Though born in Dayton, Ohio, Barlow was raised in Jackson, Michigan and then Westfield, Massachusetts. He is widely considered to be among the most prolific and ground-breaking indie musicians of the 1990's. He's best known for his work with Sebadoh, The Folk Implosion and Dinosaur Jr.'s original and current lineup. Many labels have been applied to his unique brand of acoustic rock, including lo-fi, folk-pop and folkcore. Barlow's latest album, his second official solo effort under his own name, is titled Goodnight unknown.
The Ballad of Daykitty
Lou Barlow Lyrics
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The kitty's always hungry, I told the kitty no
So the kitty had to ramble, she had to roam
Where'd the kitty come from, where did the kitty go
Now Hector was the son of a mountain lion
She heard him crying, she followed him in
And she became the apple of my eye
My Daykitty said goodbye
She belonged to another family up the street
I knew they couldn't love her even half as much as I
I love the kitty in the morning
Love her every night
The day she left me, I hung my head and cried
Where'd the kitty come from, and where'd the kitty go
The kitty's always hungry, I told the kitty no
Did she have to ramble, did she have to roam
Where'd she come from, where did the kitty go
You know she returned the very next day
We took her to the doctor, the doctor did say
The kitty weren't a woman
No the kitty was a man
Took him home, he ate a whole can
Now he and Hector are friends
I think he's gonna stay
I think he really loves us, all he wanna do is play
And you should see him sleeping in my lovers arms
I know you'd wanna keep him
But Daykitty is ours
Now where'd the kitty come from, and where'd the kitty go
The kitty's always hungry, I told the kitty no
So the kitty had to ramble, the kitty had to roam
Where'd the kitty come from, where did the kitty go
... Wherever he came from, now he's got a home
If he ever leaves again, I'll be home
The lyrics to The Ballad of Daykitty tell the story of a wandering cat who ends up finding a home with the singer of the song, only to later find out that the cat is actually a male despite being named Daykitty. The first verse sets up the mystery of the cat's origins and its habits of being constantly hungry despite being told no. The second verse introduces the character of Hector, who is crying and caught the attention of Daykitty. The ensuing relationship between Daykitty and the singer is described as strong and loving, and the singer is devastated when Daykitty leaves. The chorus repeats the questions of where Daykitty came from and where it went, and if it had to leave to wander.
The third verse introduces a twist in the tale - Daykitty was not a female like the singer thought, but actually a male. Despite this revelation, the singer and Hector decide to keep the cat and make it a part of their family. The final lines of the song emphasize the singer's attachment to Daykitty and a promise to always be there for the cat.
Overall, the song seems to be more about the power of love and attachment to animals rather than a cohesive narrative about a lost cat. It also touches on themes of self-discovery and acceptance, as Daykitty's true identity is only revealed later on.
Line by Line Meaning
Where'd the kitty come from, and where'd the kitty go
Asking where the cat went and where it comes from.
The kitty's always hungry, I told the kitty no
The cat is always hungry, but I won't let it eat all the time.
So the kitty had to ramble, she had to roam
The cat needed to wander around because it couldn't eat whenever it wanted.
Where'd the kitty come from, where did the kitty go
Asking again where the cat came from and where it went.
Now Hector was the son of a mountain lion
Hector is the offspring of a mountain lion.
She heard him crying, she followed him in
Daykitty heard Hector crying and followed him.
And she became the apple of my eye
Daykitty became the center of attention for the singer.
But when Hector couldn't love her
When Hector couldn't reciprocate her affection.
My Daykitty said goodbye
Daykitty left because Hector didn't love her back.
She belonged to another family up the street
Daykitty belonged to another family near the artist's residence.
I knew they couldn't love her even half as much as I
The singer knew that Daykitty's previous family didn't care for her as much as they did.
I love the kitty in the morning
The artist loves Daykitty in the morning.
Love her every night
The singer loves Daykitty every night.
The day she left me, I hung my head and cried
The singer was sad when Daykitty left.
You know she returned the very next day
Daykitty came back the next day.
We took her to the doctor, the doctor did say
The artist took Daykitty to the vet.
The kitty weren't a woman
Daykitty wasn't a female cat.
No the kitty was a man
Daykitty was actually a male cat.
Took him home, he ate a whole can
The singer took Daykitty back home, and it ate an entire can of food.
Now he and Hector are friends
Daykitty and Hector have become friends.
I think he's gonna stay
The artist thinks Daykitty will stick around.
I think he really loves us, all he wanna do is play
Daykitty seems to love the artist and Hector, and only wants to play with them.
And you should see him sleeping in my lovers arms
The singer's lover sleeps with Daykitty in their arms.
I know you'd wanna keep him
The artist knows that others would want to keep Daykitty.
But Daykitty is ours
Daykitty belongs to the singer and their lover.
Wherever he came from, now he's got a home
No matter where Daykitty came from, it now has a home with the singer.
If he ever leaves again, I'll be home
If Daykitty ever leaves again, the singer will be waiting for it at home.
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
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