Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats

Subject: Songs about cats
From: GUEST,Calico
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 12:01 AM

I tried to see if there were any previous threads about cat songs, but I kept coming up with everything with the name "mudcat" in it, not to mention "catcher," and any other word containing those three letters. So I am posting it from 'scratch," so to speak.

I am looking for songs for and about cats.

I am already familiar with Disney's "We Are Siamese, If You Please," as well as "The Cat Came Back" and "The Persian Kitty/a>."

Then there is "How Can I Keep From Purring?"

And, of course, "Just The Claws" ("Just Because")

And "Cat's In The Cradle"

What other ones are there?

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: Calach
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 01:28 AM

How about the parody of "All Around My Hat", which tells the tale of a cat pissing all over the place, and the owner's intentions of getting rid of it.
Called "All Around My Flat"

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: masato sakurai
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 01:51 AM

How about visiting this Cat Songs CD page or this page (of the same CD), and hearing samples?

Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 03:20 AM

You can search for @cat in our Digitrad and Forum Search to find Digital Tradition songs about cats. I have two favorites: Body in the Bag and Leon Rosselson's The Neighbour's Cat.
Do these "favorites" indicate that I have a negative opinion of cats? I'd rather not say. Cat lovers are vicious.
some of the cat songs in the Digital Tradition are:
Cameronian Cat
The Cat Came Back
Cat's in the Cradle
The Dundee Cat
I'm Going to Drown my Cat (I think I like this one)
Little Cat
My Grandmother's Cat
Overflowing Cat Box Blues
Throw Your Cat Away
Tom Cat Blues (Ring-Tail Tom)
Senor Don Gato
Feline Gravy
Nobody's Moggy Now (another favorite of mine)
The Cats are Taking Over
Wallifou Fa Cat
Della and the Dealer
There are more if you look for them....

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: GUEST,Calico
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 03:31 AM

I did not know how to do that kind of search, Joe. Thanks for the info.

Cal.

P.S., I love Della and The Dealer, and I had forgotten about Feline Gravy.

There's also a posting for "I Wanted a Kitten To Love Me."

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: Barbara
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 07:26 AM

The "All Around My Hat" parody is the one on Joe's list called "I'm Going to Drown My Cat", and yes, I like that one too, as well as NOBODY'S MOGGY'S LAND which is a wonderful take off on two Eric Bogle songs.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: Oversoul
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 09:17 AM

"Ring-Tailed Tom" via the New Lost City Ramblers. I can't remember their souce for this great cat song, but it is unique at any rate.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: SharonA
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 10:01 AM

Calico: There's a wonderful thread with many songs and blueclickeys to other references. It is named "BS: Songs for Cats...Corrrrrrrr." It was started by English Jon's Cat, hence the noise "corrrrrrrr". In fact, if you do a search on "corrrr" you'll come up with more words of wisdom from English Jon's Cat!

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: Midchuck
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 10:12 AM

Cats on the rooftops, cats on the tiles,
Cats with the clap and the crabs and the piles,
Cats with their butts all wreathed in smiles,
As they revel in the throes of fornication!

(From one of Oscar Brand's old Bawdy Songs records)

Peter

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: 2feathers
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 10:24 AM

Sorry, not bawdy. Just an old serenade from an outdoor male cat to his ladycat indoors. seems to get a chuckle whenever I bring it out at a sing.

<"Come y-out, come y-out, come y-out my little kitten>

<"nyot nyow">

<"come y-out, come-yout, come yout my little kitten?

<"Nyot nyow!

<"Come yout, come yout, come yout my little kitten? Nyow??">

<"Nyot nyow!">

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: CharlieA
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 10:41 AM

There's a Wierd Al Yankovich song called "cat in the kettle" a parody of "cat in the cradle". Not sure where to find it online but it must be findable. V funny one. Cxxx

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: LR Mole
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 10:56 AM

Tabby, Tabby, Tabby's in love...
Odd to be typing this in the week Troy Donohue passed on.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From:
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 11:21 AM

Cat in the Hat? Was thatt a song

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: SharonA
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 11:22 AM

No, that was a young Leslie Nielsen (spelling?) in the Tammy movie with Debbie Reynolds and Walter Brennan. Or were you thinking of a different movie? Donahue starred with Sandra Dee in "A Summer Place".

