Everybody Wants to Be a Cat

Everybody Wants to Be a Cat Originally performed by Composer Lyrics Performer(s) Scatman Crothers, Phil Harris and Robie Lester Length 5:55 Films The Aristocats Shows Attractions Video games Albums The Aristocats Soundtrack McDonald's Celebrates Disney Music - Volume 3: Hero Songs Disney Timeless Classics Preceded by Thomas O'Malley Cat (song) Followed by Everybody Wants to Be a Cat (Reprise) Video

[Source]

"Everybody Wants to Be a Cat" is song featured in Disney's The Aristocats. This song is sung by Scatman Crothers as Scat Cat, Phil Harris as Thomas O' Malley, Thurl Ravenscroft as Billy Boss the Russian Cat, Robie Lester as Duchess and Liz English as Marie. It was also released as a now rare 45 rpm single, in a version sung only by Phil Harris, which lacks the cartoon voices of the common release. The soundtrack CD released in 1996 contains an edited version of the song. The lines sung by Shun Gon the Chinese cat, voiced by Paul Winchell, now seen as politically incorrect, are removed.

Lyrics

Scat Cat:
Well, little lady, let me elucidate here
Everybody
Wants
To be a cat
Because a cat's
The only cat
Who knows were it's at

Thomas O'Malley:
Tell me!
Everybody's pickin' up on that feline beat
'Cause everything else is obsolete

Scat:
Strickly high button shoes!

Thomas O'Malley:
A square with a horn
Makes you wish you weren't born

Scat:
Everytime he plays

Tom:
But, with a square in the act,
You can set music back

Scat:
To the cave man days
Cha cha ba dum bo day

Tom:
I've heard
Some corny birds
Who tried to sing

Scat:
Still a cat's
The only cat
Who knows how to swing

Billy Boss the Russian Cat:
Who wants to dig
A long haired gig
Or stuff like that...

Tom and Scat:
...When everybody
Wants
To be a cat?

A square with a horn
Makes you wish you weren't born
Everytime he plays

Tom:
Oh a rinky tinky tinky

Tom and Scat:
With a square in the act,
You can set music back
To the cave man days

Marie:
Oh a rinky tinky tinky

Marie, Tom and Scat:
Yes, everybody wants to be a cat
Because a cat's
The only cat
Who knows where it's at

While playin' jazz,
You always have
A welcome mat
'Cause everybody
Digs
A swinging cat

Shun Gon the Chinese Cat:
Oh, boy, fellas, lets rock this joint!

Billy Boss the Russian Cat:
Ha ha! Groovy, cats! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

Shun Gon the Chinese Cat:
Shanghai, Hong Kong, Egg Foo Yong! Hya ha ha ha ha ha!
Fortune cookie always wrong! Hya ha ha!
Now, that's a hot one! Hye he he!

(Harp begins)

Duchess:
If you want to turn me on,
Play your horn don't spare the tone,
And blow a little soul into the tune

Tom:
Let's take it to another key

Scat:
Modulate, and wait for me
I'll take a few ad-libs and pretty soon...

Tom:
The other cats will all commence
Congregatin' on the fence
Underneath the alley's only light

Duchess:
Where every note is out of sight

(Jazz music begins again)

Scat & Crew:
Everybody, everybody, everybody wants to be a cat!

Scat:
Hallejuah!

Scat & Crew:
Everybody, everybody, everybody wants to be a cat!

Scat:
I'm telling you!

Scat & Crew:
Everybody, everybody, everybody wants to be a cat!

Scat:
Yeah!

Scat & Crew:
Everybody, everybody, everybody wants to be a cat!

Scat:
Mmmm!

Scat & Crew:
Everybody, everybody, everybody wants to be a cat!

Scat:
Hallejuah!

Scat & Crew:
Everybody, everybody, everybody wants to be a cat...!

Scat:
I'm telling you...!