I saw a tanuki, its tails were numbered one
It beat upon its belly and it sang a fearsome song
I caught it and I put it in my menagerie
I caught it and I kept it, that one-tailed tanuki.
XXX
I saw a cat, its tails were numbered two
It hissed and it spat and its fur was coloured blue
I caught it and I put it in my menagerie
I caught it and I kept it with the one-tailed tanuki.
XXX
I saw a turtle, its tails were numbered three
It had one eye and turned a lake into a boiling sea
I caught it and I put it in my menagerie
I caught it and I kept it with the two-tailed cat
And the one-tailed tanuki.
XXX
I saw a monkey, its tails were numbered four
Its fur was red, its eyes were black, it roared a mighty roar
I caught it and I put it in my menagerie
I caught it and I kept it with the three-tailed turtle
And the two-tailed cat
And the one-tailed tanuki.
XXX
I saw a horse, its tails were numbered five
With its dolphin's head, it was the bizarrest thing alive
I caught it and I put it in my menagerie
I caught it and I kept it with the four-tailed monkey
And the three-tailed turtle
And the two-tailed cat
And the one-tailed tanuki.
XXX
I saw a slug, its tails were numbered six
It oozed white slime from every pore and spoke in hisses and clicks
I caught it and I put it in my menagerie
I caught it and I kept it with the five-tailed horse
And the four-tailed monkey
And the three-tailed turtle
And the two-tailed cat
And the one-tailed tanuki.
XXX
I saw a beetle, its tails were numbered seven
They say that when it catches you, it flings you higher than heaven
I caught it and I put it in my menagerie
I caught it and I kept it with the six-tailed slug
And the five-tailed horse
And the four-tailed monkey
And the three-tailed turtle
And the two-tailed cat
And the one-tailed tanuki.
XXX
I saw an ox, its tails were numbered eight
Its horns were as oak branches, its eyes were filled with hate
I caught it and I put it in my menagerie
I caught it and I kept it with the seven-tailed beetle
And the six-tailed slug
And the five-tailed horse
And the four-tailed monkey
And the three-tailed turtle
And the two-tailed cat
And the one-tailed tanuki.
XXX
I saw a fox, its tails were numbered nine
Just one glance at its lashing tails sent shivers down my spine
I caught it and I put it in my menagerie
I caught it and I kept it with the eight-tailed ox
And the seven-tailed beetle
And the six-tailed slug
And the five-tailed horse
And the four-tailed monkey
And the three-tailed turtle
And the two-tailed cat
And the one-tailed tanuki.