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{{Infobox song
{{Infobox song
| name = Mean-Eyed Cat
| name = Mean-Eyed Cat
| cover =
| cover =
| alt =
| alt =
| type = single
| type = single
| artist = [[Johnny Cash]] and the Tennessee Two
| artist = [[Johnny Cash]] and the Tennessee Two
| album =
| album = [[Johnny Cash Sings Hank Williams]]
| A-side = "Mean Eyed Cat"<br>"[[Port of Lonely Hearts]]"
| A-side = "Mean Eyed Cat"<br>"[[Port of Lonely Hearts]]"
| B-side =
| B-side =
| released = {{start date|1960|10|}}
| released = {{start date|1960|10|}}
| format = 7" vinyl
| recorded = {{start date|1955|07|}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| studio =
| venue =
| venue =
| genre = [[country music|country]]
| genre = [[Rockabilly]]<ref name="Alexander2018 (page 29)"/>
| length =
| length =
| label = [[Sun Records|Sun]] <small>347</small>
| label = [[Sun Records|Sun]] <small>347</small>
| writer = [[Johnny Cash]]<ref>{{cite web
| writer = Johnny Cash<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.discogs.com/Johnny-Cash-And-The-Tennessee-Two-Mean-Eyed-Cat-Port-Of-Lonely-Hearts/master/982904
|url=https://www.discogs.com/Johnny-Cash-And-The-Tennessee-Two-Mean-Eyed-Cat-Port-Of-Lonely-Hearts/master/982904
|title=Mean Eyed Cat / Port Of Lonely Hearts
|title=Mean Eyed Cat / Port Of Lonely Hearts
|website=[[Discogs]]|accessdate=2019-01-20}}</ref>
|website=[[Discogs]]|year=1960
|accessdate=2019-01-20}}</ref>
| producer =
| producer =
| prev_title =
| prev_title = Going to Memphis
| prev_title2 =
| prev_title2 =
| prev_year =
| prev_year = 1960
| next_title =
| next_title = [[Girl in Saskatoon]]
| next_title2 =
| next_title2 =
| next_year =
| next_year = 1960
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|8nG13w3QsjQ|"Mean-Eyed Cat" (audio only)|link=no}}}}<!-- Johnny Cash official channel -->
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|8nG13w3QsjQ|"Mean-Eyed Cat" (audio only)|link=no}}}}<!-- Johnny Cash official channel -->
}}
}}
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"'''Mean-Eyed Cat'''" (or "'''Mean Eyed Cat'''") is a song written and originally recorded by [[Johnny Cash]].<ref name="Smith1999">{{cite book|author=John L. Smith|title=Another Song to Sing: The Recorded Repertoire of Johnny Cash|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vysKAQAAMAAJ&q=%22Mean+Eyed+Cat%22+%22July+30,+1955%22|date=1 January 1999|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=978-0-8108-3629-7}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://secondhandsongs.com/performance/130414|title=Cover versions of Mean Eyed Cat by Johnny Cash|website=SecondHandSongs|accessdate=2019-01-25}}</ref>
"'''Mean-Eyed Cat'''" (or "'''Mean Eyed Cat'''") is a song written and originally recorded by [[Johnny Cash]].<ref name="Smith1999">{{cite book|author=John L. Smith|title=Another Song to Sing: The Recorded Repertoire of Johnny Cash|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vysKAQAAMAAJ&q=%22Mean+Eyed+Cat%22+%22July+30,+1955%22|date=1 January 1999|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=978-0-8108-3629-7}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://secondhandsongs.com/performance/130414|title=Cover versions of Mean Eyed Cat by Johnny Cash|website=SecondHandSongs|accessdate=2019-01-25}}</ref>


