Lyrics Cat's Meow - Mike Love

Cat's Meow

This is a song to set the record straight
Because before long its gonna be too late
To save the music from corporate oppression
We got to take back the radio stations
To all you producers and executives
So dedicated to churning out the hits
We don’t want to hear no more cheese
Auto tune pop bullshit
We want the roots not this Jawaiian candy
I remember a time we used to sing on the corner for nickels and dimes
Now I look around and how everything has changed
But somehow the music has always stayed the same throughout the changes
And its got me thinking that even when the world all around us is sinking
Jah music will always be living going strong
Long after humanity has been dead and gone, it will live on
And all these records will rot and decay
And only the vibrations will remain
And if the sound you made was pure and true
Your music it will live on long after you
So this is a message to you pop singers
All who have forgotten your roots and culture
This is a reminder
A simple thought to ponder
Are you yourself or are you just another
A beautiful face there on the MTV
An original or a carbon copy
Are you just one of them
Just trying to fit in
Is there an original bone in your body?
I remember a time when all the musicians would stand outside in a line
Just to get a chance to jump up on stage and blow
To see if you got the talent to give the people a show
Now its just all about who you know
Who’s ass you kiss in this puppet show
But there’s one thing that all of them don’t know
True music can never be bought or sold
So if American Idol is your favorite show
Well worshiping idols is a big no no
Cause if you worship wealth
Or if you worship yourself someday soon your true colors are gonna show
If glitter and glam is all you desire
Then sooner or later you’ll feel the fire
Licking up at your heels
Burning away all you conceal
Revealing the truth that’s hiding in your soul
So we give respect to all musicians unchained and free
All of them who are playing for the Love and never the Love of money
This is a song for you all
We’re all one big family
Whether you play roots, rock, jazz, blues, hip-hop, or r&b
This is a call to the people
All the singers and players
The poets and painters
Dancers and appreciators
All who play music for the good of the greater
Who know all music comes from Jah the Creator
Gotta free up the music
Gotta free up the culture
And leave these corporate music industry vultures
Gotta keep the music pure forever
And give the people something fresh and innovative
Unexpected and creative
Something they can all relate with
We gotta mix it up
Gotta change it up
Rearrange it up
And give them lyrics that will make them think cause we are standing on the
brink
Rastaman, give yourself a pat on the back
And pick up the slack
Cause we gotta keep on trodding til we reach the Zion heights above
And we gotta keep the music flowing in a positive direction
Give the people a reflection of Jah Love
So man if you ain’t got the message by now
Original music is the cat’s meow
So turn your radio up
And roll your windows down
And let the people hear you sing it out loud
We got to free up Jah music