The Cat Won't Work Tonight

Written by: 
J. Martyn
22 May 2000

Runnin' jumpin' standin' still a ghoul up there
Some goon up on Glastonbury Tor
Been itchin'

The cat can't work tonight
The cat just will not work tonight

I know that the cat won't work tonight
I tell you this cat won't work tonight

You can watch the sun fall in to my sweetest embrace
You can even try to show me some baptist better place
You can watch me as I try to fly
Watch the stars as your heart tries not to cry

The cat won't work, the cat won't work tonight
I'm tellin' you - the cat don't work, the cat don't work tonight
The cat won't work, the cat won't work tonight

Been itchin', been scratchin', been stoppin', been startin'
Got a face like a hatchet - mother like a spanner with a half shut knife
Out on the tiles with me all the time
Walkin', foolin', child's and wives

The cat won't work, won't work tonight
I tell you the cat won't work, won't work tonight - oh no
The cat won't work, the cat won't work tonight

Runnin' jumpin' standin' still
Like a goon up there on Goonhilly Down
Watch the dilly dilly run - huh, let them talents fall down

The cat won't work, the cat won't work tonight - I'm tellin' you
The cat can't work, the cat can't work tonight
Lookin' like a cat's paw, feelin' like a rabbits foot
Maybe get lucky but it must be good
The cat can't work, the cat don't work tonight

Too busy itchin' and scratchin' - lookin' the patch right over
Too busy scratchin' and itchin' - lookin'out for bitchin'
I tell you now the cat don't work
The cat don't work tonight
The cat don't work, the cat don't work tonight
The cat don't work, the cat don't work tonight

Some other time - send me a line...
Too busy itchin', scratchin', bitchin', hatchin' plots and scemes and plans...
Just can't work!
The cat don't work, the can don't work tonight...

sitenote:
Obscure lyric probably referring to a cancelled gig on the Cornish Eclipse Blues Festival (10 August 1999, Cornwall, St. Neot, Roscarrek Farm).

First release: