The Invitation To The Jellicle Ball
Andrew Lloyd Webber · Cats [1981]
Jellicle cats come one come all
The Jellicle Moon is shining bright
Jellicles come to the Jellicle Ball
Jellicle cats come out tonight
Jellicles come to the Jellicle Ball
Jellicle cats come out tonight
Jellicle cats come one come all
The Jellicle Moon is shining bright
Jellicles come to the Jellicle Ball
Jellicle cats come out tonight
Jellicle cats come one come all
The Jellicle Moon is shining bright
Jellicles come to the Jellicle Ball
Jellicle cats meet once a year
At the Jellicle Ball where we all rejoice
And the Jellicle leader will soon appear
And make what is known as the Jellicle Choice
That's when Old Deuteronomy just before dawn
Through a silence you feel could cut with a knife
Announces the cat who can now be reborn
And come back to a different Jellicle life.
For waiting up there is the Heaviside layer
Full of wonders one Jellicle only will see
And Jellicles ask because Jellicles dare
Who will it be?
The Invitation To The Jellicle Ball
Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'The Invitation To The Jellicle Ball' serves as a pivotal moment within the 1981 musical Cats. This composition functions as a formal summons, gathering the feline community for their annual gathering where one cat will be chosen to ascend to the Heaviside Layer. The piece exemplifies Webber's signature theatrical style, blending operatic grandeur with accessible melodic structures that define his extensive body of work. As part of the Cats album, the recording captures the energetic atmosphere of the Jellicle tribe preparing for their night of celebration. The song remains a staple of the composer's discography, illustrating his ability to craft memorable musical narratives that have secured his place as a leading figure in modern musical theatre.