Cat Man Blues- Blind Lemon Jefferson (TX) 1929
[From Paramount Pm 12921 recording. "Blind" Lemon Jefferson (Lemon Henry Jefferson; September 24, 1893 – December 19, 1929) recorded Cat Man Blues (the first 12 bar blues recording loosely based on Child 274- Our Goodman) on 24th September, 1929. It was unissued at the time then re-issued on JSP Box set Blind Lemon Jefferson. JSP7706 (4 CDs). An earlier traditional version of the "Our Goodman" ballad titled "I Labor So Far from Home" and recorded 3-15-1927 (another source has May, 1927) and was recorded for Paramount (also unissued at that time, never issued and now missing- only the text and lead sheets- with melody score- remain from the session).
A cover(?) of Cat Man Blues was sung by Piedmont bluesman Blind Boy Fuller. It was recorded on 29th April, 1936, Vocalion Vo 03134, Re-issued on Document CD Blind Boy Fuller, Volume 2, Document DOCD-5092.
R. Matteson 2013]
Cat Man Blues- "Blind" Lemon Jefferson Sept. 1929
Cat man, cat man, stay away from my house at night,
I said, cat man, cat man, stay away from my house at night,
Prowlin' around my back door when I'm gone, you know that ain't right.
When I come home last night I heard a noise, asked my wife, "What was that?"
When I come home last night I heard a noise, asked my wife, "What was that?"
She said, "Don't be so suspicious, that wasn't a thing but a cat."
I've been all through the world, I've taken all kinds of chance,
I've been all over the world, taken all kinds of chance,
I haven't seen a cat come home in a pair of pants.
I'm tired of cat rollin' man come to my home when I'm out,
I'm tired of this cat rollin' man come to my house when I'm out,
It's all because of my woman wore this mattress out.
Reason I call him cat man, he don't come round in the day,
Reason I call him cat man, he don't go around in the day,
Come around after midnight, steals my cream when I'm away.
Tell me a cat's got nine lives, honey, and I believe that's true,
Tell me a cat's got nine lives, honey, I believe that's true,
If the cat man has got nine lives, he's gonna need 'em when I get through.