I got lumps in my throat when I saw her comin’ down the aisle
I got the wiggles in my knees when she looked at me and sweetly smiled
There she is again standin’ over by the record machine
Lookin’ like a model on the cover of a magazine
She’s too cute to be a minute over seventeen
Meanwhile I was thinkin’ …
If she’s in the mood, no need to break it
I got the chance and I oughta take it
If she will dance, we can make it
C’mon queenie, let’s shake it
Go, go, go, little queenie . . .
Tell me who’s the queen standin’ over by the record machine
Lookin’ like a model on the cover of a magazine
she’s too cute to be a minute over seventeen
Meanwhile, I was still thinkin’,
Well if it’s a slow one, we’ll omit it
If it’s a rocker, then we’ll get it
If it’s good, she’ll admit it
C’mon queenie, let’s get with it
Go, go, go, little queenie . . .
∇ ‘School Days’ ↓
‘School Days’, also known as «School Day (Ring! Ring! Goes the Bell)«), was written and recorded by rock and roll icon Chuck Berry and released by the Chess record label as a single in March 1957. Much of the song’s musical arrangement would later be reused in 1964 on «No Particular Place To Go«
Up in the mornin’ and out to school – The teacher is teachin’ the Golden RuleAmerican history and practical math – You studyin’ hard and hopin’ to pass
Workin’ your fingers right down to the bone And the guy behind you won’t leave you alone Ring, ring goes the bell
The cook in the lunch room’s ready to sell
You’re lucky if you can find a seat
You’re fortunate if you have time to eat Back in the classroom, open your books
Gee but the teacher don’t know how mean she looks Soon as three o’clock rolls around
You finally lay your burden down Close up your books, get out of your seat Down the halls and into the street
Up to the corner and ‘round the bend Right to the juke joint, you go in Drop the coin right into the slot You’re gotta hear somethin’ that’s really hot
With the one you love, you’re makin’ romance All day long you been wantin’ to dance, Feeling the music from head to toe Round and round and round we go Hail, hail rock and roll – Deliver me from the days of old
Long live rock and roll – The beat of the drum is loud and bold
Rock, rock, rock and roll – The feelin’ is there, body and soul.
∇ ‘No Particular Place To Go’ ⇓
Ridin’ along in my automobile – My baby beside me at the wheel
I stole a kiss at the turn of a mile – My curiosity runnin’ wild
Cruisin’ and playin’ the radio With no particular place to go.
Ridin’ along in my automobile – I’m anxious to tell her the way I feel,
So I told her softly and sincere, And she leaned and whispered in my ear
Cuddlin’ more and drivin’ slow, With no particular place to go.
No particular place to go, So we parked way out on the Kokomo
The night was young and the moon was bold
So we both decided to take a stroll
Can you imagine the way I felt?
I couldn’t unfasten her safety belt!
Ridin’ along in my calaboose – Still tryin’ to get her belt unloose
All the way home I held a grudge, But the safety belt, it wouldn’t budge
Cruisin’ and playin’ the radio With no particular place to go.
