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The Tragedy of Being a Cat

from The Cat Album by Tyler Shipley

/

lyrics

its snowing this afternoon, the start of winter
we're going to your brother's tonight he's making dinner
I wore a black sweater cos you guys all wear black
and I wanna fit in and be cool and not attract
undue attention to the way that I dress
which is sometimes pretty cool and sometimes a mess

and this black sweater is covered in
the fur of my cats yeah I bring em with
everywhere that I go, they're following me
their fur gets entangled in everything
and I'm so fucking grateful cos it helps me remembers
the love that I hold for those furry creatures

they don't do it intentionally
can't control if their fur gets on me
but I like to believe they want me to know
that they're thinking about me wherever I go
wondering if I'm bringing treats home
or if I'm staying out the night and leaving them alone

sometimes I carry a lot of guilt
when they're alone in the home we built
cos I don't know where I would be without them
they don't ask for much and they always forgive
if I leave it too long before their claws get a snip
if sometimes in my care for them I let a bit slip

I'm really nervous to write the next part
I know what I wanna say but I'm not sure how to start
cos my songs sometimes have a terrible predictive quality
I worry in a song and the worry becomes reality
and these cats are getting older so I don't need to say
what it is I don't wanna write I'm so afraid

I don't think I can do it
can we talk about something else
cos even starting to consider life after these cats
a lump is in my throat and I'm overwhelmed by the facts
that I'm not ready to accept so can we please change the subject
these cats are so sleepy I filled the dish but they haven't got up yet

and when I come home after a night out
to the front door they buzz around and meow
and I say 'hey little cazzos I missed you so much
tell me about your night while I fix you some lunch'
and they dramatically meow like they hadn't eaten in days
and I laugh and pet their heads and everybody's ok

and they listen when I play
they listen and they listen and they listen all day
especially the one whose fur is mostly grey
he just sits beside me and watches while I play

and he'll stare off into space
I think there's something comforting in the vibrations
and it makes him calm cos he knows I'm calm
and we feed off each other like a father and a son
and sometimes he gets up and walks away
which I take as a sign that the song has lost its way
and I'll stop writing until he comes back
or I'll put down the guitar and fill the dish up with snacks

cos it's not fucking important
whatever I'm writing will still be there in the morning
but every second with these cats is precious
from when they're curled in a ball to doing full body stretches
from their complete and utter indifference
to their anxiety and panic and persistence
from how hard they work to find the perfect position
to the look they give you when you interrupt a nap like 'how dare you what is this imposition'

and when they play with their octopus toy
it's been their favourite for years the little legs they enjoy
and then suddenly they're done with it
and they just walk away slowly and find a comfortable place to sit
I love their self-possession
they do things when they want masters of their own destiny
and yet, they still rely on me for love
and taking care of them may be the most important thing I've ever done

so I'm finishing this song on a plane
I'm flying from toronto to winnipeg
and there's a cat on board crying out in fear
I wish I could hold it and reassure it that everyone is here
but I won't see my own cats for four days
and it's so hard for them when I go away
wish I could text them 'hey guys what's up don't climb on the table
I love you and I miss you and I'll call you when I'm able'

but that's the tragedy of being a cat
you don't know when someone leaves if they're gonna come back
and I relate so hard to that feeling

credits

from The Cat Album, released November 5, 2020
Song by Tyler Shipley

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Tyler Shipley Toronto, Ontario

Tyler Shipley was the founding member of the Consumer Goods (theconsumergoods.bandcamp.com) and now performs as a solo artist.

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