The luck of the cat

Under the bridge at the end of the lane 
Was a stray cat called Tom
Who was skinny and frail
He had no food or water
And nowhere to stay
All the shopkeepers scurried 
To shoo him away

He scavenged through bins
And drank from a puddle
Stealing scraps of old bones
He was always in trouble
His fur was all tatty 
Black with white stripes
And his eyes would reflect 
in the full moon at night

Until one day 
came a terrible visit 
Of Ten thousand rats 
Big , hungry and feral
No one could stop them  
From raiding the village
As they scurried through shops
That they ransacked and pillaged

Help me Tom cat !
I have rats I can't catch 
Will you chase them away 
So they'll never come back 

Tom was awoken by screams of shear terror
From the butcher , the baker
And Fishmonger together
They ran down the lane 
And under the bridge 
Where Tom was lay sleeping 
On a bed of old twigs 

The butcher said 'Tom'
Please make them retreat 
There's rats in my shop
And they're eating my meat
Before you could blink 
Tom jumped from his bed
His ears pricked up 
On the top of his head

Help me Tom cat !
I have rats I can't catch 
Will you chase them away 
So they'll never come back 

Next came the baker 
Please help me out mate
There's rats in my pantry
Gorging on cake 
Tom looked at the butcher
Then back to the baker 
His claws came out quick
And as sharp as a razor

Help me Tom cat !
I have rats I can't catch 
Will you chase them away 
So they'll never come back 

Up stepped the fishmonger
Please grant me one wish 
That you'll banish the vermin 
That's gutting my fish
Toms grin was so wide
His teeth were like knives
Not one of those rats
Will get out alive

Help me Tom cat !
I have rats I can't catch 
Will you chase them away 
So they'll never come back 

Tom set off up the lane
Valiant and brave 
To the infested shops
He was going to save 
But as he approached
It seemed they'd all gone 
As the place was deserted
From ten thousand to none

He turned and saw butcher 
Who was on the approach
With fishmonger and baker
Coming up close
He ruffled his whiskers 
And widened his eyes
'Look I've got rid of the rats for you guys'

From that day thereafter 
Tom ate like a lion
Lean steak and fresh fish
Cakes came once in a while
Now I'm not saying cats 
shouldn't play by the book 
But in life sometimes cats 
Need a stroke of good luck ?