There Are No Cats in America is a song from An American Tail. It is sung during the trip over to America by several mice (among them, Papa Mousekewitz).
Lyrics[]
(Song has not yet started yet)
Papa: Won't it be nice when we get to America, where we don't have to worry about cats anymore? There are no cats in America, but back home in Mother Russia...
Mice: (Sigh)
(Song begins)
Papa: Our family was traveling through the snow to Minsk
Suddenly, Papa saw those huge paw prints
When I heard him screaming, I fainted dead away
And I woke up an orphan
Mice: (Gasps)
Papa: Oy vey
Elderly female mouse: (Faints in fear)
Papa: But...
Mice: But...
But there are no cats in America
And the streets are paved with cheese
Oh, there are no cats in America
So set your mind at ease
(Laughing)
(Song temporarily stops)
Italian mouse: Ma la cosa terribile che esiste nella patria mia. (Elderly female mouse wakes back up)
Italian mouse: If you think things were bad in Russia, you should have seen things in my country! (Laughs)
(Song resumes)
Italian mouse: Times were hard in Sicily
We had no provolone
The Don: he was a tabby
With a taste for my brother, Tony
When Mama went to plead for him
The Don said he would see her
We found her rosary on the ground
Mice: (Gasps)
Italian mouse: (Kisses rosary) Poor mama mia!
Elderly mouse: (Faints in fear again)
Italian mouse: But...
Mice: But there are no cats in America
And the streets are paved with cheese
Oh, there are no cats in America
So set your mind at ease
(Laughing)
(Song temporarily stops)
Irish mouse: Sure, that's sad, but sadder still...
(Song resumes)
Irish mouse: When I was but a lad
I lost my true love fair
A calico
He caught us by surprise
In a flash of teeth and fur
Her tail was all he left of her
'Neath the heather
Is where it turra-lurra lies
Mice: (Gasps)
Irish mouse: But...
Mice: But there are no cats in America
And the streets are paved with cheese
Oh, there are no cats in America
(The lyrics "There are no cats in America" are repeated several times)
That's why
We sail
These seas
(Last note is held as song ends)
Soundtrack version[]
The version on the soundtrack has a few minor lyrical differences:
Papa: (Speaking) Won't it be nice when we get to America? In America, there are no cats, but back home in mother Russia
(Starts singing)
Papa: Our family was traveling through the snow to Minsk
Suddenly, Papa saw those huge paw prints
When I heard him screaming, I fainted dead away
And I woke up an orphan
Mice: (Gasps)
Papa: Oy vey
Elderly female mouse: (Faints in fear)
Papa: But...
Mice: But...
But there are no cats in America
And the streets are paved with cheese
Oh, there are no cats in America
So set your mind at ease
(Laughing)
(Song temporarily stops)
Italian mouse: Ma la cosa terribile che esiste nella patria mia. (Elderly female mouse wakes back up)
Italian mouse: If you think things were bad in Russia, you should have seen things in my country! (Laughs)
(Song resumes)
Italian mouse: Times were hard in Sicily
We had no provolone
The Don: he was a tabby
With a taste for my brother, Tony
When Mama went to plead for him
The Don said he would see her
We found her rosary on the ground
Mice: (Gasps)
Italian mouse: (Kisses rosary) Poor mama mia!
Elderly mouse: (Faints in fear again)
Italian mouse: But...
Mice: But there are no cats in America
And the streets are paved with cheese
Oh, there are no cats in America
So set your mind at ease
(Laughing)
(Song temporarily stops)
Irish mouse: Sure, that's sad, but sadder still...
(Song resumes)
Irish mouse: When I was but a lad
I lost my true love fair
A calico
He caught us by surprise
In a flash of teeth and fur
Her tail was all he left of her
'Neath the heather
Is where it turra-lurra lies
Mice: (Gasps)
Irish mouse: But...
Mice: But there are no cats in America
And the streets are paved with cheese
Oh, there are no cats in America
(The lyrics "There are no cats in America" are repeated several times)
That's why
We sail
These seas
(Last note is held as song ends)
Trivia[]
- The Universal Studios An American Tail Live Show version replaces the Italian mouse with Tony Toponi.
- The Italian mouse from the second verse of this song is the only nameless character that reappeared in sequels.
- It is suggested that the Italian mouse is possibly related to Tony Toponi in the second verse, as they are both from Sicily. Unfortunately, it is never shown that he reunited with Tony throughout the franchise.
- Papa Mouskewitz's parents' conflict is mentioned in Fievel's American Tails' episode, Aunt Sophie's Visit.
- In An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island, Mama Mousekewitz, still being ticked off about Papa's misinterpretation during the period they immigrated America, reminded Papa about the "There are no cats in America" rumor.
- The Irish mouse mentioned a horrid encounter with a Calico who probably represented the Orange Order as this variety of cat is partially orange.
- The Don which the Italian mouse mentioned from his country probably represented the mafia.
An American Tail | |
Characters | Papa Mousekewitz • Mama Mousekewitz • Tanya Mousekewitz • Fievel Mousekewitz • Yasha Mousekewitz • Tiger • Henri • Tony Toponi • Bridget • Gussie Mausheimer • Honest John • Warren T. Rat • Digit • Mott Street Maulers • Moe • The Bullying Orphans |
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Locations | Shostka, Russia • Statue of Liberty • New York • Castle Garden • Moe's Sweatshop • Orphan Alley |
Songs | There Are No Cats In America • Never Say Never • Somewhere Out There • A Duo |