Fred Penner - The Cat Came Back Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
[Opening]
[Em]Old Mister [G]Johnson had [C]troubles of his [D]own
[Em]He had a yellow [G]cat which [C]wouldn’t leave his [D]home
[Em]He tried and he [G]tried to [C]give the cat [D]away
[Em]He gave it to a [G]man goin’ [C]far, far [D]away
[chorus]
[Em]But the cat came [G]back the [C]very next [D]day
[Em]The cat came [G]back, we [C]thought he was a [D]goner
[Em]But the cat came [G]back it just [C]couldn’t [D]stay
[Em]Awaa[G]ayy[C]y [D]
[verse 2]
[Em]The farmer on the [G]corner swore he’d [C]kill the cat on [D]sight
[Em]He loaded up his [G]shotgun with [C]nails and dyna[D]mite
[Em]He waited in the [G]garden for the [C]cat to come a[D]round
[Em]Ninety seven [G]pieces of the [C]man is all they [D]found
[chorus]
[Em]But the cat came [G]back the [C]very next [D]day
[Em]The cat came [G]back, we [C]thought he was a [D]goner
[Em]But the cat came [G]back it just [C]couldn’t [D]stay
[Em]Awaa[G]ayy[C]y [D]
[Closing]
[Em]He gave it to a [G]man with a [C]dollar [D]note
[Em]He took him up the [G]river [C]in a [D]boat
[Em]The boat turned [G]over and [C]was never [D]found
[Em]Now they drag the [G]river for a [C]man that’s [D]drowned
[chorus]
[Em]But the cat came [G]back the [C]very next [D]day
[Em]The cat came [G]back, we [C]thought he was a [D]goner
[Em]But the cat came [G]back; it just [C]couldn’t [D]stay
[Em]Awaa[G]ayy[C]y [D]
[chorus]
[Em]But the cat came [G]back the [C]very next [D]day
[Em]The cat came [G]back, we [C]thought he was a [D]goner
[Em]But the cat came [G]back; it just [C]couldn’t [D]stay
[Em]Awaa[G]ayy[C]y [D]
How to play The Cat Came Back on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Fred Penner - The Cat Came Back on guitar requires 4 chords and 4 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↑-↑↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.
The Cat Came Back uses these transitions most often: C → D (28), Em → G (28), and G → C (28). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with Em - G chord transition.
1. Em → G chord transition
To move from Em to G;
- Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.
- Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Place index finger on A string fret 2.
2. G → C chord transition
To move from G to C;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
3. C → D chord transition
To move from C to D;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.
4. D → Em chord transition
To move from D to Em;
- While playing D, lift your index finger from G string fret 2.
- Lift your middle finger from E string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from B string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
The Cat Came Back chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in The Cat Came Back.
- The Cat Came Back includes 111 chord transitions, 4 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- The Cat Came Back contains 3 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how The Cat Came Back connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After Em, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (26%), G (18%), and D (18%).
- Em → G: 18%
After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).- G → C: 25%