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: LR Mole
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 01:11 PM

Leslie Neilsen? Harry's brother? (creep, creep)

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 03:30 PM

The Persian Kitty, perfumed and fair
Went out in the yard to get some air
When a tom cat lean and lithe and strong
Dirty and ragged came along. Ect.

Also Mr. Mistoffiles and others from Andrew Lloyd Webbers's musical Cats have amused me for many hours. Its not folk music, but T.S. Eliot's poetry captured the true nature of cats (actually, I'm not sure cats even know what their true nature might be) and was complimented nicely by Webber's music.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 03:33 PM

I've heard a song about the "Poor Moggy" or some such, about a flat cat on the side of the road... really funny stuff!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: Mr Red
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 03:51 PM

not a song as far as I know but this was a schoolboy ditty I learned.
Quick, quick, the cats been sick.
Where? Where? Under the chair.
F**k it, F**k it, fetch a bucket.
All in vain, all in vain, the cat has licked it up again.
** HAND **

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: GUEST,K.K.
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 04:03 PM

I like cats, dead ones

They might eat rats, but so what

Shoot 'em with a shotgun, turn the pit bull loose and watch 'em run, or sack and sink kittens, its all good clean country fun

I like cats, dead ones

My neighbor had a Siamese cat, it was ill-tempered, lazy and fat But me and my Louisville Slugger did something about that

I like cats, dead ones

So give me a pot-bellied pig or even a snake, and leave cat ownership to the yuppies, senile old ladies, and fakes.

'Cause I like cats, dead ones

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: MAG
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 05:20 PM

"There are two means of escape from the miseries of life: music and cats." -- Schweitzer

I like Old Possum's book of Practical Cats, Arkie, but I disagree about the Webber reworking. He fucked up the narrative voice of the various cats. Glad I only paid half price to see it. -- MA

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: SINSULL
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 06:03 PM

Giant SIGGHHHH! I sent away four of my six kittens this week. One home is full of noisy kids, a dog, and another cat. I am worrying. Meantime, I made the mistake of naming the remaining two - Fred and Mickey. A family came today to choose one but left empty handed. I can't let Fred go - he started sleeping with me when he was three weeks old. And Mickey is so shy. God, I don't want six cats but do want Ed and Homey and Lizzie and Alice and Mickey and Fred...HELP!

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: SharonA
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 06:22 PM

I can sympathize! But I don't think I can take on another kitty to help you out (it would stress Artie, my 13-year-old mini-cat, and when Artie gets stressed he exhibits symptoms similar to diabetes!). Sorry about that.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: SummerGirl
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 07:21 PM

My (six) kitties say that six is a good number! But certainly no more.

Their favorite cat song is "Ev'rybody Wants to be a Cat" (From Disney's "The Aristocats")

<._) <. )

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: Lepus Rex
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 07:41 PM

My god, some awful anti-cat songs in there. I won't start a 'Which mudcatters are cat-ist?' thread, though. I can only think of Shonen Knife songs about cats, and no-one wants to know those, so... :)

Oh, sort of off topic, but here's a long-ass quote I like, directed at you cat-haters out there. :)

"Ever notice how aggressive alpha-male dog lovers are sometimes hostile toward cats, but how cat lovers almost universally NEVER say, 'I hate dogs?' Ever hear of a cat lover spinning a dog around by its tail? Truck drivers, overweight Sunday football fans who drink a lot of beer, CIA assassins, and 'Cats and Dogs' producer Andrew Lazar--all fellows I have trouble relating to, and all (I'll be willing to wager) dog lovers with frosty attitudes toward felines. Cat lovers tend to be more sensitive, more reflective, more thoughtful, less brutish and overt." --- Jeff Wells of Reel.com, about the movie 'Cats and Dogs.'

In other words, you're mean, and you SUCK! (no offense) ;)

---Lepus Rex

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: Charley Noble
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 07:48 PM

Barbara - Where did you dig up "Nobody's Moggy's Land"? Shockingly bad taste. I can hardly wait to dish it out at the next open mike.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: MAG
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 08:38 PM

Actually, Eric Bogle, who wrote Nobody's Moggie Now likes cats a lot. He just doesn't think they have much sense about things like running out in the street.

(My current family of cats has no sense; my previous littermate twosome were extremely bright -- neo-natal care, or something?)

