Stray Cat Blues

"Stray Cat Blues" is the eighth song on the Rolling Stones' album Beggars Banquet. It was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and produced by Jimmy Miller. Miller's production of the song is very representative of his style, featuring a very prominent hi hat beat, droning piano performed by Nicky Hopkins, a mellotron and a slide guitar are performed by Brian Jones, the rhythm guitar is performed by Richards and vocals from Jagger kept even in the mix. According to Mick Jagger the song was inspired by 'Heroin' by the Velvet Underground.

[Intro] Ah... hey Yeah, cat's own tail [Verse 1] I hear the click-clack of your feet on the stairs I know you're no scared-eyed honey There'll be a feast if you just come upstairs [Refrain] But it's no hanging matter It's no capital crime [Verse 2] I can see that you're fifteen years old No, I don't want your I.D And I can see that you're so far from home [Refrain] But that's no hanging matter It's no capital crime [Chorus] Oh yeah, you're a strange stray cat Oh yeah, don't you scratch like that Oh yeah, you're a strange stray cat I bet, bet your mama don't know you scream like that I bet your mother don't know you can spit like that [Verse 3] You look so weird, and you're so far from home Bet you really miss your mother Don't look so scared I'm no mad-brained bear [Refrain] But, but it's no hanging matter It's no capital crime [Chorus] Oh, yeah Woo! I bet your mama don't know that you scratch like that I bet she don't know you can bite like that [Verse 4] You say you got a friend, that she's wilder than you Why don't you bring her upstairs? If she's so wild, then she can join in too [Refrain] It's no hanging matter It's no capital crime [Chorus] Oh yeah, you're a strange stray cat Oh yeah, don't you scratch like that Oh yeah, you're a strange stray cat I bet you mama don't know you can bite like that I'll bet she never saw you scratch my back [Ad-libs]