Josie and the Pussycats are a fictitious rock band, created in 1969 by Dan … Read Full Bio ↴Josie and the Pussycats are a fictitious rock band, created in 1969 by Dan DeCarlo for an Archie Comics publication of the same name. The three characters who form the band include leader Josie McCoy (vocals, guitar), Valerie Brown (vocals, bass, tambourine), and Melody Valentine (vocals, drums).

"Josie and the Pussycats" evolved from DeCarlo's "She's Josie" comic, first published by Archie in 1963. The change in format came about as a result of the success of The Archies in the books, on television, and on the pop charts. When "Josie and the Pussycats" migrated to a Saturday morning cartoon in 1970 (courtesy of Hanna-Barbera Productions), a full Pussycats album and several singles were released on Captiol Records. These recordings feature Cathy Doguher as the singing voice of Josie, with Patrice Holloway (sister of Motown singer Brenda Holloway) as Valerie, and Cherie Moor (later Cheryl Ladd) as Melody. While the Pussycats' songs were featured heavily in the cartoon series, they were not successes on the pop charts as the Archies' recordings had been. Producer Danny Janssen gave the Pussycats a pop-soul sound with all three women sharing lead vocals.

Three decades later, Universal Pictures and MGM produced a live-action "Josie and the Pussycats" feature film, directed by Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont and released in April 2001. R&B/pop producer Babyface, an executive producer for the film, supervised a soundtrack of new Pussycats recordings, done in a modern pop rock style. Kay Hanley, from the band Letters to Cleo, provides the singing voice of Josie and sings lead on all ten Pussycats songs. Rachael Leigh Cook, Tara Reid, and Rosario Dawson, who appear in the film as Josie, Melody, and Valerie respectively, provide some of the background vocals on the soundtrack recordings. Unlike the 1970 album, the 2001 soundtrack charted on the Billboard 200 albums chart, peaking at number 16.

Stop
Josie and the Pussycats Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Stop and take a look around you.
Listen to your heart.
Stop, look, and listen
Why would you
Tear our love apart.
Tear our love apart.
Tear our love apart.

I can see the danger signals in your eyes
I realize you're thinking about leavin' me.
You know I've been true to you.
What can I do.
I ask you if it's true.
You've been deceiving me.

I think you better
Stop and take a look around you.
Listen to you your heart.
Stop, look and listen
Why would you
Tear our love apart.
Tear our love apart.
Tear our love apart.

They say you've been seeing other girls.
I'd give the world to turn away
And say that it's not true.
If you'll only look inside your mind
I think you'll find
Nobody else could love you like I do.

(boy you better)
Stop and take a look around you.
Listen to your heart.
Stop, look, and listen.
Why would you
Tear our love apart.
Tear our love apart.
Tear our love apart.

I'm the one that's loved you from the start.
Can't believe you'd want to break my heart.
Think of all that we've been through
When you find somebody new.

Stop and take a look around you.
Listen to your heart.
Stop, Look and Listen
Before you tear our love apart.

(hey)
Stop, take a look around you
Listen to your heart.
Stop, Look, and Listen
Why would you
Tear our love apart.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Josie and the Pussycats' "Stop, Look and Listen" are essentially a plea from the singer to their significant other to take a step back and assess their relationship before making any rash decisions. The chorus repeats the titular phrase three times, emphasizing the importance of stopping and listening to one's heart before tearing apart a love that the singer seems to believe is worth saving. The first verse acknowledges that the other person seems to be considering leaving, but the singer insists that they have been true to them and asks if there is any truth to the rumors of deceit. The second verse is a bit more forceful in its assertion that the other person is considering seeing other people, but the singer remains committed to their relationship and insists that nobody else could love them like they do.

Line by Line Meaning

Stop and take a look around you.
Pause and observe your surroundings.

Listen to your heart.
Pay attention to your emotions and feelings.

Stop, look, and listen
Take a moment to reflect and be aware of your situation.

Why would you
What could be the reason for you to

Tear our love apart.
Cause problems or end our relationship.

I can see the danger signals in your eyes
I notice warning signs that you might leave me.

I realize you're thinking about leavin' me.
I understand that you are considering ending our relationship.

You know I've been true to you.
You are aware that I have been faithful to you.

What can I do.
How can I fix this situation.

I ask you if it's true.
I question whether the rumors I've heard about you are accurate.

You've been deceiving me.
You've been lying to me.

They say you've been seeing other girls.
I've heard that you've been with other women.

I'd give the world to turn away
I would do anything to ignore this news.

And say that it's not true.
Deny the rumors of your infidelity.

If you'll only look inside your mind
Perhaps if you reflect on your thoughts and feelings,

I think you'll find
You'll discover that

Nobody else could love you like I do.
No one else could love you as much as I do.

I'm the one that's loved you from the start.
I'm the one who has loved you since the beginning.

Can't believe you'd want to break my heart.
I can't imagine that you would want to hurt me emotionally.

Think of all that we've been through
Reflect on everything we've experienced together.

When you find somebody new.
If you meet someone else in the future.