¤ ¤ ¤
¤ ‘You Never Can Tell’ («C’est La Vie») ⇓ [1964]
The song «You Never Can Tell», also called ‘C’est la vie’, describes a fictional wedding between a young couple and the events afterwards. Living in a modest apartment, the jobless young man finds work and, together with his spouse, they find prosperity. They use the money to expand their music collection and eventually purchase a family car to drive to New Orleans to celebrate their anniversary, where they had originally met. The chorus of the song is «‘C’est la vie’, say the old folks, ‘it goes to show you never can tell'»
◊→ ‘C’est la vie’ ⇐ (Live_1972)
It was a teenage wedding, and the old folks wished them well
You could see that Pierre did truly love the madamoiselle
And now the young monsieur and madame have rung the chapel bell,
«C’est la vie», say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell
They furnished off an apartment with a two room Roebuck sale
The coolerator was crammed with TV dinners and ginger ale,
But when Pierre found work, the little money comin’ worked out well
«C’est la vie», say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell
They had a hi-fi phono, boy, did they let it blast
Seven hundred little records, all rock, rhythm and jazz
But when the sun went down, the rapid tempo of the music fell
«C’est la vie», say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell
They bought a souped-up jitney, ‘twas a cherry red ’53,
They drove it down to Orleans to celebrate the anniversary
It was there that Pierre was married to the lovely madamoiselle
«C’est la vie», say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell
♦ Chuck Berry in CONCERT ↓ [London 1972]
• click titles for lyrics
01. Roll Over Beethoven 02. Sweet Little Sixteen
03. Memphis, Tennessee 04. South of the Border
05. Beer Drinking Woman 06. Can’t Stop the Train
07. Mean Old World (The Blues) 08. Carol
09. Rock’n’Roll Music 10. Nadine
11. My Ding-a-ling 12. Bye Bye Johnny
13. Bon Soir Cherie 14. Johnny B. Goode
÷ ÷ ÷ ÷
¤ Stray Cats
∴ ‘Wasn’t that good?’ ↑
Here’s a little game called hide and go seek
Put your hands over your eyes and please don’t peek
You stay here til I find you and when I find you baby I’ll tell you what to do
Wasn’t that good . . . Wasn’t that good – I love to play games with you
Here’s another game called kissing in the dark
We can play it in my room or over in the park
I’ll go turn the lights all out
and when the game is over you know what it’s about
Wasn’t that good – Wasn’t that good
Wasn’t that good – I love to play games with you
Here’s a little game called hide and go seek
Put your hands over your eyes and please don’t peek
You stay here til I find you
And when I find you baby I’ll tell you what to do
Baby wasn’t that good – Oh honey, wasn’t that good
Wasn’t that good – I love to play games with you
Wasn’t that good – Wasn´t that good – Wasn’t that good – Oh honey, wasn’t that good
Wasn’t that good – I love to play games with you
∴ ‘Stray Cat Strut’ ⇑
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh . . . Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Black and orange stray cat sittin’ on a fence
I ain’t got enough dough to pay the rent
I’m flat broke but I don’t care
I strut right by with my tail in the air
Stray cat strut, well, I’m a ladies cat
I’m a feline Casanova, hey man that’s that
Get a shoe thrown at me from a mean old man
Get my dinner from a garbage can
Don’t go crossing my path
Well, I don’t bother chasing mice around
I’m slinkin’ down the alleyway looking for a fight
Howling to the moonlight on a hot summer night
Singin’ the blues while the lady cats cry
«Wild stray cat, you’re a real gone guy»
I wish I could be as carefree and wild
But I got cat class and I got cat style . . .
◊→ ‘Rumble in Brighton Tonight’ ⇓
Well there’s the rockabilly cats with their pomps real high
Wearing black drape coats, all real gone guys
The cool skinheads with roll up jeans
Looking real tough and mighty mean
There’s a rumble in Brighton tonight
Ringside seats for the neighborhood fight,
There ain’t a Godddamn thing that the cops can do,
There’s a rumble in Brighton tonight.
They sew fish hooks under their colars,
Got razors in their shoes
«Go cat go» is their battle cry
World War Three is starting to brew
Well, the skinheads all use black jacks
And they’re looking mighty mean
They got chains wrapped around their fingers
And their heads are all shaven clean
There’s a rumble in Brighton tonight . . .
Well there ain’t a man left standing,
So let’s all go grab a beer
No team is a winner
So we’ll see you all next year
There’s a rumble in Brighton tonight . . .
Rumble in Brighton tonight – Rumble on the beach tonight . . .
Well man there ain’t a Goddamn thing that the cops can do,
So line back up for a side line view
Ringside seats for the neighborhood fight
There’s a rumble in Brighton tonight.
