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"'''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'''" 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 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=%22Mean+Eyed+Cat%22+%22Port+of+Lonely+Hearts%22+%22Sun+347%22|year=2001|publisher=Helter Skelter|isbn=978-1-900924-22-1}}</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> 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 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> when Cash had already left the label for [[Columbia Records|Columbia]].


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&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>

Revision as of 02:57, 26 January 2019

"Mean-Eyed Cat"
Single by Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two
A-side"Mean Eyed Cat"
"Port of Lonely Hearts"
ReleasedOctober 1960 (1960-10)
Genrecountry
LabelSun 347
Songwriter(s)Johnny Cash[1]
Music video
"Mean-Eyed Cat" (audio only) on YouTube

"Mean-Eyed Cat" is a song written and originally recorded by Johnny Cash.[2][3]

The song was recorded by Cash at Sun Records on July 30, 1955.[2] Sun released as a single (Sun 347, with "Port of Lonely Hearts" on the opposite side)[4][5][6][7][8] in October 1960[9][10] when Cash had already left the label for Columbia.

Cash also made a "completely revised cover" of this song for his 1996 album Unchained (a Rick-Rubin produced follow-up to American Recordings.[11][12]

Composition

"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[13]

Charts

Chart (1960) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[14] 30

References

  1. ^ "Mean Eyed Cat / Port Of Lonely Hearts". Discogs. Retrieved 2019-01-20.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "Cover versions of Mean Eyed Cat by Johnny Cash". SecondHandSongs. Retrieved 2019-01-25.
  4. ^ John Edwards Memorial Foundation (1974). JEMF Quarterly. John Edwards Memorial Foundation.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Tim Neely (2004-05-01). Goldmine Records & Prices. Krause Publications. ISBN 978-0-87349-781-7.
  7. ^ Colin Escott; Martin Hawkins (1980). Sun Records: The Brief History of the Legendary Recording Label. Quick Fox. ISBN 978-0-8256-3161-0.
  8. ^ George Albert (1984-01-01). The Cash Box Country Singles Charts, 1958-1982. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-1685-5.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ The Johnny Cash Record Catalog. Greenwood Publishing Group. 1994. pp. 21–. ISBN 978-0-313-29506-5.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  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. ^ "Johnny Cash Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-01-25.
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