Bought Me a Cat
Pete Seeger Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I bought me a cat
The cat pleased me
I fed my cat under yonder tree
The cat went fiddle I fee
Fiddle I fee

I bought me a hen
The hen pleased me
I fed my hen under yonder tree
The hen went chipsy chopsy
The cat went fiddle I fee

I bought me a duck
The duck pleased me
I fed my duck under yonder tree
The duck went splishy sploshy
The hen went chipsy chopsy
The cat went a fiddle I fee

Well I bought me a goose
The goose pleased me
I fed my goose under yonder tree
The goose went waaw waaw
The duck went splishy sploshy
The hen went chipsy chopsy
The cat went a fiddle I fee

Well I bought me a dog
The dog pleased me
I fed my dog under yonder tree
The dog went baow baow
The goose went waaw waaw
The duck went splishy sploshy
The hen went chipsy chopsy
The cat went a fiddle I fee

Well I bought me a sheep
The sheep pleased me
I fed my sheep under yonder tree
The sheep went baah baah
The dog went baow baow
The goose went waaw waaw
The duck went splishy sploshy
The hen went chipsy chopsy
The cat went a fiddle I fee

Well I bought me a cow
The cow pleased me
I fed my cow under yonder tree
The cow went moo moo
The sheep went baah baah
The dog went baow baow
The goose went waaw waaw
The duck went slishy sloshy
The hen went chipsy chopsy
The cat went a fiddle I fee

Well I bought me a horse
The horse pleased me
I fed my horse under yonder tree
The horse went naaaaaay
The cow went moo moo
The sheep went baah baah
The dog went baow baow
The goose went waaw waaw
The duck went splishy sploshy
The hen went chipsy chopsy
The cat went a fiddle I fee

Well I bought me a baby
The baby pleased me
I fed my baby under yonder tree
The baby went raaa raaa
The horse went naaaaaay
The cow went moo moo
The sheep went baah baah
The dog went baow baow
The goose went waaw waaw
The duck went splishy sploshy
The hen went chipsy chopsy
The cat went a fiddle I fee
Fiddle I fee

Well I bought me a woman
The woman pleased me
I fed my woman under yonder tree
The woman cried honey honey
The baby went raaa raaa
The horse went naaaaaay
The cow went moo moo
The sheep went baah baah
The dog went baow baow
The goose went waaw waaw
The duck went splishy sploshy
The hen went chipsy chopsy




The cat went a fiddle I fee
Fiddle I fee

Overall Meaning

"Bought Me a Cat" is a traditional American children's song that describes the purchase of various animals and the sounds they make. The song has been popular since the early 20th century and has been re-recorded countless times. The song starts with the singer buying a cat, which pleases him. He feeds the cat under a tree in the backyard, and the cat responds with a fiddle I fee. The following verses repeat the pattern with different animals and sounds, ultimately ending with the purchase of a woman who cries honey, honey.


The song's lyrics are straightforward, describing the different animals that the singer has acquired and the sounds that the animals make when they are fed. The lyrics intend to create a rhythmic and repetitive pattern to entertain young children. The song emphasizes the connection between humans and animals and implies that animals can be domesticated and trained to respond to humans. The song's refrain "fiddle I fee" has different interpretations. Some people believe that "fiddle" means the sound that the cat's paws make when playing with yarn, while others interpret it as a way of saying "I'm happy."


