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Alley Cats Lyrics
Two people are alley cats
We have an unhappy cat
He is restless, needs attention, loses patience, seeks affection
Monkey grooms, blossom blooms
Do you dig germs, The Germs?
Well we wear each other's heads like hats
Speak in tongues like alley cats
Cradle them in both our laps
When we lie alone
Wear each others heads like hats
Speak in tongues like alley cats
Cradle them in both our laps
And we die alone
Well we sleep inside a blanket-y bed
Planted like the crocuses
In the song my mother said
She wanted us to sing
We sleep inside a blanket-y bed
Planted like the crocuses
And I wish my mother could
See the ring I got
Oh oh there is no pain I know...
The other night you said you might try to kill that thing I love
It is too strong for you, it is encased in glass and stone
The other night you said you might try to kill that thing I love
It is invincible, it is encased in glass and stone
You painted a song, you painted a song
It started when I was young and now it is in my lung
You painted a song, you painted a song
It started when I was young and now it is in my lung
Two people are alley cats
We have an unhappy cat
He is restless, needs attention, loses patience, seeks affection
Monkey grooms, blossom blooms
'Do You Dig Worms?' The worms?
We have an unhappy cat
He is restless, needs attention, loses patience, seeks affection
Monkey grooms, blossom blooms
Do you dig germs, The Germs?
Speak in tongues like alley cats
Cradle them in both our laps
When we lie alone
Speak in tongues like alley cats
Cradle them in both our laps
And we die alone
Planted like the crocuses
In the song my mother said
She wanted us to sing
Planted like the crocuses
And I wish my mother could
See the ring I got
It is too strong for you, it is encased in glass and stone
The other night you said you might try to kill that thing I love
It is invincible, it is encased in glass and stone
You painted a song, you painted a song
It started when I was young and now it is in my lung
You painted a song, you painted a song
It started when I was young and now it is in my lung
We have an unhappy cat
He is restless, needs attention, loses patience, seeks affection
Monkey grooms, blossom blooms
'Do You Dig Worms?' The worms?
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I'm convinced that around the "Oh there's no pain I know" bit that it's mixed with an alternate line (sung by Joe, I think) going "Oh, there is no pain I don't know." I'm probably just hearing things, but I like pretending that it says that as well. Maybe it was intentionally meant to sound similar, idk.
Anyway, it's a great song with great lyrics. So many different bits to love.
It sounds to me like the lines 'There's no pain I know' and 'There's a pain I know' are being played at the same time. Like they did in Ready for the Floor with 'You're my number one guy / girl'
It sounds to me like the lines 'There's no pain I know' and 'There's a pain I know' are being played at the same time. Like they did in Ready for the Floor with 'You're my number one guy / girl'
Anyway, this is my favourite song on One Life Stand
Anyway, this is my favourite song on One Life Stand
It says on Wikipedia "Taylor described "Alley Cats" as one of Goddard's more private songs and speculated that the song seemed "to partly be about his mother and wishing that she was alive to hear this song that he's singing". Taylor stated that the words of the chorus "relate to when you're feeling something that you really love is coming to an end, and saying that's not really possible"."
Whether it's intentional or not idk but 'Monkey groom's blossom blooms' is a reference to the Chinese story Monkey. Damon Albern did a musical of it and it's meant to be one of the most famous ancient Chinese stories.
Anyway, so the monkey character ascends to heaven and is given the title of groom, and then later on looks after this tree which he takes all the blossom and makes a magic potion. How it ties in with the next line is not obvious... or what it really adds to the song, but it's too specific to be an accident. Just so y'all know.
Hot Chip always makes bizarre and seemingly nonsensical lyrics (and likely nonsensical)
but damn do they back it up with beautiful sounds
haha what! this song is so thoughtful and it almost brings me to tears every time I hear it. And this album came out around the same time my mom died so that probably had a lot to do with it.
haha what! this song is so thoughtful and it almost brings me to tears every time I hear it. And this album came out around the same time my mom died so that probably had a lot to do with it.