Stray Cat Blues
I remember the first time I heard the live version of Stray Cat Blues on "underground" FM radio. I thought it was fantastic. I always liked the "Beggars Banquet" version, but the live version was really something. It's played at a dirge like pace which gives it a very bluesy and solemn feel. The song like Ruby Tuesday is about the groupie scene. It relies heavily on the turnaround lines to connect the verses. There are only two choruses in the song. The two guitar players outdo themselves during the choruses and turnaround verses. Taylor's stinging lead lines in the left channel and Richards beautiful chord arpeggios in the right.
A. Structure:
Verse #1:
Line 1. I hear the click-clack of your...feet on the stairs
Line 2. I know you ain't no scare eyed...honey
Line 3. There'll be a feast if you just...come upstairs
Turnaround #1:
Line 4. It's no hangin' mat-tar no no
Line 5. It's no cap-i-tal crime
Verse #2:
Line 6. I can see that your just...thirteen years old
Line 7. I don't want your ID
Line 8. You look so lonesome and you, so far from home
(Marker #1 - "feedback sound" after "home" at :58)
Turnaround #2:
Line 9. It's no hangin' mat-tar noo
Line 10. It's no cap-i-tal crime
Chorus #1:
Line 11. Oh yeah, your a strange stray cat
Line 12. Yes, don't ya scratch like that
Line 13. Yeah, your a strange stray cat
Line 14. Bet your mama don't know that ya bite like that
Line 15. I bet she never heard ya scream like that
Verse #3:
Line 16. You look so lonesome and I'm so far from home
Line 17. But I don't really miss my mother
Line 18. Don't look so scared I'm not no...mad brained bear
Turnaround #3:
Line 19. It's no hangin' mat-tar noo
Line 20. It's no cap-i-tal crime
Line 21. Oh yeah
Instrumental Break: Incredible Taylor lead in the left channel
Verse #4:
NO Turnaround verse #4
(There is a faint trace of what was a vocal at 2:32)
Line 22. You say you got a friend she's wilder than you
Line 23. Why don't you bring her upstairs
Line 24. If she's so wild she can...join in too
Turnaround #5:
Line 25. It's no hangin' mat-tar noo
Line 26. It's no cap-i-tal crime
Chorus #2:
Line 27. Yeah, your a strange stray cat
Line 28. Yes, why don't ya bite like that
Line 29. Aw yeah, yeah, your a strange stray cat
Line 30. I bet your mama never saw ya scratch like that
Line 31. Bet she never saw ya bite like that
(Marker #2 - Keith ends the song with a string pull-off after the last chord)
B. Reference Recordings, Markers and Conclusions:
The comparisons that follow will reveal clues in evaluating "trends" in the variation. Note that the lyrics are consistently different from "Ya-Ya's" in lines 15 and 30-31.
1. Compared to MSG November 27, 1969 audience source
Markers:
Line 4: The line does not end with "no no"
Line 8: "Your", so far... instead of "you", so far
Line 9: Does not end with "noo"
Line 14: Middle of the line is changed to "never saw you" instead of "don't know that"
Line 15: The line ends with "saw ya scratch my back" instead of "heard ya scream like that"
Line 17: The line ends with "my old lady" instead of "mother"
Line 19: Jagger says "get it on Mick" at the end of the line
Line 21: Jagger says one "Oh yes"
Turnaround verse #4 IS present
Line 24: Add "then she can" join in too...
Line 25: "noo" is present at the end of the line
Line 27: Starts with "Oh" yeah...
Line 29: Starts with "My" your...
Line 30: The line ends with "bite like that" instead of "scratch like that"
Line 31: The line ends with "scratch my back" instead of "bite like that"
2. Compared to MSG November 28, 1969 2nd audience source
Markers:
Line 3: No "stairs" at the end of the line
Line 4: The line does not end with "no no"
Line 7: Starts with "No"
Line 8: Only says "far" and not "so far"
Line 9: Does not end with "noo"
Line 12: Starts with "Yeah" instead of "Yes"
Line 12: Ends with "bite like that" instead of "scratch like that"
Line 14: There is an added "bet she don't know" at the end of the line
Line 14: "you can" bite like that... instead of "that ya"...
Line 15: The line ends with "saw you scratch my back" instead of "heard ya scream like that"
Line 17: The line ends with "ma ma" instead of "mother"
Line 18: No "so" scared...
Line 19: The line does not end with "noo"
Line 21: Jagger says something unintelligible
Turnaround verse #4 IS present with an added "bet she don't"
Line 23: There is an added "you"
Line 25: Ends with a "whoo" instead of "noo"
Line 27: Starts with "Oh" yeah...
Line 28: Ends with "scratch like that" instead of "bite like that"
Line 29: No "Aw yeah"...
Line 30: Ends with "bite like that" instead of "scratch like that"
Line 31: Ends with "scratch my back" instead of "bite like that"
There is a "whoo" as the last chord rings out
3. Conclusions:
The "Ya-Ya's" source for Stray Cat Blues isn't MSG 11/27/69 or 11/28/69 2nd. The lack of a Turnaround verse #4 led to a detailed search for instrumental markers to see if only a live instrumental track was used. The musical markers from the "Ya-Ya's" version are barely distinguishable, but they are only one's easily attainable short of transcribing the various versions note-for-note. The lyrics in the Baltimore 11/26/69 version are as significantly different from the "Ya-Ya's" version as MSG 11/27/69 or 11/28/69 2nd (take my word for it). The music in my opinion is from Baltimore for the following reasons:
a. Marker #1 is present at 1:02 on the "Baltimore 1969" CD (there is a difference of + 4 seconds between the track starting points on "Baltimore 1969" and GYYYO CD's).
b. There is a second correlating reference:
The guitar solo starts at exactly the same point on both Baltimore and "Ya-Ya's" and lasts for 27 seconds until the Line 22 "You say you got a friend"... lyric starts.
Lyrical Trends:
a. Line 15: Is "scratch like that" on 14 of 14 shows checked on the 1969 US tour, and not "scream like that" as on "Ya-Ya's"
b. Turnaround #4: Exists on 13 of 14 shows checked on the 1969 US tour
c. Line 30: Is ""bite like that" on 13 of 14 shows checked on the 1969 US tour
d. Line 31: Is "scratch my back" on 13 of 14 shows checked on the 1969 US tour
The only exception to points b, c, & d is Champaign, Illinois, November 15, 1969. Lyrically the closest match to "Ya-Ya's", except for line 15 and other lyrical variations.
The Studio Version "Baseline" - Line 15, 30 & 31 comparison to "Beggars Banquet":
Line 15: Is ..."spit" like that
There is a Turnaround verse #4
Line 30: Is ..."bite" like that
Line 31: Is ..."scratch" my back
Theory:
a. The vocal is overdubbed
b. It was decided to leave out Turnaround #4 in the process of re-recording the vocal.
c. A string pull-off was overdubbed after the last chord of the song to replace the feedback that is present on the Baltimore audience recording.
Another scenario will be presented in light of the "Champaign Variation":
The song is MSG 11/28/69 1st by process of elimination (always the last resort) based on the following:
a. For some reason Jagger says "scream" like that on line 15 even though there is no other known precedent for this on 1969 live performances.
b. Jagger is late in getting back to the mic. after the solo and misses Turnaround verse #4.
c. The same lyrical switch made between lines 30 & 31 in Champaign is repeated at MSG 11/28/69 1st.