Line by Line Meaning

I bought me a cat
I acquired a cat


The cat pleased me
I was satisfied with having the cat as my pet


I fed my cat under yonder tree
I provided food for my cat near that tree over there


The cat went fiddle I fee
The cat meowed in a happy way


I bought me a hen
I obtained a hen


The hen pleased me
I was content with having the hen as my pet


I fed my hen under yonder tree
I gave my hen food near that tree over there


The hen went chipsy chopsy
The hen clucked in a cheerful manner


The cat went fiddle I fee
The cat meowed in a happy way


I bought me a duck
I procured a duck


The duck pleased me
I was pleased with having the duck as my pet


I fed my duck under yonder tree
I gave my duck some food near that tree over there


The duck went splishy sploshy
The duck quacked in a joyful manner


The hen went chipsy chopsy
The hen clucked in a cheerful manner


The cat went a fiddle I fee
The cat meowed in a happy way


Well I bought me a goose
Furthermore, I obtained a goose


The goose pleased me
I was content with having the goose as my pet


I fed my goose under yonder tree
I provided food for my goose near that tree over there


The goose went waaw waaw
The goose honked in a cheerful way


The duck went splishy sploshy
The duck quacked in a joyful manner


The hen went chipsy chopsy
The hen clucked in a cheerful manner


The cat went a fiddle I fee
The cat meowed in a happy way


Well I bought me a dog
Moreover, I acquired a dog


The dog pleased me
I was satisfied with having the dog as my pet


I fed my dog under yonder tree
I provided food for my dog near that tree over there


The dog went baow baow
The dog barked in a joyful way


The goose went waaw waaw
The goose honked in a cheerful way


The duck went splishy sploshy
The duck quacked in a joyful manner


The hen went chipsy chopsy
The hen clucked in a cheerful manner


The cat went a fiddle I fee
The cat meowed in a happy way


Well I bought me a sheep
Furthermore, I procured a sheep


The sheep pleased me
I was content with having the sheep as my pet


I fed my sheep under yonder tree
I gave my sheep some food near that tree over there


The sheep went baah baah
The sheep bleated in a cheerful manner


The dog went baow baow
The dog barked in a joyful way


The goose went waaw waaw
The goose honked in a cheerful way


The duck went splishy sploshy
The duck quacked in a joyful manner


The hen went chipsy chopsy
The hen clucked in a cheerful manner


The cat went a fiddle I fee
The cat meowed in a happy way


Well I bought me a cow
Moreover, I obtained a cow


The cow pleased me
I was satisfied with having the cow as my pet


I fed my cow under yonder tree
I provided food for my cow near that tree over there


The cow went moo moo
The cow mooed in a happy way


The sheep went baah baah
The sheep bleated in a cheerful manner


The dog went baow baow
The dog barked in a joyful way


The goose went waaw waaw
The goose honked in a cheerful way


The duck went slishy sloshy
The duck quacked in a joyful manner


The hen went chipsy chopsy
The hen clucked in a cheerful manner


The cat went a fiddle I fee
The cat meowed in a happy way


Well I bought me a horse
Additionally, I acquired a horse


The horse pleased me
I was content with having the horse as my pet


I fed my horse under yonder tree
I gave my horse some food near that tree over there


The horse went naaaaaay
The horse neighed in a happy way


The cow went moo moo
The cow mooed in a happy way


The sheep went baah baah
The sheep bleated in a cheerful manner


The dog went baow baow
The dog barked in a joyful way


The goose went waaw waaw
The goose honked in a cheerful way


The duck went splishy sploshy
The duck quacked in a joyful manner


The hen went chipsy chopsy
The hen clucked in a cheerful manner


The cat went a fiddle I fee
The cat meowed in a happy way


Well I bought me a baby
Furthermore, I obtained a baby


The baby pleased me
I was satisfied with having the baby


I fed my baby under yonder tree
I gave my baby some food near that tree over there


The baby went raaa raaa
The baby made happy sounds


The horse went naaaaaay
The horse neighed in a happy way


The cow went moo moo
The cow mooed in a happy way


The sheep went baah baah
The sheep bleated in a cheerful manner


The dog went baow baow
The dog barked in a joyful way


The goose went waaw waaw
The goose honked in a cheerful way


The duck went splishy sploshy
The duck quacked in a joyful manner


The hen went chipsy chopsy
The hen clucked in a cheerful manner


The cat went a fiddle I fee
The cat meowed in a happy way


Fiddle I fee
The cat meowed in a happy way


Well I bought me a woman
Moreover, I procured a woman


The woman pleased me
I was content with having the woman in my life


I fed my woman under yonder tree
I provided for the woman I cared for near that tree over there


