"Everybody Wants to Be a Cat" is a 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.
Lyrics[]
Scat Cat: Everybody wants to be a cat
Because a cat's the only cat
Who knows where 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'Cause everything else is obsolete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!
O'Malley: A square with a horn
Makes you wish you weren't born
Scat: Every time he plays
O'Malley: But, with a square in the act
You can set music back
Scat: To the caveman days
Cha cha ba dum bo day
O'Malley: I've heard some corny birds
Who tried to sing
Scat: But 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...
O'Malley and Scat: ...When everybody wants to be a cat?
A square with a horn
Makes you wish you weren't born
Every time he plays
O'Malley: Oh a rinky tinky tinky
O'Malley and Scat: With a square in the act
You can set music back
To the caveman days
Marie: Oh a rinky tinky tinky
Marie, O'Malley, 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 has a welcome mat
'Cause everybody digs a swinging cat
(Instrumental bridge)
Duchess: If you want to turn me on
Play your horn, don't spare the tone
And blow a little soul into the tune
O'Malley: Let's take it to another key
Scat: Modulate, and wait for me
I'll take a few ad-libs and pretty soon...
O'Malley: The other cats will all commence
Congregatin' on the fence
Underneath the alley's only light
Duchess: Where every note is out of sight
Scat & Crew: Everybody, everybody, everybody wants to be a cat!
Scat: Hallelujah!
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: Hallelujah!
Scat & Crew: Everybody, everybody, everybody wants to be a cat...!
Alley cats: Everybody, everybody, everybody wants to be a cat!
Everybody, everybody, everybody wants to be a cat!
Frou-Frou: Everybody, everybody, everybody wants to be a cat!
Uncle Waldo: Everybody... Whoopee! Everybody wants to be a cat
Alley cats: Everybody, everybody, everybody wants to be...a...cat!
Ev'rybody wants to be a cat
Because a cat's the only cat
Who knows where it's at
Ev'rybody's pickin' up on the feline beat
'Cause ev'rything else is obsolete
Beware of a square
When he offers to share
His milk to sip
If it hasn't been tried
I suggest you provide
Your own catnip
I've heard some corny birds who tried to sing
But still a cat's the only cat
Who knows how to swing
A purr between two furry friends
May be old hat
But ev'rybody wants to be a cat
Interlude:
Come on, Scat Cat, turn me on
I'll take my horn and my beat tone
Then blow a little soul into the tune
Let's take it to another key
Modulate, then wait for me
I'll take a few ad libs and pretty soon
The other cats will all commence
Congregating on the fence
Beneath the alley's only light
Where ev'rything is out of sight
Videos[]
Trivia[]
- The song "Everybody Wants to Be a Cat" was later referenced in the live-action remake of 101 Dalmatians, which the puppies ended up watching before switching to Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey.
- The song was parodied in House of Mouse with "Everybody Wants to Be a Woof".
- Toulouse is the one saying "groovy mama groovy" and playing the piano, when it's supposed to be Berlioz, because Toulouse is an artist, and this goes for Berlioz obviously blowing the trumpet.
- 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.
- This song was also included on the VHS tape, Disney Sing Along Songs: The Bare Necessities, and was later reused for Disney Sing Along Songs: Circle of Life.
- The Sing Along Songs version removes Duchess' part.