The song was recorded by Cash at [[Sun Records]] on July 30, 1955.<ref name="Smith1999" /> Sun released it as a [[single (music)|single]] (Sun 347, with "[[Port of Lonely Hearts]]" on the opposite side)<ref name="Foundation1974">{{cite book|author=John Edwards Memorial Foundation|title=JEMF Quarterly|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yh7aAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Mean+Eyed+Cat%22+%22Port+Of+Lonely+Hearts%22+%22Sun+347%22|year=1974|publisher=John Edwards Memorial Foundation}}</ref><ref name="Whitburn2002 and 2005">{{cite book|author=Joel Whitburn|title=Top Country Singles, 1944 to 2001: Chart Data Compiled from Billboard's Country Singles Charts, 1944-2001|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AZszAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Mean+Eyed+Cat%22+%22Sun+347%22|year=2002|publisher=Record Research|isbn=978-0-89820-151-2}}<br>{{cite book|author=Joel Whitburn|title=Joel Whitburn's Top Country Songs: 1944-2005, Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OC4KAQAAMAAJ&q=%22Mean+Eyed+Cat%22+%22Sun+347%22|year=2005|publisher=Record Research|isbn=978-0-89820-165-9}}</ref><ref name="Neely2004">{{cite book|author=Tim Neely|title=Goldmine Records & Prices|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fuIXAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Mean+Eyed+Cat%22+%22Port+of+Lonely+Hearts%22+%22Sun+347%22|date=2004-05-01|publisher=Krause Publications|isbn=978-0-87349-781-7}}</ref><ref name="EscottHawkins1980">{{cite book|author1=Colin Escott|author2=Martin Hawkins|title=Sun Records: The Brief History of the Legendary Recording Label|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XgUwAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Mean+Eyed+Cat%22+%22Port+of+Lonely+Hearts%22|year=1980|publisher=Quick Fox|isbn=978-0-8256-3161-0}}</ref><ref name="Albert1984">{{cite book|author=George Albert|title=The Cash Box Country Singles Charts, 1958-1982|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t5BHAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Mean+Eyed+Cat%22+%22Sun+347%22|date=1984-01-01|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=978-0-8108-1685-5}}</ref> in October 1960<ref name="Lewry2001">{{cite book|author=Peter Lewry|title=I've Been Everywhere: A Johnny Cash Chronicle|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ocQK9YBdRhkC&q=%22October+Mean+Eyed+Cat+Port+Of+Lonely+Hearts+Sun+347+released%22|year=2001|publisher=Helter Skelter|isbn=978-1-900924-22-1|quote=<br>October<br>“Mean Eyed Cat"/"Port Of Lonely Hearts” (Sun 347) released.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Johnny Cash Record Catalog|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9ihbEBcJEx4C&pg=PA21&dq=%22Sun+347%22|year=1994|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-313-29506-5|pages=21–}}</ref><ref name="EscottHawkins2011 and EscottHawkins2017">{{cite book|author1=Colin Escott|author2=Martin Hawkins|title=Good Rockin' Tonight: Sun Records and the Birth of Rock 'n' Roll|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EQZoSIW67k4C&pg=PT415&dq=%22Mean+Eyed+Cat%22+%22Port+of+Lonely+Hearts%22+347+%22Oct.+1960%22|date=2011-03-01|publisher=Open Road Media|isbn=978-1-4532-1314-8|pages=415–}}<br>{{cite book|author1=Colin Escott|author2=Martin Hawkins|title=Good Rockin' Tonight: Sun Records and the Birth of Rock 'N' Roll|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XpknDwAAQBAJ&q=%22Mean+Eyed+Cat%22+%22Port+of+Lonely+Hearts%22+347|date=1 August 2017|publisher=St. Martin's Press|isbn=978-1-250-18211-1}}</ref> when Cash had already left the label for [[Columbia Records|Columbia]].
The song was recorded by Cash at [[Sun Records]] on July 30, 1955.<ref name="Smith1999" /> Sun released it as a [[single (music)|single]] (Sun 347, with "[[Port of Lonely Hearts]]" on the opposite side)<ref name="Foundation1974">{{cite book|author=John Edwards Memorial Foundation|title=JEMF Quarterly|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yh7aAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Mean+Eyed+Cat%22+%22Port+Of+Lonely+Hearts%22+%22Sun+347%22|year=1974|publisher=John Edwards Memorial Foundation}}</ref><ref name="Whitburn2002 and 2005">{{cite book|author=Joel Whitburn|title=Top Country Singles, 1944 to 2001: Chart Data Compiled from Billboard's Country Singles Charts, 1944-2001|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AZszAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Mean+Eyed+Cat%22+%22Sun+347%22|year=2002|publisher=Record Research|isbn=978-0-89820-151-2}}<br>{{cite book|author=Joel Whitburn|title=Joel Whitburn's Top Country Songs: 1944-2005, Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OC4KAQAAMAAJ&q=%22Mean+Eyed+Cat%22+%22Sun+347%22|year=2005|publisher=Record Research|isbn=978-0-89820-165-9}}</ref><ref name="Neely2004">{{cite book|author=Tim Neely|title=Goldmine Records & Prices|url=https://archive.org/details/goldminerecordsp00neel|url-access=registration|quote=Mean Eyed Cat Port of Lonely Hearts Sun 347.|date=2004-05-01|publisher=Krause Publications|isbn=978-0-87349-781-7}}</ref><ref name="EscottHawkins1980">{{cite book|author1=[[Colin Escott]]|author2=Martin Hawkins|title=Sun Records: The Brief History of the Legendary Recording Label|url=https://archive.org/details/sunrecordsbriefh00esco|url-access=registration|quote=Mean Eyed Cat Port of Lonely Hearts.|year=1980|publisher=Quick Fox|isbn=978-0-8256-3161-0}}</ref><ref name="Albert1984">{{cite book|author=George Albert|title=The Cash Box Country Singles Charts, 1958-1982|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t5BHAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Mean+Eyed+Cat%22+%22Sun+347%22|date=1984-01-01|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=978-0-8108-1685-5}}</ref> in October 1960,<ref name="Lewry2001">{{cite book|author=Peter Lewry|title=I've Been Everywhere: A Johnny Cash Chronicle|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ocQK9YBdRhkC&q=%22October+Mean+Eyed+Cat+Port+Of+Lonely+Hearts+Sun+347+released%22|year=2001|publisher=Helter Skelter|isbn=978-1-900924-22-1|quote=<br>October<br>“Mean Eyed Cat"/"Port Of Lonely Hearts” (Sun 347) released.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Johnny Cash Record Catalog|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9ihbEBcJEx4C&q=%22Sun+347%22&pg=PA21|year=1994|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-313-29506-5|pages=21–}}</ref><ref name="EscottHawkins2011 and EscottHawkins2017">{{cite book|author1=[[Colin Escott]]|author2=Martin Hawkins|title=Good Rockin' Tonight: Sun Records and the Birth of Rock 'n' Roll|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EQZoSIW67k4C&q=%22Mean+Eyed+Cat%22+%22Port+of+Lonely+Hearts%22+347+%22Oct.+1960%22&pg=PT415|date=2011-03-01|publisher=Open Road Media|isbn=978-1-4532-1314-8|pages=415–}}<br>{{cite book|author1=[[Colin Escott]]|author2=Martin Hawkins|title=Good Rockin' Tonight: Sun Records and the Birth of Rock 'N' Roll|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XpknDwAAQBAJ&q=%22Mean+Eyed+Cat%22+%22Port+of+Lonely+Hearts%22+347|date=1 August 2017|publisher=St. Martin's Press|isbn=978-1-250-18211-1}}</ref> which was the last Sun release by Cash as he left the label for [[Columbia Records|Columbia]] a few years earlier.


