Old Deuteronomy    (video)

 

    (…)  +  instrumental = verse1     +  G

 

      G                                              Fm

1. Old Deuteronomy's lived a long time,

                G                                  Dm

    he's a cat who has lived many lives in succession.

                 Am             Bm              C                D

    He was famous in proverb and famous in rhyme,

        Bb                 D                     G

    a long while before Queen Victoria's accession.

 

      G                                              Fm

2. Old Deuteronomy's buried nine wives,

              G                              Dm

    and more, I am tempted to say, ninety-nine.

                   Am            Bm          C                   D

    And his numerous progeny prospers and thrives,

                  Bb              D              G

    and the village is proud of him in his decline.

 

                G                                   F#           F

    At the sight of that placid and bland physiognomy,

               G                               F#            F

    as he sits in the sun on the vicarage wall,

           Eb          C#           Bb         D7

    the Oldest Inhabitant croaks: 'Well of

     G                                 Fm

    all things … Can it be, really! …

       G                                      Dm

    Yes ! No ! Ho ! Hi ! Oh, my eye !

            Am                Bm             C           D

    My mind may be wandering, but I confess,

           Bb            D            G

    I believe it is Old Deuteronomy!'

 

+  instrumental = verse 1

 

      G                                           Fm

3. Old Deuteronomy sits in the street,

            G                                    Dm

    he sits in the High Street on market day.

            Am                Bm                 C                        D

    The bullocks may bellow, the sheep, they may bleat,

                  Bb                  D                   G

    but the dogs and the herdsmen will turn them away.

 

             G                                                Fm

4. The cars and the lorries run over the kerb,

                   G                         Dm

    and the villagers put up a notice 'Road Closed',

                  Am          Bm                 C                D

    so that nothing untoward may chance to disturb,

               Bb            D                   G

    Deuteronomy's rest when he feels so disposed.

 

                G                               F#               F

    The digestive repose of that feline's gastronomy

                G                             F#          F

    must never be broken, whatever befall :

                   D#          C#           Bb       D7

    And the Oldest Inhabitant croaks: 'Well, of

     G                                 Fm

    all things … Can it be, really! …

       G                                  Dm

    Yes! No! Ho! Hi! Oh, my eye!

            Am                Bm             C           D

    My mind may be wandering, but I confess,

           Bb           D             G

    I believe it is Old Deuteronomy!

                  G                                 Fm

    Well, of all things … Can it be, really! …

        G                                 Dm

    Yes! No! Ho! Hi! Oh, my eye!

           Am              Bm      C                 D

    My legs may be tottery, I must go slow

                  Bb            D            G

    and be careful of Old Deuteronomy !

 

    (Andrew Lloyd Webber)