“Tom Cat Blues”

Description

Singer praises old "Ring Tail Tom" for his sexual prowess: "I got an old tom cat; When he steps out All the pussy cats in the neighborhood, They begin to shout, 'Here comes Ring Tail Tom, He's boss around the town...." Etc.

Notes

I can't tell without hearing them whether the two Cliff Carlisle recordings are the same performance, but they're clearly the same song. - PJS

Recordings

  • Cliff Carlisle, "Ringtail Tom" (Vocalion 02656, 1934); "Tom Cat Blues" (Vocalion 5492, 1940; on TimesAint04)
  • Jimmie Davis, "Tom Cat and Pussy Blues" (Bluebird B-6272, 1936)
  • New Lost City Ramblers, "Tom Cat Blues" (on NLCR01)

References

  1. Cohen/Seeger/Wood, p. 213, "Tom Cat Blues" (1 text, 1 tune)
  2. Silber-FSWB, p. 160, "Tom Cat Blues" (1 text)
  3. DT, TOMCATBL*
  4. BI, CSW213

About

Author: Probably Cliff Carlisle
Earliest date: 1934 (recording, Cliff Carlisle)
Found in: US(SE)