Gene Vincent, real name Vincent Eugene Craddock, (February 11, 1935 – Octob… Read Full Bio ↴Gene Vincent, real name Vincent Eugene Craddock, (February 11, 1935 – October 12, 1971) was an American rockabilly pioneer musician, best known for his hit Be-Bop-A-Lula. He performed with his backing band, the Blue Caps.

After Be-Bop-A-Lula had become a huge hit in 1956 (peaking at #7 and spending 20 weeks in the Billboard Pop Chart), Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps (often mis-named as 'the' Blue Caps) were unable to follow it up with the same level of commercial success, but released critically acclaimed songs like Race With The Devil (#96 in Billboard) and Bluejean Bop (#49).

Following a visit to Europe in 1959, Vincent managed to attract a new huge and discerning audience there, especially in England and France. By that time his career had mostly ended in the US. In 1960, while on tour in Britain, Vincent and songwriter Sharon Sheeley were seriously injured in a high-speed traffic accident. Vincent broke his ribs, collarbone, and added further damage to his already weak leg which he had injured in a motorcycle accident in 1955 and refused to have amputated, and Sheeley suffered a broken pelvis. Both Vincent and Sheeley survived, but the accident killed Vincent's tourmate and Sheeley's fiancé, Eddie Cochran.

Vincent subsequently moved to England in 1963. His stage shows became "must see" events and his bands through those years were to spawn some of the most respected players in the world today. It was during his early tours of Britain that he adopted the trademark leather outfit, at the suggestion of British Rock 'n' Roll impressario, Jack Good.

Wildcat
Gene Vincent Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Don't ever try, to tame a wild cat
You'd just be wastin' your time
Just leave like you found me
Don't put no cage around me, oh-no, not me

You want a lamb, but I'm a wild cat
If you just keep that in mind
I'll let you hug and pet me

And then you gotta let me go free
Let me be

You're a crazy, little kitten
But you just don't understand
Oh don't you chain me
Or try to train me
And you'll have me eatin' outta your hand

So don't forget that I'm a wild cat
And we'll just get along fine
The wild cat's what they name me
No kitten's gonna tame me, oh-no, not me
(move over tiger)

You're a crazy, a-little kitten
But you just don't understand
Oh don't you chain me
Or try to train me
And you'll have me eatin' outta your hand

So don't forget that I'm a wild cat
And we'll just get along fine
The wild cat's what they name me

No kitten's gonna tame me, oh-no, not me.
Oh-no, not me, oh-no, not me, oh-no

Overall Meaning

In the song Wildcat, Gene Vincent warns his lover not to try to tame him because he is like a wild cat that cannot be domesticated. He tells her that she cannot put any cage around him and must not try to train him like a lamb. Vincent explains that he will let her hug and pet him, but then she must allow him to be free. He also emphasizes that he is a wild cat and that is what they named him, implying that he was born to roam free and cannot be changed.

The lyrics of Wildcat serve as a metaphor for the freedom and wildness that is inherent in Gene Vincent's personality. He warns his lover not to try to change him into something he is not, and instead, he asks her to accept him for who he is. The song reflects Vincent's rebellious nature, which was a hallmark of his music and persona.

Line by Line Meaning

Don't ever try, to tame a wild cat
It's pointless trying to control or domesticate something that is naturally wild and untamed.

You'd just be wastin' your time
Attempting to change a wild cat's behavior is an exercise in futility.

Just leave like you found me
Accept me for who I am and don't try to change me.

Don't put no cage around me, oh-no, not me
I won't tolerate being confined, constrained, or restricted.

You want a lamb, but I'm a wild cat
You desire something meek and mild, but I am untamed and fierce.

If you just keep that in mind
As long as you understand this fundamental difference between us.

I'll let you hug and pet me
Despite my wild nature, I'm not opposed to affection and attention.

And then you gotta let me go free
But I won't stay subdued for long, and you must respect my need for independence.

Let me be
I want to live on my own terms and not be restricted by anyone.

You're a crazy, little kitten
You're naive and inexperienced, but have good intentions.

But you just don't understand
You're not fully aware of the risks and consequences of interacting with a wild cat like me.

Oh don't you chain me
Don't attempt to physically restrain or limit my movements.

Or try to train me
Don't try to teach me new behaviors or make me conform to your preferences.

And you'll have me eatin' outta your hand
If you respect my boundaries and allow me my autonomy, I will be more receptive to your gestures of kindness and affection.

So don't forget that I'm a wild cat
Always remember that my nature is untamed and unpredictable.

And we'll just get along fine
If we both acknowledge and respect our inherent differences, we can coexist harmoniously.

The wild cat's what they name me
I am known and respected for my fierce, untamed nature.

No kitten's gonna tame me, oh-no, not me
Even if others attempt to domesticate me or control my actions, I will always remain a wild cat at heart.

(move over tiger)
An additional exclamation of the singer's wild and untamed nature, likening themselves to the similarly fierce tiger.

Lyrics © A SIDE MUSIC LLC D/B/A MODERN WORKS MUSIC PUBLISHING, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JOE LOVANO

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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