Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, Cramer grew up in the small town of Huttig, Arkansas, teaching himself to play the piano. After finishing high school, he returned to Shreveport, where he worked as a pianist for the Louisiana Hayride radio show.
In 1952, he made his way to Nashville at a time when the use of piano accompanists in country music was growing in popularity. Before long, Cramer would become one of the busiest studio musicians in the industry, playing piano for stars such as Elvis Presley, Brenda Lee, Patsy Cline, The Browns, Jim Reeves, Roy Orbison, Don Gibson and the Everly Brothers, and many others. It is Cramer's piano that is heard, for example, on Presley's first national hit, "Heartbreak Hotel."
However, Cramer remained a virtual unknown to anyone but music industry insiders until he recorded a 45 rpm single in 1960 called "Last Date." An instrumental, the music exhibited a relatively new concept for piano playing known as the "slip note" style. The record went to Number two on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music chart. By the mid-1960s, Cramer had become a respected performer, making numerous record albums and touring with guitar maestro Chet Atkins and saxophonist Boots Randolph.
Floyd Cramer died of lung cancer in 1997 at the age of 64 and was interred in the Spring Hill Cemetery in the Nashville suburb of Madison, Tennessee.
In 2003, he was inducted into both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee offers the "Floyd Cramer Competitive Scholarship."
What's New Pussycat?
Floyd Cramer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What's new pussycat whoa oh
Pussycat, pussycat, I've got flowers
And lots of hours to spend time with you
So go and powder your cute little pussycat nose
Pussycat, pussycat, I love you yes I do
You and your pussycat nose
What's new pussycat whoa
What's new pussycat whoa oh oh
Pussycat, pussycat, you're so thrilling
And I'm so willing to care for you
So go and make up your big little pussycat eyes
Pussycat, pussycat, I love you yes I do
You and your pussycat eyes
What's new pussycat whoa
What's new pussycat whoa oh oh
Pussycat, pussycat, you're delicious
And if my wishes can all come true
I'll soon be kissing your sweet little pussycat lips
Pussycat, pussycat, I love you yes I do
You and your pussycat eyes whoa
You and your pussycat nose
The lyrics to Floyd Cramer's song "What's New Pussycat?" are essentially about a man expressing his love and admiration for his significant other whom he calls "pussycat". The first verse talks about how the man has plenty of time to spend with his partner and presents her with flowers. He encourages her to make herself look even more beautiful by powdering her nose. The second verse focuses on the man's willingness to care for his partner and highlights her alluring eyes. He lovingly suggests that he will soon be able to kiss her lips if his wishes come true. The song ends with a repetition of the refrain, "What's new pussycat?"
Overall, the lyrics are quite simple and straightforward, expressing a desire to shower affection on one's partner. The use of the term "pussycat" may seem odd or even inappropriate by today's standards, but it is simply a term of endearment that was more common in the 1960s when the song was released.
Line by Line Meaning
What's new pussycat whoa
What's going on, my beloved?
What's new pussycat whoa oh
What's going on, my beloved?
Pussycat, pussycat, I've got flowers
Beloved, I have gifts and time to spend with you
And lots of hours to spend time with you
I have an abundance of time for you
So go and powder your cute little pussycat nose
Take some time for yourself, make yourself pretty for me, my beloved
Pussycat, pussycat, I love you yes I do
I love you very much, my darling
You and your pussycat nose
I love your nose, my beloved
Pussycat, pussycat, you're so thrilling
You excite me, my darling
And I'm so willing to care for you
I'm ready and eager to take care of you
So go and make up your big little pussycat eyes
Get dolled up and enhance your lovely eyes for me, my darling
Pussycat, pussycat, I love you yes I do
I love you very much, my darling
You and your pussycat eyes
I love your eyes, my darling
Pussycat, pussycat, you're delicious
You are delightful, my darling
And if my wishes can all come true
If everything goes my way
I'll soon be kissing your sweet little pussycat lips
I can't wait to kiss your sweet lips, my darling
You and your pussycat eyes whoa
You and your captivating eyes
You and your pussycat nose
I adore your nose, my darling
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Hal David, Burt Bacharach
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind