Mean-Eyed Cat

"Mean-Eyed Cat" (or "Mean Eyed Cat") is a song written and originally recorded by Johnny Cash.^[3][4]

"Mean-Eyed Cat"
Single by Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two
from the album Johnny Cash Sings Hank Williams
A-side	"Mean Eyed Cat" "Port of Lonely Hearts"
Released	October 1960 (1960-10)
Recorded	July 1955 (1955-07)
Genre	Rockabilly[1]
Label	Sun 347
Songwriter(s)	Johnny Cash[2]
Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two singles chronology
"Going to Memphis" (1960) "Mean-Eyed Cat" (1960) "Girl in Saskatoon" (1960)
Music video
"Mean-Eyed Cat" (audio only) on YouTube

The song was recorded by Cash at Sun Records on July 30, 1955.^[3] Sun released it as a single (Sun 347, with "Port of Lonely Hearts" on the opposite side)^{[5][6][7][8][9]} in October 1960,^[10][11][12] which was the last Sun release by Cash as he left the label for Columbia a few years earlier.

Cash also made a completely revised cover of this song for his 1996 album Unchained. ^[13][14]

Content

"Mean Eyed Cat" is an all-out rockabilly rave-up about a fellow who gives his woman money to shop at the general store, just so she can go and spend it on "store-bought cat food for her mean eyed cat." The cat conceit is stretched a bit, since that's the only time it's used in the song. She ultimately leaves him with a "Dear John" note on her pillow as he heads to town to bring her back. Again, the train becomes a symbol of escape and freedom, as the hard-pressed woman catches an eastbound train.

— John M. Alexander. The Man in Song: A Discographic Biography of Johnny Cash^[1]

Charts

Chart (1960)	Peak position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[15]	30