[Skat Cat, spoken:]
Well little lady, let me elucidate here
(sung)
Everybody wants to be a cat
Because a cat's the only cat
Who knows where it's at
[Tom:]
Tell me
Everybody's pickin' up on that feline beat
'Cause everything else is obsolete
A square with a horn makes you wish you weren't born
[Skat:]
Ever'time he plays
[Tom:]
But with a square in the act
You can set music back
[Skat:]
To the cave man days, cha cha ba dum bo day
[Tom: ]
I've heard some corny birds who tried to sing
[Skat:]
Still a cat's the only cat who knows how to swing
[Ba**: ]
Who wants to dig a long-haired gig or stuff like that?
[Tom and Skat:]
When everybody wants to be a cat
A square with a horn makes you wish you weren't born
Ever'time he plays;
[Tom:]
Oh a-rinky tinky tinky
[Tom and Skat:]
With a square in the act, you can set music back
To the cave man days
[Marie:]
Oh a-rinky tinky tinky
[Tom:]
Yes
[Marie, Tom & Skat]
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
[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
[Skat:]
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
Beneath the alley's only light
[Duchess:]
Where every note is out of sight
[Jazz music begins again]
[Skat & Crew:]
Everybody, everybody, everybody wants to be a cat! (Hallelujah!)
Everybody, everybody, everybody wants to be a cat! (I'm telling you!)
Everybody, everybody, everybody wants to be a cat! (Yeah!)
Everybody, everybody, everybody wants to be a cat! (Mmm)
Everybody, everybody, everybody wants to be a cat! (Hallelujah!)
Everybody, everybody, everybody wants to be a cat...