Cash also made a completely revised cover of this song for his 1996 album ''[[Unchained (Johnny Cash album)|Unchained]]'' (a [[Rick Rubin|Rick-Rubin]] produced follow-up to ''[[American Recordings (album)|American Recordings]]''.<ref name="Alexander2018 (page 229)">{{cite book|author=John M. Alexander|title=The Man in Song: A Discographic Biography of Johnny Cash|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CJlHDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA229&dq=%22Mean+Eyed+Cat%22|date=16 April 2018|publisher=University of Arkansas Press|isbn=978-1-61075-628-0|pages=41–}}</ref><ref name="Turner2005">{{cite book|author=Steve Turner|title=The Man Called CASH: The Life, Love and Faith of an American Legend|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6qaANnvGwGkC&pg=PT246&dq=%22Mean+Eyed+Cat%22|date=30 October 2005|publisher=Thomas Nelson|isbn=978-1-4185-7809-1|pages=246–}}</ref>
Cash also made a completely revised cover of this song for his 1996 album ''[[Unchained (Johnny Cash album)|Unchained]]'' (a [[Rick Rubin|Rick-Rubin]] produced follow-up to ''[[American Recordings (album)|American Recordings]]''.<ref name="Alexander2018 (page 229)">{{cite book|author=John M. Alexander|title=The Man in Song: A Discographic Biography of Johnny Cash|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CJlHDwAAQBAJ&q=%22Mean+Eyed+Cat%22&pg=PA229|date=16 April 2018|publisher=University of Arkansas Press|isbn=978-1-61075-628-0|pages=41–}}</ref><ref name="Turner2005">{{cite book|author=Steve Turner|title=The Man Called CASH: The Life, Love and Faith of an American Legend|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6qaANnvGwGkC&q=%22Mean+Eyed+Cat%22&pg=PT246|date=30 October 2005|publisher=Thomas Nelson|isbn=978-1-4185-7809-1|pages=246–}}</ref>


