The Old Gumbie Cat

· by Andrew Lloyd Webber

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Lyrics

I (G6)have a Gum bie (D)Cat in mind, her (C)name is Jen ny an y dots.

Her (Am7)coat is (Am6)of the (Em7)tab by kind, with (F)ti ger stripes and (B7)leop ard spots.

All (G6)day she sits be (D)neath the stair, (Dm)or (C)on the steps or on the mat: She (Am7)sits and (Am6)sits and (Em)sits and sits, and (Fmaj7)that’s what makes a (Bb7)Gum (B7)bie (C7)Cat!

That’s what (Am7)makes a (Bm7)Gum (B7)bie (Em)Cat!

But (Cm)when the day’s (B)hus tle (Abm6)and (Cm)bus tle is done, then the (Ab)Gum bie Cat’s work is but (Cm)hard ly be gun.

And (Cm)when all the (B)fam i (Abm6)ly’s in (Adim)bed and a sleep, ment to she (G7)tucks up her from skirts i dle to the (Cm)base ment to creep.

ment.

She is (Ab)deep ly con cerned with the (Bb)ways of the mice: Their be (Eb)hav iour’s not good and their (Abmaj7)man ners not nice, so (Db)when she has got them lined up on the mat ting, she (G7)teach es them mu sic, cro chet ing and tat ting.

I (G6)have a Gum bie (D)Cat in mind, her (C)name is Jen ny an y dots.

The (Am7)cur tain (Am6)cord she (Em7)likes to wind and (F)tie it in to (B7)sail or knots.

She (G6)sits up on the (D)win dow sill, (Dm)or (C)an y thing that’s smooth and flat: She (Am7)sits and (Am6)sits and (Em)sits and sits, and (Fmaj7)that’s what makes a (Bb7)Gum (B7)bie (C7)Cat!

That’s what (Am7)makes a (Bm7)Gum (B7)bie (Em)Cat!

But (Cm)when the day’s (B)hus tle (Abm6)and (Cm)bus tle is done, then the (Ab)Gum bie Cat’s work is but (Cm)hard ly be gun.

She (Cm)thinks that the (B)cock i (Abm6)roach es (Adim)need and em ploy ment to pre (G7)vent up them from skirts i dle and the (Cm)wan ton de stroy ment.

So she’s (Ab)deep ly con cerned with the (Bb)ways of the mice: Their be (Eb)hav iour’s not good and their (Abmaj7)man ners not nice, so (Db)when she has got them lined up on the mat ting, she (G7)teach es them mu sic, cro chet ing and tat ting.

I (Ab)formed from that lot of dis (Bb7)or der ly louts, a (Eb)troop of well dis ci plined (Ab)help ful boy scouts, with a (Db)pur pose in life and a good deed to do; and she’s (G)e ven

cre at ed

a (G7)Bee tle’s Tat too,

(G)for (C)she’s a Jol ly Good (F)Fel (D7)low.

Thank you, my dears!

The Old Gumbie Cat by Andrew Lloyd Webber — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “The Old Gumbie Cat” by Andrew Lloyd Webber in our color-coded kid songbook view — every note is colored by pitch (red C, orange D, yellow E, green F, blue G, purple A, pink B) and the lyrics sit directly under each note, so children can sing along while they play. The song is in the key of G at 120 BPM, a medium-difficulty arrangement — try slowing the tempo down using the BPM control.

Tips for parents & teachers

Start at 50% tempo using the BPM control. Speed up only when your child can play through without stopping.
Turn on the metronome from the top bar to build steady rhythm.
Use the segmented OFF / C / 1 button to toggle note labels on the staff and keys — kids learn note names faster with letters showing.
Tap a measure number on the timeline to jump to a specific section for repeat practice.

Frequently asked questions

Is "The Old Gumbie Cat" good for a child learning piano?: Yes — this color-coded arrangement is designed for ages 4-12. Each note is colored by pitch so kids match colors to keys, no music reading required. Lyrics sit under every note for sing-along play.
What age can start with "The Old Gumbie Cat"?: Children as young as 4 can follow the color-coded notes. By age 6-7 most kids can play through the song themselves with light guidance. Parent help is recommended for the first few sessions.
Do we need a piano teacher to use this?: No — the color-coded format is designed to be self-explanatory. Parents with no music background can supervise. Teachers can also use it as an introductory lesson tool.
Can we print the sheet music?: Yes — tap "Download Sheet Music" above for a free printable PDF with the same color-coded notes that appear on screen.
How many chords does "The Old Gumbie Cat" use?: Just 29 chords: Ab, Abm6, Abmaj7, Adim, Am6, Am7, B7, Baug, +21 more. Take it one section at a time.
What other Andrew Lloyd Webber songs work for kids?: Try "ALL I ASK OF YOU", "EVERYTHING'S ALRIGHT", "ONLY YOU". All play with color-coded notes; pick a familiar tune to keep kids engaged.