Hey
Listen up

Before you tear our love apart.
Prior to causing any damage to our relationship.

Stop, take a look around you
Halt yourself and look at where you are.

Listen to your heart.
Pay attention to your emotions and feelings.

Stop, Look, and Listen
Pause, observe, and reflect.

Why would you
What could be the reason for you to

Tear our love apart.
Cause problems or end our relationship.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DANNY JANSSEN, SUE STEWARD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS

Genre not found

Artist not found

Album not found

Search results not found

Song not found

Comments from YouTube:

@sweetsatin24

15y↑11

I remember this about 10 years ago on Cartoon Network...when cable was worth paying for. Sigh...and how cute is Sebastian? Love it, love it, LOVE IT

@TheBob3759

2y↑2

Me too.

@jeffclark2

2y↑4

I love the musical chase scenes from "Josie and the Pussycats!" The invisible villain chasing the gang is hilarious! And Alexandra ALWAYS ends up netted, hooked or lanced along with the villains, just like she did after Captain Nemo was netted with his crew (Alexandra got caught in another net with poor Sebastian!) Great memories from a more simpler, more fun time.

@JamalMBrown

10y↑11

If these songs were played on the radio like any singing group they would have made the top ten: especially "Stop, Look, Listen" and "Inside, Outside, Upside down"

@vincentfranklin17

8y↑13

This is so cool! Like a girl version of The Jackson 5!
One of my favorite Josie And The Pussy Cats tunes.

@JerryM69

8y↑10

Always love these music chase scenes! Awesome cartoon. My favorite character is Sebastian.

@dmhandy

15y↑5

Cool song and fantastic show !

@asianthor

15y↑5

I'm a guy and I remember this cartoon when I was a kid in the 70's and loved Melody cause she was so silly and just so innocent loved it. Wish I could really find a girl like that in real life.

@solarsource7

11y↑3

These chases like the one above, its characters, and with such great and memorable songs too, made this show so much fun for this kid a long time ago. Btw, I still think with the live feature they missed a golden opportunity. We should have seen a comedy adventures like 'Raider's of the Lost Ark'. Instead, we got something rather weak in script and budget for the live movie. I did like the actresses the played Josie, Melody, Valerie, and Alexandra, however.

@gerodh

16y↑5

Yes, Cheryl Ladd is singing the lead on the CD version and it's much more uptempo.

@lightquest2

7y↑10

This was the best song from the series🙌🏻

@lauraswihart8018

5y↑3

I remember this! What great times!😀🍭😀🍭

@GallanoVelezConsultechLLC

10y↑1

Yes, Patrice may have been doing the singing, but if you check the end credits, it was Teresa Graves ("Get Christie Love") who was doing the speaking voice. Still an amazing milestone in the HB universe.

@brandoncordy1798

10y↑5

The speaking voice of Valerie was done by Barbara Pariot, not Teresa Graves.

@GarudaStudio

12y↑3

It's not the Honey Cone, but the songs were done in the same style at about the same time. Honey Cone were signed to Hot Wax Records, whose founders, Holland-Dozier-Holland, created the "Motown Sound" that many of these "Josie and the Pussycats" songs were trying to emulate. The lead singer, Patrice Holloway, even worked and recorded for Motown in the 1960s.

@cthughes1984

12y↑3

I used to love this song back in the day lol

@Daffendop

14y↑4

I love how Melody and Alexandra are usually stuck together

@johnerwin9024

2y↑2

great music & chase scenes 👍

@billconway5722

I love this song.

@blibstodge

16y↑3

I cant believe this stuff never made the radio like the ARCHIES did. My fav was "inside outside upsidedown". Oh and by the way it's Coco Puffs and Sugar Pops. you mixed your cereal metaphors.

@mrcrago62

8y↑8

I wish I could do that running on the spot, before running away with my arms out. My life would have been so better if I had been taught this important skill when young...sigh lol

@jebeja

16y↑4

bdad63, If this is true, it might have something to do with the fact that singer Patrice Holloway (Valerie) was a very well-known singer, sometime around the late 60's early 70's. She was 'more' recognized there than she was here in the U.S., but thank God for songwriter Danny Janssen who helped "talk" Hanna-Barberra into including a black female singer into the mix (unheard during that time), namely Patrice because he was swept off his feet by her 'looks' and singing voice. Glad it worked out.

@kalinga2nihon

2y↑2

Good old Cartoon Network days having Scooby Doo, Josie and the Pussycats, Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries.

@SneauxMan08

9y↑5

this was my favorite episode!

@jebeja

16y↑3

Weaving, I know what you mean. It was almost as if the music gave you hope for something 'better' to come, and in some ways it did. Sadly, I really don't see 'anything' like this in the so-called music played today. Call this music corny or what-ever you choose, but I'd take the majority of it over just about anything put out now.

@pokopoko14

12y↑2

I don't think that's considered a rip off since they came from the same company. Archie comics produced the original Josie and the Pussycat comics, while Hanna-Barbera, which made Scooby-doo bought the rights and produced the cartoon.