∇ ‘Cat Fight (Over A Dog Like Me)’ ⇓ [2019]
Two hot chicks, Joe’s Bar and Grill
Got into a tussle like bad girls will
Out of the bar to the parking lot
Fussing and a-cussing over what I got
From the parking lot took to the woods
You gotta know, honey, that I got the goods
Champagne blonde and a hot brunette
I’m about as fired up as you can get
(Cat fight) It’s what I’m talking about
(Cat fight) Yeah the claws came out
(Cat fight) Glory be
(Cat fight) Over a dog like me
Champagne blonde and a hot brunette
Fightin’ in the rain all soaking wet
In stiletto heels, throwing down
Those girls taking onto the ground
Rumbling, a-tumbling, a crazy loud
All that action drew a crowd
Cops showed up, long story short
They hauled us off to kangaroo court
(Cat fight) The fur was flying
(Cat fight) Ooh I ain’t lying
(Cat fight) Ooh-wee
(Cat fight) Over a dog like me
Miss Lady Judge, she banged her gavel
She said, «Hey Slim, let’s me and you travel»
Screw named Jane said, «Not so fast
Me and that boy could have a blast»
District Attorney said «I object,
I want me a piece of that, oh man, you bet»
The court went crazy, fur was flying
Them chicks was nuts, I ain’t lying
(Cat fight) That’s what I’m talking about
(Cat fight) Yeah the claws came out
(Cat fight) Ooh glory be
(Cat fight) Over a dog like me
(Cat fight) The fur was flying
(Cat fight) Ooh I ain’t lying
(Cat fight) Ooh-wee
(Cat fight) Over a dog like me
⇓ ‘Gene & Eddie’
Well be bop a lula she’s my baby
Well be bop a lula summertime blues
Well it’s something else man and you can’t lose
I’m gonna race with the devil and maybe I’ll win
And I’m gonna dance with skinny Jim
Well hang on tight you better get ready
We’re gonna rock with Gene and Eddie
Halleluja I love her so
bee I bickey bop bo bo go
Cut across shorty you can’t fail
She got a red blue jeans and a pony tail
Well hang on tight man you better get ready
Cause we’re gonna rock with Gene and Eddie
Well come on everybody let’s get together tonight
Say mama, can I go out tonight
Well I sure miss you and the twenty flight rock
Get your dungarees on let’s a blue jean bop
Well hang on tight you better get ready
Cause we’re gonna rock with Gene and Eddie . . .
¤ Band members’ follow-up careers
The Stray Cats have reunited periodically for live performances. Brian Setzer is still part of his 1990s swing-revival band The Brian Setzer Orchestra.
Lee Rocker continued recording and touring throughout the 1990s and on to today. His albums include Black Cat Bone and Racin’ the Devil on Alligator records as well as Bulletproof. In addition to the Stray Cats, Rocker has recorded or performed with Carl Perkins, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Willie Nelson, Leon Russell, Scotty Moore, Keith Richards and numerous others.
Slim Jim Phantom plays the drums in another rockabilly band, 13 Cats, as well as the Rock and Roll band The Head Cat with Lemmy (Motörhead) and Danny B. Harvey (13 Cats, RocKats). In 2007, Slim Jim Phantom formed Kat Men with Imelda May guitarist Darrel Higham.
◊ Brian Setzer Orchestra ↓ ‘Sexy Sexy’
Young, wild, hot, style She’s the one that’s on the ball – You know that chick’s really got it all We’re gonna rave up (se-se-sexy) We’re gonna roll it up (se-se-sexy) We’re gonna rock it up (se-se-sexy) We’re gonna live it up (se-se-sexy) If you can dream you can change the world (se-se-sexy, se-se-sexy) Swing, jive, jump, come alive Five foot five full of dynamite comes alive about twelve at night We’re gonna rave up (se-se-sexy) We’re gonna roll it up (se-se-sexy) We’re gonna rock it up (se-se-sexy) We’re gonna live it up (se-se-sexy) If you can dream you can change the world (se-se-sexy, se-se-sexy) There she goes and here I come – Out of all my girls, she’s my number one If you can dream you can change the world (se-se-sexy, se-se-sexy) We’re gonna rave up (se-se-sexy) We’re gonna roll it up (se-se-sexy) We’re gonna rock it up (se-se-sexy) . . .◊ ‘This Cat’s On A Hot Tin Roof’ ⇓
◊ ’13 Cats’ ↓
I got thirteen, thirteen, thirteen cats – Thirteen, thirteen, thirteen cats
Thirteen, thirteen, thirteen cats – But I’m the only dog in town . . .