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: GUEST,Calico
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 10:23 PM

Our house is a very, very fine house with two cats in the yard ... ."

Re: "Cats" and Webber's music. I actually like many of the songs, but when I saw "Cats" on the road, the orchestra drowned out just enough words that I could not quite understand most of the lines. (It was partly sloppy diction, but mostly over-orchestration.)

It was not until PBS aired "Cats," with captions available, that I really could appreciate many of the lyrics.

Cal.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: GUEST,Calico
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 10:32 PM

Thanks, Sharon, for the referral. Sounds like a gr-r-r-reat thr-r-read!

Thanks, by the way, to all you folks for your suggestions. Many of them --e.g., Alley Cat, Kitten On The Keys, Stray Cat Strut, The Cat In The Window --I'm familiar with but they had slipped my mind.

I'm eager to find that Ring-Tailed Tom song.

As a cat lover, I find some of the dead cat songs a bit disturbing -- but some are hilarious, too. (Kind of reminds me of the dead-baby joke craze of a few years back.) When my cats 'perfume' my carpet or use by laptop case as a scratching pad, I am nearly inspired to write one of my own. But then the little devils come up and snuggle and purr and, what can I say? (Reminds me of some old boyfriends.)

Calico

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: GUEST,Calico
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 10:36 PM

Yes, Lepus,

Can you imagine a cat lover sporting a bumper sticker on his/her car, saying, "Can't find your dog? Look under my tires?"

Not liking an animal is one thing, sadism is another.

Calico

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: MAG
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 11:00 PM

I saw "Cats" on Broadway (NY NY) and an still glad I paid half. Going from one artistic form to another always involves some reformatting, but the poems were not the same at all -- just Webber's raw material.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 Sep 01 - 03:08 AM

Pavane posted this one, which may or may not actually be about a cat: The Cat (click)

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: GUEST,Adolfo
Date: 07 Sep 01 - 07:32 AM

Wouldn't it be lovely if someone put music to IX century Irish poem "Pangur Ban and I"? The poem is so charming.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 07 Sep 01 - 08:23 AM

Some 30 years ago I heard a Pennsylvanian Dutch ditty:

Ayns, zway, dray,
Der cat's in der schnay.
Der schnay gayt aweck,
Der cat's in der dreck.

(One, two, three,
The cat is in the snow.
The snow diminshes,
The cat is in the mud).

I can't say whether it is "der cat's" (= cat is) or "der katz's" (Katz, as in Katzenjammer Kids, short form for Katze = cat).

The melody is found over here in Germany as a basic form for children's songs (e.g. alle meine Entchen = all my ducks).

Typing the translation it deemed to me that we are talking here about an old mudcat! Make it an anthem for mudcatters?

Wilfried

Click here for a thread on this song.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: GUEST,Hilljack
Date: 07 Sep 01 - 10:12 AM

This does not really relate to cat songs, but is "folky" enough to be of interest in terms of the cat vs. dog debate. In the old days, when people still "laid out" the dead in their homes, it was often necessary to sit up with the body as well as to make sure that all doors and windowns were secure. Why? Because cats in the vicinity tended to try to feed on the corpses given the opportunity. Pretty gross, but it does make you look at Tabby in a new light.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: GUEST,Calico
Date: 08 Sep 01 - 12:06 AM

then there were the three French kittens, named Un, Deux, and Trois. They all went down to the Seine and fell in. Do you know what happened next?

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: Troll
Date: 08 Sep 01 - 02:21 AM

Over the years, Garrison Keillor has done some very good cat songs on " A Prarie Home Companion". I don't know if they are available or not. Does anyone know him or know if the songs are out in book or CD form?
Hilljack, I'm mountain born and bred and I've never heard of such a thing. We sat wih the dead so they - and the survivors - would not be alone.

troll

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: SharonA
Date: 08 Sep 01 - 12:39 PM

Calico: No, I don't know. What happened next??

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 08 Sep 01 - 05:59 PM

try @cat and @deadcat in the search box. (this is Susan, not Dick)

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: weepiper
Date: 08 Sep 01 - 07:23 PM

Midchuck, do you have the rest of the words to 'Cats on the Rooftops'?

