The Song

There is no denying that Bobby Darins songs “Mack and Knife” and “Gyp the Cat” are near enough musically identical and both are wonderful songs. But which is better Gyp or Mack?

Well one thing we can say about Gyp is that he is very sneaky, infact I believe he’d beat Mack in a sneaky contest. Gyp manages to evade death and actually shows up at his own funeral, now thats impressive!

It’s also impressive that no one seems able to pin anything on Gyp, for some reason he’s always one step ahead of everything going on and always seems to be somewhere else…

I think also it would be fair to say that Gyp shares a great deal in common with TS Eliots “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats” and most specifically with the cat Macavity, who seems to be just as sneaky and cunning as our hero Gyp.

With the bayou’s wind
And them gators swim
Sometime late last night
When the moon was dim
Someone left this life
Much against his will
And while Gyp the Cat was alibi-in’
You know his clothes were dryin’

Down on Bourbon Street
Where them tourists roam
Some big financier
Travelin’ far from home
Lost his fancy watch
And his wallet too
And while to his story
Gyp was stickin’
His new watch kept tickin’

There’s a blown out safe
In City Hall
Standin’ open wide
Up against the wall
And though Gyp the Cat
Has got a lot of dough
Is the money his?
Or part of blunder?
Gyp says “go and wonder”

There’s a fishing fleet
Anchored in the bay
Everybody knows
Shrimp and oysters pay
But when Gyp the Cat
Was refused his share
Somehow the nets got cut
And the take was way off
Til Gyp got his payoff

The legend goes
That they buried him
But nobody knows
That he had a twin
And at the services
Everybody cried
‘cept in one peculiar smilin’ mourner
Pickin’ pockets in the corner
While they set his brother in the ground
Get the feeling Gyp is still around