The band was… Read Full Bio ↴Max Webster was a Canadian rock band of the late 1970s.
The band was formed in 1973 in Sarnia, Ontario and consisted of guitarist and vocalist Kim Mitchell, keyboardist Terry Watkinson, bassist Mike Tilka and drummer Paul Kersey. Mitchell, joined by Pye Dubois [aka Paul Woods], would write the majority of their material with Mitchell writing the music and Dubois writing lyrics.
Kersey left the band after their self-titled debut album, to be replaced by Gary McCracken. After recording and touring for their second album, High Class in Borrowed Shoes, Tilka would follow suit and leave the band, being replaced by Dave Myles. Recording for their third album, Mutiny Up My Sleeve, began with this line-up which would last through to their fourth album, A Million Vacations. Prior to Universal Juveniles Watkinson and Myles left, to be replaced by various musicians to record the last album and then tour for a little while longer before Kim Mitchell decided to end it in 1981 for a solo career.
The band was successful in Canada, with hits such as "A Million Vacations," "Let Go The Line" and "Paradise Skies", although they never made it big outside of Canada. "Paradise Skies" was a minor UK hit, reaching number 43 on the singles chart there. In addition, they appeared on Top of the Pops in 1979 playing to a pre-recorded track which was recorded at Abbey Road studios. Kim Mitchell's subsequent solo career, however, reached a much broader audience and he achieved popularity beyond Canada during the 80's.
Here Among The Cats
Max Webster Lyrics
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I got rock and roll shoes
I got T.V. blues
And I don't have any friends here among the cats heare among the cats
I got the cure for the flues and I really don't mind the screws
I keep tellin' everybody / I keep tellin' everyone everyone
Should 'ave been a doctor
Can't get any soap stone
Won't join the army band
Sell in a general store
Cops won't catch me
Walking in the grass
Or breaking the bank on Sunday to fake some extra cash
Or to keep a sleep upon the wall like a lion stalks in stone
Or to have the visions of a bad or nine plus lives just like a cat
Don't I have any friends here among the cats here among the cats?
I got the cure for the flues and I really don't mind the screws
And I keep tellin' all the fools I should 'ave been a Lectric Cat
I keep tellin' everybody / I keep tellin' everyone everyone
I shoulda been a doctor
Ain't there any visions I can contract
To have night eyes or fly like the crow flies
Oh but don't I have any friends here among the cats here among the cats?
Now ain't there any systems to curb the hiccups and the scratch?
The lyrics of Max Webster's "Here Among The Cats" paint a picture of a lonely and eccentric individual, who feels out of place in society. The opening lines, "I got rock and roll shoes, I got T.V. blues, and I don't have any friends here among the cats," suggest that the singer is disillusioned with the world and has found solace in his own company. His discontent with his surroundings is further emphasized in the line, "Can't get any soap stone, carve away the war."
The singer seems to reject conformity and authority, declaring he won't "join the army band" and won't be caught by the cops. He also has a penchant for daydreaming and wishing he had different abilities, such as having "fly like the crow flies." Despite this, he longs for companionship and asks, "Don't I have any friends here among the cats?" The song's lyrics seem to be a commentary on the struggles of fitting in and the desire to break out of the mold imposed by society.
Line by Line Meaning
I got rock and roll shoes
I have shoes for music and entertainment
I got T.V. blues
I feel sad and depressed when watching TV
And I don't have any friends here among the cats heare among the cats
I feel lonely and disconnected from others in this place
I got the cure for the flues and I really don't mind the screws
I have medicine to cure sickness and I can handle difficult situations
I keep tellin' everybody / I keep tellin' everyone everyone
I repeatedly express my thoughts and feelings to others
Should 'ave been a doctor
I feel like I would have been better off pursuing a career in medicine
Can't get any soap stone
I don't have access to carving stone
Carve away the war
Eliminate conflict through artistic expression
Won't join the army band
I refuse to participate in military activities
Sell in a general store
Working in a store that sells multiple types of goods
Cops won't catch me
I am not doing anything illegal that would attract police attention
Walking in the grass
I enjoy spending time outdoors
Or breaking the bank on Sunday to fake some extra cash
I am not willing to engage in illegal activities to make money
Or to keep a sleep upon the wall like a lion stalks in stone
I am strong and vigilant like a lion when I rest against a wall
Or to have the visions of a bad or nine plus lives just like a cat
I would like to have the qualities of a cat, such as being able to survive dangerous situations and having multiple lives
Don't I have any friends here among the cats here among the cats?
Am I truly alone in this place?
And I keep tellin' all the fools I should 'ave been a Lectric Cat
I express to others that I would have been better off as an electric cat
Ain't there any visions I can contract
Are there any experiences or perspectives I can gain?
To have night eyes or fly like the crow flies
I desire to possess certain abilities, such as seeing in the dark or flying
Now ain't there any systems to curb the hiccups and the scratch?
Are there any solutions to alleviate my physical discomfort?
Lyrics © Anthem Entertainment
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jeffrey Barkin
@J S
Wasn't Gary McCracken the original Drummer?
He moved to Toronto with KIM from Sarnia, I believe...
However, KIM MITCHELL always surrounded himself with The FINEST Musicians in The GTA, when needed, and Every CDN Rocker knew this...
😊
Geoffrey Logsdon
Not only underrated but forgotten band. I once saw them open for Rush (Moving Pictures?), and they killed!!!
J S
The drummer from this album Paul j
Kersery drummed with a band called the wheelers in the early 2000s near Niagara falls canada ..we knew them and used to go watch...they covered this...was awesome
bill white
I saw them open for Rush also, thinking it was 1977 or 78
Jeffrey Barkin
@J S
Wasn't Gary McCracken the original Drummer?
He moved to Toronto with KIM from Sarnia, I believe...
However, KIM MITCHELL always surrounded himself with The FINEST Musicians in The GTA, when needed, and Every CDN Rocker knew this...
😊
J S
@Jeffrey Barkin Paul Kersey was first as far as I know. He's on this album
castlehilldude
I saw this group as the warm up act at a Rush Concert in 1978. Kim was running around the stage in red long johns. I never heard of him before, but I was blown away by his guitar playing. Fast forward about 25 years - I saw him again as part of a three piece group. The long johns were gone, but both he and his band were as awesome as ever.
silvio bentivoglio
too bad their wasn't a long version of this song....this is one song i miss until now and hearing a long version would be epic
michael bond
These guys were so great, the first time I saw Rush and Max opened I thought these bands are going places 1975
Geoffrey Logsdon
The combo of this song with Hangover is unbeatable for a debut album one-two punch. And l love Summer's Up.
Brian smith
Saw them at the Knob Hill Tavern in Scarberia in 73. I talked to a roadie of theirs at the Gas Works a while later and he said that was their first gig. Did an amazing Who medley.Still doing covers at that point. Talk about paying your dues and going nowhere. Rush couldn't break them into the States.