Tommy The Cat

Album: Sailing the Seas of Cheese (1990)
Play Video
  • "Well I remember as it were a meal ago"

    Said Tommy the Cat as he reeled back to clear whatever foreign matter
    May have nestled its way into his mighty throat.
    Many a fat alley rat had met its demise while staring point blank down
    The cavernous barrel of this awesome prowling machine.
    Truly a wonder of nature this urban predator.
    Tommy the cat had many a story to tell,
    But it was a rare occasion such as this that he did.

    She came slidin' down the alleyway like butter drippin' off a hot biscuit.
    The aroma, the mean scent, was enough to arouse suspicion in even the
    Oldest of Tigers that hung around the hot spot in those days.
    The sight was beyond belief.
    Many a head snapped for double - even triple - takes as this vivacious
    Feline made her her way into the delta of the alleyway where the most
    Virile of the young tabbys were known to hang out.

    They hung in droves. Such a multitude of masculinity could only be
    Found in one place...
    And that was O'malley's Alley.

    The air was thick with cat calls (no pun intended),
    But not even a muscle in her neck did twitch as she sauntered up into
    The heart of the alleyway.
    She knew what she wanted.
    She was lookin' for that stud bull, she was looking for that he cat.
    And that was me.

    Tommy the Cat is my name and I say unto thee...

    Say baby do you want to lay down with me
    Say baby do you want to lay down by my side
    Ah baby do you want to lay down with me
    Say baby?...Say baby? Writer/s: LES CLAYPOOL, REID L. III LALONDE, TIMOTHY W. ALEXANDER, TODD HUTH
    Publisher: Downtown Music Publishing
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 4

  • Joe from MassachusettsThe statement that Tom Waits was an obscure artist in 1990 is absolutely false. He has recorded 10 major label albums by that time, including Rain Dogs in 1985.
    "Rain Dogs was ranked number 1 among the "Albums of the Year" for 1985 by NME. In later assessments, Pitchfork listed Rain Dogs as 8th best album of the 1980s, and Slant Magazine listed the album at number 14 on its list of "Best Albums of the 1980s".
    Rolling Stone listed it as number 21 on its list of "100 Best Albums of the Eighties," as well as listing the album at 399 and 357 in its 2012 and 2020 updates respectively of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. The album was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die."
  • Myke from Davis, CaMaybe it's about the movie "The Aristocats"? There is a "Thomas O'Malley" character in it... Maybe it's a coincidence...
  • Aaron from South C, AlI actually know a guy who grew up with Les Claypool in central California and played drums for a band called "Blind Illusions" His name is Bret Hern, and what he told me is Tommy the Cat is an actual guy that Les and Bret grew up with. He lives in Roseburg Oregon somewhere (Where Bret and I live).
  • Amy from Hartford, Ctbest bass ive ever heard in a song
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Keith Reid of Procol Harum

Keith Reid of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

As Procol Harum's lyricist, Keith wrote the words to "A Whiter Shade Of Pale." We delve into that song and find out how you can form a band when you don't sing or play an instrument.

Five Rockers Who Rolled With The Devil

Five Rockers Who Rolled With The DevilSong Writing

Just how much did these monsters of rock dabble in the occult?

George Harrison

George HarrisonFact or Fiction

Did Eric Clapton really steal George's wife? What's the George Harrison-Monty Python connection? Set the record straight with our Fact or Fiction quiz.

Mike Scott of The Waterboys

Mike Scott of The WaterboysSongwriter Interviews

The stories behind "Whole Of The Moon" and "Red Army Blues," and why rock music has "outlived its era of innovation."

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)Songwriter Interviews

Before "Rap" was a form of music, it was something guys did to pick up girls in nightclubs. Donnie talks about "The Rapper" and reveals the identity of Leah.

Petula Clark

Petula ClarkSongwriter Interviews

Petula talks about her hits "Downtown" and "Don't Sleep In The Subway," and explains her Michael Jackson connection.