | Cats & Dogs | Terms & Conditions | Llamas in Pyjamas | What Are You Waiting For? | Mind The Gap | Pie In The Sky | Discombobulation | It's All Greek To Me | When The Cat's Away
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