Como was also very popular in the UK. His chart successes ranged from 1953 to 1974 and included two number one's, his first hit 'Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes' in 1953 and 'Magic Moments' which stayed at the top for 8 weeks in 1958. His other big UK hits were 'Delaware' ( No 3 in 1960), ' It's Impossible' (No 4 in 1971) , 'And I Love You So' (No 3 in 1973), and 'For The Good Times' (No 7 in 1973).
As well as TV and recording success, Perry Como also made a number of films, including ' Something For The Boys' and 'Doll Face' which were released during WW2.
He died in his sleep on 12 May 2001.
N'yot N'yow
Perry Como Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'bout Perry who came home
Late one night!
Must have been about a
Two or three am,
Something like that!
Gotta get me some sleep,
He yawned as he turned out the light!
Haaw!
I guess I was too tired to do any reading!
Whether he dreamed what happened,
Or if he really heard it,
He wouldn't bet
But he swears it sounded like two cats
Singin' a duet!
Come why'out, come why'out, come why'out my pretty kitten
This is me, your boyfriend "Tom" ( N'yot N'yow! )
Ah! come why'out, come why'out, come why'out my pretty kitten
This is old Tom, "Tom" the atom-bomb! ( N'yot N'yow! )
We assure you we'd come why'out
If only we knew how
They tell us that you really are
The cat's "MEOW"!
Ah! come why'out, come why'out, come why'out my pretty kitten
Now? ( N'yot N'yow! ) Oh!
Come why'out, come why'out,
Come why'out our croonin' kitten
We will serenade the moon! N'yot N'yow!
Come why'out, come why'out,
Come why'out our little kitten
We will sing a little tune! N'yot N'yow!
When the folks got home tonight at twelve or thereabout
They locked the door and they forgot to put me-owt!
Oowah! "Alone from night to night you'll find me!"
Come why'out, come why'out,
Come why'out our croonin' kitten
Mee-owh! Heh heh
OK, now!
Words and Music by Dick Manning
The lyrics of Perry Como's song N'yot N'yow narrate a humorous story of the singer coming home tired and hearing what he thinks are two cats singing a duet. The cats are calling out to their pretty kitten, Perry's cat, and inviting her to come out and join them for some crooning and serenading under the moon. The lyrics suggest that Perry's cat is quite a popular feline among the neighborhood cats, referred to as the "cat's MEOW" and even "Tom the atom-bomb." Perry seems amused and surprised by the cat's popularity but also a bit worried that he left her alone at night, imagining her singing and being serenaded by other cats.
The song relies heavily on wordplay, with the cats' call n'yot n'yow serving as a sound effect and a playful alternative to the human expression "come out." The lyrics also play with the notion of cats being musical and expressive creatures, and use their meows and purrs as a source of entertainment and affection. Overall, the song has a lighthearted and whimsical tone that taps into the fondness of many people for cats and their quirky behavior.
Line by Line Meaning
This is the story
Introduction to the story being told
'bout Perry who came home
The subject of the story is Perry coming home
Late one night!
The time of Perry's arrival home was late at night
Must have been about a
Uncertainty about the exact time of Perry's arrival
Two or three am,
An estimate of the time Perry arrived home
Something like that!
Further emphasis on the uncertainty of the exact arrival time
Gotta get me some sleep,
Perry is expressing a need for sleep
He yawned as he turned out the light!
Perry was exhibiting signs of tiredness by yawning
Haaw!
A vocal expression to emphasize his tiredness
I guess I was too tired to do any reading!
Perry was too exhausted to engage in any reading activities
Whether he dreamed what happened,
Uncertainty about the nature of what Perry was experiencing
Or if he really heard it,
Uncertainty about whether Perry is experiencing something real or from his dreams
He wouldn't bet
Perry is unsure of the reality of the situation
But he swears it sounded like two cats
Perry is convinced that he hears the sound of cats
Singin' a duet!
The cats were singing together
Come why'out, come why'out, come why'out my pretty kitten
The cats are calling out to a female cat
This is me, your boyfriend "Tom" ( N'yot N'yow! )
The male cat wants the female cat to know that he is her boyfriend
Ah! come why'out, come why'out, come why'out my pretty kitten
The male cat continues to call out to the female cat
This is old Tom, "Tom" the atom-bomb! ( N'yot N'yow! )
The male cat's name is Tom and he is comparing himself to an atom-bomb
We assure you we'd come why'out
The male cats promise to come out to the female cat
If only we knew how
The male cats express uncertainty about how to get to the female cat
They tell us that you really are
The male cats have heard that the female cat is highly desirable
The cat's "MEOW"!
The female cat is the best cat around
Now? ( N'yot N'yow! ) Oh!
The male cats continue to try and locate the female cat
Come why'out, come why'out,
The male cats repeat their call to the female cat
Come why'out our croonin' kitten
The male cats are trying to attract a singing kitten
We will serenade the moon! N'yot N'yow!
The male cats will sing to the moon if necessary
When the folks got home tonight at twelve or thereabout
The folks got home around midnight
They locked the door and they forgot to put me-owt!
Perry was left inside and not put out for the night
Oowah! "Alone from night to night you'll find me!"
Perry is lonely throughout the night
Mee-owh! Heh heh
Perry makes a cat sound and laughs
OK, now!
An ending statement to the story
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DICK MANNING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind