Stray Cat Blues

The Rolling Stones · Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out [1970]

I hear the click-clack of your feet on the stairs

I know you're no scare-eyed honey.

There'll be a feast if you just come upstairs

But it's no hanging matter

It's no capital crime



I can see that you're fifteen years old

No I don't want your I.D.

You look so rest-less and you're so far from home

But it's no hanging matter

It's no capital crime



Oh yeah, you're a strange stray cat

Oh yeah, don'tcha scratch like that

Oh yeah, you're a strange stray cat

Bet your mama don't know you scream like that

I bet your mother don't know you can spit like that.



You look so weird and you're so far from home

But you don't really miss your mother

Don't look so scared I'm no mad-brained bear

But it's no hanging matter

It's no capital crime

Oh, yeah

Woo!



I bet your mama don't know that you scatch like that

I bet she don't know you can bite like that.



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

It's no hanging matter

It's no capital crime



Oh yeah, you're a strange stray cat

Oh yeah, don'tcha 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

Stray Cat Blues

Stray Cat Blues stands as a testament to The Rolling Stones' mastery of the blues idiom during their mid-1960s peak. Originally recorded in 1965, the track captures the band's raw energy and rhythmic drive, showcasing their ability to reinterpret traditional blues structures with a rock edge. While not a single from that era, it remains a fan favorite for its tight instrumentation and Keith Richards' distinctive guitar work. The song's enduring appeal is highlighted by its inclusion on Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out, a landmark live album that documents the band's explosive stage presence. This recording serves as a vital piece of their extensive catalogue, bridging their early blues roots with the harder rock sound that would define their subsequent decades. It remains a compelling example of their commitment to the genre's foundational elements.