== Composition ==
==Content==
{{quote|"Mean Eyed Cat" is an all-out rockabilly rave-up about a fellow who gives his woman money to shop at the general store, just so she can go and spend it on "store-bought cat food for her mean eyed cat." The cat conceit is stretched a bit, since that's the only time it's used in the song. She ultimately leaves him with a "Dear John" note on her pillow as he heads to town to bring her back. Again, the train becomes a symbol of escape and freedom, as the hard-pressed woman catches an eastbound train.|source=John M. Alexander. ''The Man in Song: A Discographic Biography of Johnny Cash''<ref name="Alexander2018 (page 29)">{{cite book|author=John M. Alexander|title=The Man in Song: A Discographic Biography of Johnny Cash|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CJlHDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA29&dq=%22Mean+Eyed+Cat%22|date=16 April 2018|publisher=University of Arkansas Press|isbn=978-1-61075-628-0|pages=41–}}</ref>}}
{{quote|"Mean Eyed Cat" is an all-out rockabilly rave-up about a fellow who gives his woman money to shop at the general store, just so she can go and spend it on "store-bought cat food for her mean eyed cat." The cat conceit is stretched a bit, since that's the only time it's used in the song. She ultimately leaves him with a "Dear John" note on her pillow as he heads to town to bring her back. Again, the train becomes a symbol of escape and freedom, as the hard-pressed woman catches an eastbound train.|source=John M. Alexander. ''The Man in Song: A Discographic Biography of Johnny Cash''<ref name="Alexander2018 (page 29)">{{cite book|author=John M. Alexander|title=The Man in Song: A Discographic Biography of Johnny Cash|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CJlHDwAAQBAJ&q=%22Mean+Eyed+Cat%22&pg=PA29|date=16 April 2018|publisher=University of Arkansas Press|isbn=978-1-61075-628-0|pages=41–}}</ref>}}


== Charts ==
== Charts ==
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{{Johnny Cash}}
{{Johnny Cash}}

{{authority control}}


[[Category:Johnny Cash songs]]
[[Category:Johnny Cash songs]]

Latest revision as of 06:48, 3 July 2023

"Mean-Eyed Cat"
Single by Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two
from the album Johnny Cash Sings Hank Williams
A-side"Mean Eyed Cat"
"Port of Lonely Hearts"
ReleasedOctober 1960 (1960-10)
RecordedJuly 1955 (1955-07)
GenreRockabilly[1]
LabelSun 347
Songwriter(s)Johnny Cash[2]
Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two singles chronology
"Going to Memphis"
(1960) 		"Mean-Eyed Cat"
(1960) 		"Girl in Saskatoon"
(1960)
Music video
"Mean-Eyed Cat" (audio only) on YouTube

"Mean-Eyed Cat" (or "Mean Eyed Cat") is a song written and originally recorded by Johnny Cash.[3][4]

The song was recorded by Cash at Sun Records on July 30, 1955.[3] Sun released it as a single (Sun 347, with "Port of Lonely Hearts" on the opposite side)[5][6][7][8][9] in October 1960,[10][11][12] which was the last Sun release by Cash as he left the label for Columbia a few years earlier.