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: GUEST,Calico
Date: 08 Sep 01 - 09:11 PM

SharonA, When the three French Kittens went down to the Seine and fell in, Un, Deux, Trois, Quatre Cinq.

Calico

(You have to say it out loud. Then you can groan, even louder.)

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: MMario
Date: 08 Sep 01 - 09:28 PM

"Cats on the rooftops" is in the DT, isn't it?

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: GUEST,Calico
Date: 08 Sep 01 - 09:45 PM

Troll, thanks for mentioning Garrison Keillor's cat songs. I heard part of one that I think was called "I'm A Cat," that included a line like "I'm here and I wanna be there ...'cause I'm a cat." I really would like to get those lyrics ( and chords, since I'm not positive of the tune.)

Calico

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: Lee Shore
Date: 09 Sep 01 - 04:41 AM

Guest KK- Didn't you omit the third "K" on your i.d.? Jeffrey Dahmer started his illustrioius career on cats. You sound like a kindred soul, you bloody coward.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: Genie
Date: 09 Sep 01 - 10:51 PM

The Labour Day Song Challenge produced this cat verse to Woody Guthrie's "Hard Travellin."

From: mag'
Date: 04-Sep-01 - 11:12 PM

(for diabetics only)

I been doin' some exercise, I thought you knowed
I been walkin' and bicyclin' all over the road
Keep that BG meter happy
By cuttin' out the food that's crappy
I'm so tired of bein' heavy, Lord.

Hey, this is fun.

Kitty's got it too, Lord, I thought you knowed
She gets humulin every mornin', God what a load!
Chase her around and pin her down,
Hold that kitty on the ground,
I love that cat but this gets silly, Lord.

Genie

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 20-Jul-02.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: Genie
Date: 09 Sep 01 - 10:56 PM

Here's the other cat verse from the Labour Day Song Challenge
From: SINSULL
Date: 01-Sep-01 - 07:51 PM
Shop: Down The Road , Way Down The Road

I've been cleaning up after kittens, I thought you knowed
I've been cleaning up after kittens, way down the road
Poop on the sofa; and pee on the floor
Comin' next Tuesday, they're all out the door.
I've been cleaning up after kittens, Lord!

[Anybody want a kitten? Or two?]

Subject: Lyr Add: JUST THE CLAWS (S. W. Oates)
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Sep 01 - 11:06 PM

I mentioned this one above, but it's not in the forum or DT, so I thought I would add it.

JUST THE CLAWS
Tune: Just Because
Parody lyrics by S. W. Oates © 2001

Just because you sit there all purry;
Just because you strut like you're so hot;
Just because you may bring me something
--A pigeon or mouse you caught;
Though you make me spend lots of money,
I laugh and call you old Sandy Paws;
Well I do love you, kitty--everything, it's true,
But the claws, just the claws.

Just because you warm up my pillow,
Just because you rub 'gainst my leg
Just because you're playful and silly,
And use your meowing to beg.
Though you make your bed on my clean laundry,
And leave a trail with your old sandy paws,
Well I do love you, kitty--everything, it's true,
But the claws, just the claws.

Just because you're silky and furry,
Just because you chase butterflies
Just because you're seldom in a hurry,
And gaze with the look of the wise.
Though you make me act as your doorman,
And muss my dress with your old sandy paws,
Well I do love you, kitty--everything, it's true,
But the claws, just the claws.

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 20-Jan-03.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 10 Sep 01 - 02:50 AM

Calico,

over the weekend I scrutinized my archive and have to correct my mail of Sep. 7. You find the version at my page

http://www.uni-giessen.de/~gb1053/mudcat.htm/#katz

Here say rhymes better to shnay than dray.

Sing and enjoy

Wilfried

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: GUEST,Genie
Date: 12 Sep 01 - 12:28 AM

Can someone post the lyrics to "How Can I Keep From Purring?"

Genie

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: GUEST,Calico
Date: 25 Sep 01 - 03:29 AM

I don't want to post Betsy Wellings's lyrics (How Can I Keep From Purring) without her permission, but I will start a new thread to call attention to that song.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Songs about cats
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Sep 01 - 07:14 AM

Another (childish) rhyme with no tune attached as far as I know:

Oo-er oo-er oo-er
The cat fell down the sewer
I pulled the chain and up he came
Flying a chocolate aeroplane

Bon apetit!