Penner is a singer, composer, songwriter, writer, author, and TV host. A gentle giant with kind eyes and an undeniable ability to make you feel good about yourself, this musical master brings 25 years of commitment, consistency and depth to a career that skillfully blends the many genres of performing and communication. Dubbed "Mr. Multi-Media" by Billboard Magazine, his diverse repertoire includes a prolific 12 Children’s Albums, countless energetically packed live shows for throngs of eager audiences across North America, composing the music for APTN/YTV’s Tipi Tales, and writing the score and hosting the TV documentary The Simple Way (focused on the relevant, world-wide topic of voluntary simplicity). He has, without a doubt, established himself as a fundamental part of the North American family entertainment scene. And whether it’s through CDs, videos, books or television, his cornerstone philosophy remains the same: absolute trust that his work can make a difference.
The first children’s entertainer to headline at the Los Angeles Amphitheater, this four time recipient of the Parents’ Choice Award and the man Los Angeles Parent called the "Canadian Minister of Positivity" has successfully transformed children’s entertainment into a family affair. Offering his broad talents to speak to the family unit and express his feelings about where the world is going and what children are learning. A devoted father of four and husband of 25 years who describes meeting his wife Odette as "love at first sight", Fred credits her dream to start a children’s dance theatre program as the catalyst that propelled him into this career. Lessons learned through the challenges and rewards of parenthood are translated into all that he does.
His pre-music experience working with troubled youth set the stage for what was to come; providing an understanding of the trauma of child abuse and the ability of music to heal. Those learnings, along with the untimely passing of his 12- year-old sister with Down’s Syndrome and subsequent passing of his father a year later, sparked a period of deep soul-searching and life-changing decisions. Inspired by his sister’s pure love of music, the man who had planned to become an economist, made a choice to become a performer. Lucky for us, he did.
More than the music, the two-time Juno winner (equivalent of a Grammy) for Best Children’s Album Sing with Fred and eight-time nominee’s body of work is about energy and emotional connection. The guy who crawled magically out of that hollow log for 12 seasons and nearly 900 episodes in the hit CBC TV show Fred Penner’s Place receives fan mail to this day from some of the 55 million American viewers where the show ran for four years on the U.S.’s
Nickelodeon. Always building on a common theme rooted in integrity and a "belief in what I can do" he has created a lasting impact that crosses the generations and continues to grow.
From the small screen to the live stage; from writing songs to composing scores; this seasoned performer’s ability to blend his considerable talents has garnered critical acclaim and a host of awards. Like the precious ingredients in your favourite feel good soup, his combination of warmth, ease, enthusiasm and grace bring nourishment too often lacking in these turbulent times.
In 2000, the Canadian Institute of Child Health honoured Fred for his contribution to the well-being and safety of children. He is also a humble recipient of the Order of Canada, the highest recognition given to a Canadian citizen. One of his albums, Happy Feet was named Best Children’s Album of the Year by the U.S.A’s Entertainment Weekly and he is the first ever winner of the Prairie Music Award for Outstanding Children’s Recording.
His visibility has allowed him the privilege and joy of using his voice to "bring something of value" as a spokesperson for organizations like UNESCO, World Vision, UNICEF and the National Conference on Down Syndrome, which he chaired. In 2005, Fred journeyed to Zambia, Africa with World Vision to host a program for Child Sponsorship in the Western World.
Here and now, the family entertainer called "an American hero" by Long Island Parenting News is planning to expand his writing and performing abilities more into the genres of film and theatre. With extensive stage experience, including serious drama (Death of a Salesman), musicals (The Music Man) and family theatre (Captain Hook in Peter Pan to name just one), he looks forward to more involvement in the acting side of the film world. In addition, he looks to creating a new family album of "strong songs, with strong messages for the family and child" that speaks to what’s happening in the world and the importance of positive messages in these trying times.
Standing on an already firm footing in television and always excited about where the mystical journey will take him next, Fred is also making room for the possibility of another series or documentary.
A humanitarian always conscious of the "delicate balance required to create a positive influence that fosters healthy self-esteem in the life of a child", his work is infused with a steadfast commitment to communicating with children and families in a clear, non-condescending way. "More than just fun", this multi-talented artist has the wisdom and humility to know that the importance and the meaning of what he does can reach deeply into the lives of others.
The Cat Came Back
Fred Penner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He had a yellow cat which wouldn't leave its home;
He tried and he tried to give the cat away,
He gave it to a man goin' far, far away.
But the cat came back the very next day,
The cat came back, we thought he was a goner
But the cat came back; it just couldn't stay away.
Now the man around the corner swore he'd kill the cat on sight,
He loaded up his shotgun with nails and dynamite;
He waited and he waited for the cat to come around,
Ninety seven pieces of the man is all they found.
But the cat came back the very next day,
The cat came back, we thought he was a goner
But the cat came back; it just couldn't stay away.
(Give me a miao. Miaoooo!)
He gave it to a man going up in a balloon,
He told him for to take it to the man in the moon;
The balloon came down about ninety miles away,
Where he is now, well I dare not say.