The woman cried honey honey
The woman expressed affection for me


The baby went raaa raaa
The baby made happy sounds


The horse went naaaaaay
The horse neighed in a happy way


The cow went moo moo
The cow mooed in a happy way


The sheep went baah baah
The sheep bleated in a cheerful manner


The dog went baow baow
The dog barked in a joyful way


The goose went waaw waaw
The goose honked in a cheerful way


The duck went splishy sploshy
The duck quacked in a joyful manner


The hen went chipsy chopsy
The hen clucked in a cheerful manner


The cat went a fiddle I fee
The cat meowed in a happy way


Fiddle I fee
The cat meowed in a happy way




Writer(s): Traditional, Lawrence Irving Haron

Contributed by Joseph Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Moat Guy

Aussie version:
Well I saw a possum. The possum pleased me. I fed the possum in the old gum tree.
The possum went "Screech! Screech! Scree!"
Well I saw a dingo. The dingo pleased me. I fed the dingo by the old gum tree.
The dingo went "Owwwl! Owwwl!"
The possum went "Screech! Screech Scree!"
Well I saw an emu. The emu pleased me. I fed emu by the old gum tree.
The emu went "Boom boom boom!"
The dingo went "Owwl! Owwwl!"
The possum went "Screech! Screech! Scree!"
Well I saw a koala. The koala pleased me. I fed the koala in the old gum tree.
The koala went "Grunt grunt grunt!"
The emu went "Boom boom boom!"
The dingo went "Owwl! Owwwl!"
The possum went "Screech! Screech! Scree!"
Well I saw a kookaburra. The kookaburra pleased me. I fed the kookaburra in the old gum tree.
The kookaburra went "Ha ha ha!"
The koala went "Grunt grunt grunt!"
The emu went "Boom boom boom!"
The dingo went "Owwl! Owwwl!"
The possum went "Screech! Screech! Scree!"
Well I saw a kangaroo. The kangaroo pleased me. I fed the kangaroo by the old gum tree.
The kangaroo went "Boing boing!"
The kookaburra went "Ha ha ha!"
The koala went "Grunt grunt grunt!"
The emu went "Boom boom boom!"
The dingo went "Owwl! Owwwl!"
The possum went "Screech! Screech! Scree!"
Well I saw a platypus. The platypus pleased me. I fed the platypus by the old gum tree.
The platypus went "Splish splash! Splish splash!
The kangaroo went "Boing boing!"
The kookaburra went "Ha ha ha!"
The koala went "Grunt grunt grunt!"
The emu went "Boom boom boom!"
The dingo went "Owwl! Owwwl!"
The possum went "Screech! Screech! Scree!"
Well I saw a wombat. The wombat pleased me. I fed the wombat by the old gum tree.
The wombat went "Dig dig dig!"
The platypus went "Splish splash! Splish splash!
The kangaroo went "Boing boing!"
The kookaburra went "Ha ha ha!"
The koala went "Grunt grunt grunt!"
The emu went "Boom boom boom!"
The dingo went "Owwl! Owwwl!"
The possum went "Screech! Screech! Scree!"
Well I saw an echidna. The echidna pleased me. I fed the echidna by the old gum tree.
The echidna went "Waddle waddle waddle!"
The wombat went "Dig dig dig!"
The platypus went "Splish splash! Splish splash!
The kangaroo went "Boing boing!"
The kookaburra went "Ha ha ha!"
The koala went "Grunt grunt grunt!"
The emu went "Boom boom boom!"
The dingo went "Owwl! Owwwl!"
The possum went "Screech! Screech! Scree!"
Well I saw a python. The python pleased me. I fed the python in the old gum tree.
The python went "Hiss hiss!
The echidna went "Waddle waddle waddle!"
The wombat went "Dig dig dig!"
The platypus went "Splish splash! Splish splash!
The kangaroo went "Boing boing!"
The kookaburra went "Ha ha ha!"
The koala went "Grunt grunt grunt!"
The emu went "Boom boom boom!"
The dingo went "Owwl! Owwwl!"
The possum went "Screech! Screech! Scree!"
Well I saw a crocodile. The crocodile pleased me. I fed the crocodile by the old gum tree.
The crocodile went "Snap snap snap!"
The python went "Hiss hiss!
The echidna went "Waddle waddle waddle!"
The wombat went "Dig dig dig!"
The platypus went "Splish splash! Splish splash!
The kangaroo went "Boing boing!"
The kookaburra went "Ha ha ha!"
The koala went "Grunt grunt grunt!"
The emu went "Boom boom boom!"
The dingo went "Owwl! Owwwl!"
The possum went "Screech! Screech! Scree!"