He’s an Elvis sea cat, that’s for sure
Got a turban on the pompadour
A voodoo doll to stick with pins
Four flat tires, now I’m on the rims
I got thirteen, thirteen, thirteen cats …
Mama was a nun, daddy was a snake
Drown in wine one night and I’m the mistake
Life is a freeway, you know our friends
All my friends are thieves and tramps
I got thirteen, thirteen, thirteen cats …
I saw The Devil in Miss Jones
It messed with my teenage horo-mones
Now I need another line
One you sing, not the other kind
I got thirteen, thirteen, thirteen cats …
∇ Lee Rocker ⇓ ‘Dog House Shuffle’
… C’mon everybody, keep on moving, don’t be still
I don’t need no […?] baby, I don’t need no pill
I only need a little rhythm and a steady beat
Just use your little muscle and get up on your feet…
∇ . . . ‘Wild Child’ ⇓
Well I’m-a just outa school, like I’m real real cool
I gotta jump, gotta jive
Got the message I’m alive, I’m a wild wild one
Ooh I’m a wild one
I’m gonna keep a-shakin’, I’m gonna keep a-movin’ baby
Don’t you cramp my style – I’m a real wild child
Come on baby, shake it all night long
Shake until the meat comes off the bone
I’m a wild one
Ooooh , I’m a wild one
I’m gonna keep a-shakin’, I’m gonna keep a-movin’ baby
Don’t you cramp my style – I’m a real wild child
Well I’m gonna pick you up in my 88
Get ready sugar now, don’t be late
We’re gonna move it all night long
Until a whole lotta shakin’ going to be on!
I’m a wild one – Oooh , I’m a wild wild one
I’m gonna keep a-shakin’, I’m gonna keep a-movin’ baby
Don’t you cramp my style – I’m a real wild child
Whoa!
Well I really get to movin’ when the sun does down
After dark I can get around
Gonna move on, I’ll make every hop
When we start to boppin’ now sure can’t stop
I’m a wild one – Oooh , I’m a wild wild one
I’m gonna keep a-shakin’, I’m gonna keep a-movin’ baby
Don’t you cramp my style – I’m a real wild child
I’m a real wild child – Real Wild Child!
◊ The Head Cat ↓ ‘Not Fade Away’
Two, three, four … two, four, five.
I’m gonna tell you how it’s gonna be
you’re gonna give your love to me
I’m gonna love you night and day
You know my love and not fade away
My love bigger than a cadillac
I try to show it and you’re drivin’ me back
your love for me has got to be real
for you to know just how I feel
love is real and not fade away
love is real and not fade away
I’m gonna tell you how it’s gonna be
you’re gonna give your love to me
love to last I’m gonna have one day
well love is love and not fade away
well love is love and not fade away . . .
◊ The Head Cat ⇒ ‘Something Else’ ⇐
Uh-look-ah there – There she comes
Here comes that girl again
I haven’t seen her since I don’t know when
But she don’t notice me when I pass
She goes with older guys from out of my class
But that can’t stop me from-ah thinkin’ to myself
She’s sure fine lookin’ man – She’s somethin’ else
Hey look-ah here – What’s all this?
Workin’ hard and savin’ my dough
I ain’t going […?]
Get me that girl and we’ll go ridin’ around
Everybody shocked with my white top down
I’ll keep right on and dreamin’ and-ah thinkin’ to myself
When it all comes true, man – Wow! That’s somethin’ else
Look-ah here – What’s all this?
Never thought I’d do this before
But here I am ah-knockin’ on her door
My car’s out front and it’s all mine
Just a ’41 Ford not a ’59
I got that girl and I’m-ah thinkin’ to myself
She’s sure fine lookin’ man – Wow! She’s somethin’ else
◊ Kat Men ↓ ‘I’m Leavin’ it All Up to You’
Couldn’t hear you calling me last night
I’m still having nightmares from that fight
If you want to be my only one
Forget about this shout and let’s have fun
‘Cause I can’t help you, no babe
I won’t help you, no way
I’ve done it so many times, it’s true
Now I’m leaving it all up to you
I don’t need to be no lonely man
So just about a little if you can
I heard you laugh ‘cause I had to make you smile
Not everyday but just once a while
‘Cause I can’t help you, no babe
I won’t help you, no way
I’ve done it so many times, it’s true
Now I’m leaving it all up to you
How many times will you confess
The living with you was not the best
How many times we’ll walk away
Only to come back another day
I’ve done it so many times, it’s true
Now I’m leaving it all up to you
Let’s sit down and talk about the past
I’ll make it disappear in a flush
Tell me that you want to change
Our life will be better and not so strange
Then, I will help you, yes babe
Oh, I will help you, yeah babe
I’ve done it so many times, it’s true
Now I’m leaving it all up to you
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