Ballad Of Cat Ballou
King Crimson · Other Songs - King Crimson
For you're now about to hear
The ballad of cat ballou
It's a song that's newly made
And professus and the shade
And the sunrise kid are singin' it for you
Cat ballou, cat ballou
It's a hangin' day in wolf city, wyomin'
Wolf city, wyomin', eighteen ninety four
They're gonna drop cat ballou
Through the gallows floor
She killed a man in wolf city, wyomin'
Wolf city, wyomin', killed a man it's true
And that is why they're a-hangin'
Hangin' cat ballou
She has the smile of an angel
(fights like the devil)
The eyes of an angel
(bites like the devil)
The face of an angel
(i say she's the devil)
(she's mean and evil through and through)
Cat ballou, cat ball-ou-ou-ou
She's mean and evil through and through
With her outlaw band they're now tellin' a story
Now tellin' a story how she rode the plain
The wildest gal in the we-est
Since calamity jane
And today's the day that she's goin' to glory
She's goin' to glory for the way she sinned
They'll be a-speedin' her soul
On a wayward wind
She has the smile of an angel
(fights like the devil)
The eyes of an angel
(bites like the devil)
The face of an angel
(i say she's the devil)
(she's mean and evil through and through)
Cat ballou (cat ballou)
Cat ball-ou-ou-ou (cat ballou)
She's mean and evil through and through
Cat ballou, cat ball-ou-ou-ou
She's mean and evil through and through
Ballad Of Cat Ballou
King Crimson's "Ballad Of Cat Ballou" stands as a distinctive song within the band's expansive and often experimental catalogue. The track draws its narrative inspiration from the 1965 Western film, adapting the cinematic story into a musical format that reflects the group's signature progressive rock sensibilities. While the band is frequently associated with complex time signatures and intricate instrumental passages, this piece offers a more narrative-driven approach, showcasing their ability to blend storytelling with sophisticated composition. The recording captures the essence of the era's artistic cross-pollination, where film and music intersected to create new forms of expression. As part of their broader discography, the song highlights the group's willingness to explore diverse thematic territories beyond traditional rock structures, cementing their reputation for innovation and artistic depth.