@JamalMBrown

10y↑3

They're both done by HB with the same theme. You notice that the voice of "shaggy" and "alexander" are the same. Futhermore the villians in both series use the catchphrase "meddling kids". Alan wears the the same type of tie as Fred. Alexandra and Sebestin do the same routines as another set of HB characters: Dastartly and Muttley. Sebestin even laughs sort of like Muttley

@3243_

13y↑1

Somewhere there's gotta be an alternate version of Josie And The Pussycats that plays jazz-rock compositions in 15/8 and the occasional tape collage instead of highly melodic bubblegum pop tunes. Just sayin.' ;)

@edwardo6834

33w

I remember watching Josie on Boomerang back at the day

@lazarusdarkstar3015

29w

You know what Josie and the pussycats had pretty good music

@johnreddick7650

47w

Is there a clean recording of this version of the song without the sound effects? I know there's a single version, but I find the brass in that version way too obtrusive, whereas the flute in this version gives variety and support without overwhelming the vocals.

@GhostIntoTheFog

15y↑1

That reminds me of that public service campaign. "Stop, look and listen. Think about what's going on!"

@johnmanning484

4y↑2

I’d Still Totally Would’ve Like To See Scooby-Doo And The Gang Keep On OutRunning And Especially Battling Villains With Josie and the Pussycats And Ben 10

@Jessemanning126

7y↑3

I Still Totally Think That Maybe The Scooby Gang Could've Just Kept On Teaming Up With Josie And The PussyCats For The Thrill Of OutRunning And OutSmarting A Bunch Of Bad Guys And Villains

@FaytLinegod

15y↑13

Alexander and Shaggy have the same voice actor. Casey Kasem

@atanasynikolic8579

1y↑2

Indeed they do

@jebeja

16y↑1

bdad63, Yep, sadly those days will 'never' be repeated again in our life-time, and maybe in some instances that's a good thing. Although, the way the music industry has turned out thus far, I still say we had it much much better back then.

@househeadericmd

15y↑1

i love silly melody!!!!!

@davidwesley2525

3y↑1

Too bad she's Not Too Bright.🤣🤣🤣

@KatonNeko

16y↑1

Sebastian sure is smart.

@clarencecoats6498

4y↑2

And has a little more sense than his owner.

@mkl62

16y↑1

If I'm not mistaken, Valerie was the first African-American character that Hanna-Barbera created. Hadji, from Jonny Quest, was the first non-white character (Indian) that HB created. In the movie, Val was Hispanic, I think.

@clarencscoats3634

3y↑2

If not the harlem globetrotters.

@pettygirlgamerdiva

15y↑1

This is my fave Josie and the pussycats song I like them better than Scooby-Doo

@MRDOUGSCOTT

8y↑4

LOVE THAT CAT LOL !

@clarencecoats6498

4y↑2

I think that sneaky cat has fun in every musical chase!

@alwool

11y↑2

man, that is one looooong hallway they're running thru. must be 40 to 50 yards, easy! hahaha

@GarudaStudio

12y

Not "sampled" (the technology didn't quite exist then), but they certainly "borrowed" (OK, stole) the sound of that song.

@julienwrightjr924

6y↑1

Awesome

@AndrewTiffin

15y↑4

That guy in the sunglasses talks like Shaggy.

@luisarturoespinal

40w↑1

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

@mkl62

16y↑2

The only episode to feature this song. Mr. X sounded like Mr. Hyde from Scooby Doo's Nowhere to Hyde episode.

@billconway5722

1y↑2

Tear our love apart

@GarudaStudio

12y↑1

Valerie's still intended to be black in the movie. Lisa Lopes from TLC had the inside track on the part before Dawson was cast.

@househeadericmd

12y↑1

melody!!!!!! xoxoxo

@billconway5722

Stop take a look around and listen to your pinche heart.

@dcskfz

16y↑1

Sounds alittle bit like a mix of Jackson 5 songs.

@dj2bklyn

15y↑1

The Jackson 5 all over again

@TheInnerSanctuary

14y↑1

@GhostIntoTheFog - "Count to 10, walk away, release the peace and be strong." XD Those ads have been stuck in my head for quite some time now.

@abetterpepper

13y↑1

@sweetsatin24 it's on Boomerang dang near every day.

@robertosouza1650

3y↑1

Who were the real singers?

@FaytLinegod

3y↑1

Cathy Douglas, Patrice Holloway and Cherie Moore, better known as Cheryl Ladd of Charlie's Angels. The group released six singles in 1970 and 1971

@shmuli9

14y↑1

@blochead170000 Yes, I agree!

@roscoegino

13y↑1

they sampled ABC by the Jackson5

@jebeja

16y↑1

roaminggator, I used to think the same thing about the similarities in the music, but learned that wasn't really true in some circumstances.

@nevillenkhoma2796

3y↑1

Which artist sang this song?

@FaytLinegod

3y↑1

The band of the same name as the cartoon. The group was made up of Cathy Douglas[2][failed verification] (also known as Cathy Dougher, and whose real name was Kathleen Dougherty), Patrice Holloway, and Cherie Moor (later known as Cheryl Ladd).