MEAN EYED CAT


I gave 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 bought some store bought cat food for a 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 crawling back to me

when I woke up this morning and I turned my head
there was no cotton picking thing on her side of the bed
I found a little note where her head belonged
it said "dear John honeybaby : I'm long gone"
when I heard a whistle blowing and the big wheels 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 saying "I'll be dad blamed
I believe I saw her leaving on the east bound train"
I bought a round trip ticket on the east bound train • I was broke as I could be
but when I come back I gotta buy another ticket gonna 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 took off her apron and 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

                                                     johnny cash