Cash also made a completely revised cover of this song for his 1996 album Unchained (a Rick-Rubin produced follow-up to American Recordings.[13][14]

Content[edit]

"Mean Eyed Cat" is an all-out rockabilly rave-up about a fellow who gives his woman money to shop at the general store, just so she can go and spend it on "store-bought cat food for her mean eyed cat." The cat conceit is stretched a bit, since that's the only time it's used in the song. She ultimately leaves him with a "Dear John" note on her pillow as he heads to town to bring her back. Again, the train becomes a symbol of escape and freedom, as the hard-pressed woman catches an eastbound train.

— John M. Alexander. The Man in Song: A Discographic Biography of Johnny Cash[1]

Charts[edit]

Chart (1960) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[15] 30

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b John M. Alexander (16 April 2018). The Man in Song: A Discographic Biography of Johnny Cash. University of Arkansas Press. pp. 41–. ISBN 978-1-61075-628-0.
  2. ^ "Mean Eyed Cat / Port Of Lonely Hearts". Discogs. 1960. Retrieved 2019-01-20.
  3. ^ a b John L. Smith (1 January 1999). Another Song to Sing: The Recorded Repertoire of Johnny Cash. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-3629-7.
  4. ^ "Cover versions of Mean Eyed Cat by Johnny Cash". SecondHandSongs. Retrieved 2019-01-25.
  5. ^ John Edwards Memorial Foundation (1974). JEMF Quarterly. John Edwards Memorial Foundation.
  6. ^ Joel Whitburn (2002). Top Country Singles, 1944 to 2001: Chart Data Compiled from Billboard's Country Singles Charts, 1944-2001. Record Research. ISBN 978-0-89820-151-2.
    Joel Whitburn (2005). Joel Whitburn's Top Country Songs: 1944-2005, Billboard. Record Research. ISBN 978-0-89820-165-9.
  7. ^ Tim Neely (2004-05-01). Goldmine Records & Prices. Krause Publications. ISBN 978-0-87349-781-7. Mean Eyed Cat Port of Lonely Hearts Sun 347.
  8. ^ Colin Escott; Martin Hawkins (1980). Sun Records: The Brief History of the Legendary Recording Label. Quick Fox. ISBN 978-0-8256-3161-0. Mean Eyed Cat Port of Lonely Hearts.
  9. ^ George Albert (1984-01-01). The Cash Box Country Singles Charts, 1958-1982. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-1685-5.
  10. ^ Peter Lewry (2001). I've Been Everywhere: A Johnny Cash Chronicle. Helter Skelter. ISBN 978-1-900924-22-1.
    October
    "Mean Eyed Cat"/"Port Of Lonely Hearts" (Sun 347) released.
  11. ^ The Johnny Cash Record Catalog. Greenwood Publishing Group. 1994. pp. 21–. ISBN 978-0-313-29506-5.
  12. ^ Colin Escott; Martin Hawkins (2011-03-01). Good Rockin' Tonight: Sun Records and the Birth of Rock 'n' Roll. Open Road Media. pp. 415–. ISBN 978-1-4532-1314-8.
    Colin Escott; Martin Hawkins (1 August 2017). Good Rockin' Tonight: Sun Records and the Birth of Rock 'N' Roll. St. Martin's Press. ISBN 978-1-250-18211-1.
  13. ^ John M. Alexander (16 April 2018). The Man in Song: A Discographic Biography of Johnny Cash. University of Arkansas Press. pp. 41–. ISBN 978-1-61075-628-0.
  14. ^ Steve Turner (30 October 2005). The Man Called CASH: The Life, Love and Faith of an American Legend. Thomas Nelson. pp. 246–. ISBN 978-1-4185-7809-1.
  15. ^ "Johnny Cash Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-01-25.
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