Johnny Cash Mean Eyed Cat (1960) lyrics

Johnny Cash
Miscellaneous
Mean Eyed Cat (1960)
I give my woman half my money at the general store
I said now buy a little groceries, and don't spend no more
But she gave ten dollars for a ten-cent hat
And got some store bought cat food for her mean eyed cat

When I give her ten more dollars for a one-way ticket
She was mad as she could be
Then I bet ten more that if she ever left
She'd come a crawling back to me

When I woke up this morning and I turned my head
There wasn't a cotton-picking thing on her side of the bed
I found a little old note where her head belonged
It said, "Dear John, honey, baby, I'm long gone."

When I heard a whistle blowing and the big wheels a-turning
I was scared as I could be
I put on my overalls and I headed to town
Gonna bring her back with me


I asked the man down at the station if he'd seen her there
I told him all about her pretty eyes and long, blonde hair
He spit his tobacco, said, "I'll be dad blamed
I believe I did see her leaving on the east bound train."

I bought a round trip ticket on the eastbound train
I was broke as I could be
But when I come back, gotta buy another ticket
Gotta bring her back with me

Well, I got off the train somewhere in Arkansas
And I worked up the guts to call my Mother-In-Law
She said, "I'll tell you where she is, if you act right."
"She's working four to twelve at Trucker's World tonight."

When I walked in she saw me, and she took off her apron
And she grabbed her going home hat
She bought a ticket with her tips
And now we're curled up on the sofa
Me and her and that mean eyed cat