Lyrics: Robert Hunter
Music: Jerry Garcia
Played regularly by Jerry Garcia with his solo bands from its introduction in 1977.
Cats on the blacktop
Birdy in the treetop
Someone plays guitar that
sounds like clavinette
I ain't ready yet
to go to bed
Think I'll take a walk
downtown instead
Cats on the bandstand
Give 'em each a big hand
Anyone who sweats that hard
must be all right
No one wants a fight
No black eye
Just another cat beneath
the stars tonight
Cats in the limelight
Feels like it's all right
Everybody wants something
they may not get
I ain't ready yet
It ain't complete
That's why I'm heading down
to Alley Cat Street
A satin blouse unbuttoning
Time's a stripper
Doing it just for you
Knock it in the brass tacks
Cover up you tracks, Jack
You ain't going nowhere till
you can pay your own way back
What else do you lack
to make it right
but cats down under
the stars tonight?
| Jerry Garcia Recordings | |||||
| Date | Album | Recorded By | |||
| studio 1978 | Cats Under The Stars | Jerry Garcia Band (note 1) | |||
| 18 Mar 1978 | Pure Jerry 6: Warner Theatre | Jerry Garcia Band | |||
| 22 Mar 1978 | Garcia Live Volume 4 | Jerry Garcia Band | |||
| 31 Oct 1987 | Pure Jerry 2: Lunt-Fontanne | Jerry Garcia Band | |||
| 2 Sep 1989 | Pure Jerry 5: Merriweather Post Pavilion | Jerry Garcia Band | |||
| 5 Sep 1989 | Fall 1989: The Long Island Sound | Jerry Garcia Band | |||
| 7 Aug 1990 | How Sweet It Is | Jerry Garcia Band | |||
| 23 Nov 1991 | Garcia Live Volume 8 | Jerry Garcia Band | |||
| 11 Nov 1993 | Garcia Live Volume 11 | Jerry Garcia Band | |||
| Other Recordings | |||||
| Date | Album | Recorded By | |||
| 1999 | Gathering On The Mountain, Live Part 2 | Melvin Seals | |||
| 2001 | Pickin' On Jerry Garcia | David West et al | |||
| 2012 | D'Eadphibians | D'Amphibiand | |||