But the cat came back the very next day,
The cat came back, we thought he was a goner
But the cat came back; it just couldn't stay away.
(Give me a miao. Miaoooo!)
So he gave it to a man going way out West,
Told him for to take it to the one he loved the best
First the train hit the curve, then it jumped the rail,
Not a soul was left behind to tell the gruesome tale.
But you now what?
But the cat came back the very next day,
The cat came back, we thought he was a goner
But the cat came back; it just couldn't stay away.
(Give me a miao. Miaoooo!)
Now the cat was a possessor of a family of its own,
With seven little kittens till there came a cyclone;
Blew the houses all apart and tossed the cat around,
The air was full of kittens, and not a one was ever found.
But the cat came back the very next day,
The cat came back, we thought he was a goner
But the cat came back; it just couldn't stay away.
(Give me a miao. Miaoooo!)
Sing it all again!
But the cat came back the very next day,
The cat came back, we thought he was a goner
But the cat came back; it just couldn't stay away.
(Give me a miao. Miaoooo!)
Louder Miao (Miaoooo!)
Louder (Miaoooo!)
Little quiter
Quiter miao (Miaoooo!)
quiter (Miaoooo!)
The lyrics to the Fred Penner's song, The Cat Came Back, tell the story of a man named Mr. Johnson who has a yellow cat that he tries to give away. After several failed attempts to get rid of the cat, Mr. Johnson resorts to extreme measures by asking a man to take the cat to the moon and another to take it way out west. However, no matter what happens to the cat, it always manages to come back the very next day, much to Mr. Johnson's dismay. At the end of the song, the cat even starts a family of its own, with seven little kittens, until a cyclone hits and sends them flying. Despite losing all of its kittens, the cat still comes back the next day, proving that it just can't stay away.
Line by Line Meaning
Old Mister Johnson had troubles of his own
This is a story about a man named Old Mister Johnson who had some problems.
He had a yellow cat which wouldn't leave its home;
One of Mister Johnson's problems was that he had a yellow cat that wouldn't leave his home.
He tried and he tried to give the cat away,
Mister Johnson tried on numerous occasions to give the cat away to someone else.
He gave it to a man goin' far, far away.
Eventually, Mister Johnson gave the cat to a man who was going far away from him.
But the cat came back the very next day,
Despite all the efforts to get rid of it, the cat came back to Mister Johnson's home the very next day.
The cat came back, we thought he was a goner
Mister Johnson and others thought the cat was a goner, meaning they assumed it was dead.
But the cat came back; it just couldn't stay away.
However, the cat just couldn't stay away from its home with Mister Johnson. It kept coming back.
Now the man around the corner swore he'd kill the cat on sight,
Another man who lived close by swore he would kill the cat as soon as he saw it.
He loaded up his shotgun with nails and dynamite;
The man loaded his shotgun with nails and dynamite to ensure the cat would be killed if he saw it.
He waited and he waited for the cat to come around,
The man waited for a while for the cat to come near his house.
Ninety-seven pieces of the man is all they found.
When they looked for the man who had sworn to kill the cat, they only found his remains in 97 different pieces.
He gave it to a man going up in a balloon,
Mister Johnson gave the cat to a man who was going up in a balloon.
He told him for to take it to the man in the moon;
Mister Johnson instructed the man in the balloon to take the cat to the man in the moon.
The balloon came down about ninety miles away,
The balloon ended up coming down about 90 miles away from where the man in the balloon intended.
Where he is now, well I dare not say.
The song does not reveal where the man in the balloon or the cat ended up.
So he gave it to a man going way out West,
Mister Johnson then gave the cat to a man who was traveling out West.
Told him for to take it to the one he loved the best
Mister Johnson instructed the man to take the cat to someone he loved very much.
First the train hit the curve, then it jumped the rail,
Unfortunately, the train carrying the man and the cat hit a curve and then jumped the rail.
Not a soul was left behind to tell the gruesome tale.
No one was left behind to recount what happened to the man and the cat on the train.
Now the cat was a possessor of a family of its own,
At some point, the cat ended up with its own family, meaning it had kittens of its own.
With seven little kittens till there came a cyclone;
The cat had seven kittens until a cyclone hit the area.
Blew the houses all apart and tossed the cat around,
The cyclone blew apart houses and threw the cat around in the process.
The air was full of kittens, and not a one was ever found.
Despite the chaos caused by the cyclone, none of the kittens were ever found.
Sing it all again!
At the end of the song, the singer prompts everyone to sing it all again from the beginning.
Louder Miao (Miaoooo!)
The singer encourages the crowd to sing the 'Miaoooo' part of the song louder.
Louder (Miaoooo!)
The singer prompts the crowd to sing even louder now.
Little quiter
The singer now asks the crowd to sing the 'Miaoooo' part a little quieter.
Quiter miao (Miaoooo!)
The singer now prompts the crowd to sing the 'Miaoooo' part a little quieter.
Quiter (Miaoooo!)
The final time the songwriter asks for the 'Miaoooo' part of the song to be sung even more quietly than before.
Writer(s): Cisco Houston Copyright: Figs D Music
Contributed by Hannah C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.