Thomas Smith

Bought me a cat and the cat pleased me,
I fed my cat under yonder tree.
Cat goes fiddle-i-fee.
Bought me a hen and the hen pleased me,
I fed my hen under yonder tree.
Hen goes chimmy-chuck, chimmy-chuck,
Cat goes fiddle-i-fee.
Bought me a duck and the duck pleased me,
I fed my duck under yonder tree.
Duck goes quack, quack,
Hen goes chimmy-chuck, chimmy-chuck,
Cat goes fiddle-i-fee.
Bought me a goose and the goose pleased me
I fed my goose under yonder tree.
Goose goes hissy, hissy,
Duck goes quack, quack,
Hen goes chimmy-chuck, chimmy-chuck,
Cat goes fiddle-i-fee.
Bought me a sheep and the sheep pleased me,
I fed my sheep under yonder tree.
Sheep goes baa, baa,
Goose goes hissy, hissy,
Duck goes quack, quack,
Hen goes chimmy-chuck, chimmy-chuck,
Cat goes fiddle-i-fee.
Bought me a pig and the pig pleased me,
I fed my pig under yonder tree.
Pig goes oink, oink,
Sheep goes baa, baa,
Goose goes hissy, hissy,
Duck goes quack, quack,
Hen goes chimmy-chuck, chimmy-chuck,
Cat goes fiddle-i-fee.
Bought me a cow and the cow pleased me,
I fed my cow under yonder tree.
Cow goes moo, moo,
Pig goes oink, oink,
Sheep goes baa, baa,
Goose goes hissy, hissy,
Duck goes quack, quack,
Hen goes chimmy-chuck, chimmy-chuck,
Cat goes fiddle-i-fee.
Bought me a horse and the horse pleased me,
I fed my horse under yonder tree.
Horse goes neigh, neigh,
Cow goes moo, moo,
Pig goes oink, oink,
Sheep goes baa, baa,
Goose goes hissy, hissy,
Duck goes quack, quack,
Hen goes chimmy-chuck, chimmy-chuck,
Cat goes fiddle-i-fee.
Bought me a dog and the dog pleased me,
I fed my dog under yonder tree.
Dog goes bow-wow, bow-wow,
Horse goes neigh, neigh,
Cow goes moo, moo,
Pig goes oink, oink,
Sheep goes baa, baa,
Goose goes hissy, hissy,
Duck goes quack, quack,
Hen goes chimmy-chuck, chimmy-chuck,
Cat goes fiddle-i-fee



All comments from YouTube:

Moat Guy

Aussie version:
Well I saw a possum. The possum pleased me. I fed the possum in the old gum tree.
The possum went "Screech! Screech! Scree!"
Well I saw a dingo. The dingo pleased me. I fed the dingo by the old gum tree.
The dingo went "Owwwl! Owwwl!"
The possum went "Screech! Screech Scree!"
Well I saw an emu. The emu pleased me. I fed emu by the old gum tree.
The emu went "Boom boom boom!"
The dingo went "Owwl! Owwwl!"
The possum went "Screech! Screech! Scree!"
Well I saw a koala. The koala pleased me. I fed the koala in the old gum tree.
The koala went "Grunt grunt grunt!"
The emu went "Boom boom boom!"
The dingo went "Owwl! Owwwl!"
The possum went "Screech! Screech! Scree!"
Well I saw a kookaburra. The kookaburra pleased me. I fed the kookaburra in the old gum tree.
The kookaburra went "Ha ha ha!"
The koala went "Grunt grunt grunt!"
The emu went "Boom boom boom!"
The dingo went "Owwl! Owwwl!"
The possum went "Screech! Screech! Scree!"
Well I saw a kangaroo. The kangaroo pleased me. I fed the kangaroo by the old gum tree.
The kangaroo went "Boing boing!"
The kookaburra went "Ha ha ha!"
The koala went "Grunt grunt grunt!"
The emu went "Boom boom boom!"
The dingo went "Owwl! Owwwl!"
The possum went "Screech! Screech! Scree!"
Well I saw a platypus. The platypus pleased me. I fed the platypus by the old gum tree.
The platypus went "Splish splash! Splish splash!
The kangaroo went "Boing boing!"
The kookaburra went "Ha ha ha!"
The koala went "Grunt grunt grunt!"
The emu went "Boom boom boom!"
The dingo went "Owwl! Owwwl!"
The possum went "Screech! Screech! Scree!"
Well I saw a wombat. The wombat pleased me. I fed the wombat by the old gum tree.
The wombat went "Dig dig dig!"
The platypus went "Splish splash! Splish splash!
The kangaroo went "Boing boing!"
The kookaburra went "Ha ha ha!"
The koala went "Grunt grunt grunt!"
The emu went "Boom boom boom!"
The dingo went "Owwl! Owwwl!"
The possum went "Screech! Screech! Scree!"
Well I saw an echidna. The echidna pleased me. I fed the echidna by the old gum tree.
The echidna went "Waddle waddle waddle!"
The wombat went "Dig dig dig!"
The platypus went "Splish splash! Splish splash!
The kangaroo went "Boing boing!"
The kookaburra went "Ha ha ha!"
The koala went "Grunt grunt grunt!"
The emu went "Boom boom boom!"
The dingo went "Owwl! Owwwl!"
The possum went "Screech! Screech! Scree!"
Well I saw a python. The python pleased me. I fed the python in the old gum tree.
The python went "Hiss hiss!
The echidna went "Waddle waddle waddle!"
The wombat went "Dig dig dig!"
The platypus went "Splish splash! Splish splash!
The kangaroo went "Boing boing!"
The kookaburra went "Ha ha ha!"
The koala went "Grunt grunt grunt!"
The emu went "Boom boom boom!"
The dingo went "Owwl! Owwwl!"
The possum went "Screech! Screech! Scree!"
Well I saw a crocodile. The crocodile pleased me. I fed the crocodile by the old gum tree.
The crocodile went "Snap snap snap!"
The python went "Hiss hiss!
The echidna went "Waddle waddle waddle!"
The wombat went "Dig dig dig!"
The platypus went "Splish splash! Splish splash!
The kangaroo went "Boing boing!"
The kookaburra went "Ha ha ha!"
The koala went "Grunt grunt grunt!"
The emu went "Boom boom boom!"
The dingo went "Owwl! Owwwl!"
The possum went "Screech! Screech! Scree!"

John Lacroix

Takes me back to my childhood

Anna Hoff

My dad sand this to me when I was a kid, I love this, and this version only

karyn waladkewics

Aww me too

M Halikman

I bought me a wife
My wife pleased me

bruno581

LMAO!!!!!

charlie chats

First heard this in Primary School back in 1958.

mayhem123

LOVE THIS SONG

paullywog13

Who the hell, besides Ebenezer Scrooge, were the folks who disliked this song?

Shiteyanyo Stan

•slishy sloshy•

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