The group, whose style was based upon the sounds of Sun Records artists and other artists from the 1950s, were heavily influenced by Eddie Cochran, Carl Perkins, Gene Vincent and Bill Haley & His Comets. The Stray Cats quickly developed a large following in the New York music scene playing at CBGB and Max's Kansas City as well as venues on Long Island. When the Cats heard a rumor that there was a revival of the 1950s Teddy Boy youth subculture in England, the band moved to the UK. They then spearheaded the nascent rockabilly revival, by blending the 1950s Sun Studio sound with modern punk musical elements. In terms of visual style the Stray Cats also blended elements of 1950 rockabilly clothes such as wearing drape jackets, brothel creepers and western shirts with punk clothes such as tight black zipper trousers and modern versions of 1950s hair styles.
In the summer of 1980 the Cats found themselves being courted by the elite of the music world including Virgin Records, Stiff Records and Arista Records. Word quickly spread and soon members of The Rolling Stones, The Who and Led Zeppelin were at their shows. After a gig in London, Stray Cats met producer Dave Edmunds, well known as a roots rock enthusiast for his work with Rockpile and as a solo artist. Edmunds offered to work with the group, and they entered the studio to record their self-titled debut album, Stray Cats, released in England in 1981 on Arista Records. They had three hits that year with "Runaway Boys", "Rock This Town", and "Stray Cat Strut". The UK follow-up to Stray Cats, Gonna Ball, was not as well-received, providing no hits. Yet the combined sales of their first two albums was enough to convince EMI America to compile the best tracks from the two UK albums and issue an album (Built for Speed) in the U.S. in 1982. The record went on to sell double platinum in the US and Canada and was the #2 record on the Billboard album charts for 26 weeks
Musical and personal conflicts began to emerge in the ways that the individual members handled their new-found success; Phantom married actress Britt Ekland, while Setzer made guest appearances with stars like Bob Dylan and Stevie Nicks and became the concert guitarist for Robert Plant's Honeydrippers side project. In late 1984, the band added former BMT's guitarist and Long Island native Tommy Byrnes on second guitar and harmony vocals, and after a European and US tour which ended at the New Orleans World's Fair, parted ways.
Rocker and Phantom formed a trio called Phantom Rocker & Slick (the "Slick" being former David Bowie guitarist Earl Slick) which contained the single "Men Without Shame", guest musicians on this record included both Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones and Nicky Hopkins on the piano. Setzer went on to a solo career, retaining Byrnes and exchanging his rockabilly focus for a more wide-ranging roots rock/Americana sound on albums such as 1986's The Knife Feels Like Justice. In 1986, the Stray Cats reunited in Los Angeles, and recorded the covers-heavy Rock Therapy. In 1989, they reunited once again for the album Blast Off!, which was accompanied by a tour with US blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan. No longer with EMI America, they entered the studio with Nile Rodgers for the record titled Let's Go Faster, issued by Liberation in 1990. After 1992's Dave Edmunds-produced Choo Choo Hot Fish, and after another covers album, 1993's Original Cool, the group called it quits again.
In 2004, the Stray Cats reunited for a month-long tour of Europe. A live album culled from those concerts, Rumble In Brixton, included one new studio track, "Mystery Train Kept A Rollin'." In 2007, they reunited once again for a successful and long awaited US tour with ZZ Top and The Pretenders. This was their first North American tour in over 15 years. In the 2000s, the band toured Europe as part of their Farewell Tour, although the band has performed concerts intermittently in the ensuing years.
In 2008, for the first time in 18 years, the Stray Cats visited Australia and New Zealand which included several consecutive sold out shows of their Farewell (Australia) Tour.
In April 2009 the band reunited for a single show to celebrate Brian’s 50th birthday at the Fine Line Music Café in Minneapolis, MN.
Crawl up and Die
Stray Cats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, what's the matter with me
Well, I don't know what's the matter
Oh, what's the matter with me
Well, I can't control my legs now
And I can't hardly see
Well, I'm smoking past the filter
Well, I'm smoking past the filter
And it's burning my lips
My body is a shakin'
Down to my finger tips
Oh, please let me stay here
Well, let me stay here tonight
C'mon baby let me stay here
Let me stay here tonight
I want to crawl baby crawl up
I want to crawl up and die
Ohh!
Well, I'm searchin' for the poison
That's gotta keep me alive
Well, I'm searchin' for the poison
That's gotta keep me alive
And if I don't find that poison
I'm gonna crawl up and die
Well, I can't control this feeling
That I'm having inside
Well, I can't control this feeling
That I'm having inside
I want to crawl baby crawl up
I want to crawl up and die
Oh, please let me stay here
Well, let me stay here tonight
C'mon baby let me stay here
Let me stay here tonight
I want to crawl baby crawl up
I want to crawl up and die
Oh, please let me stay here
Well, let me stay here tonight
C'mon baby let me stay here
Let me stay here tonight
I want to crawl baby crawl up
I want to crawl up and die and die and die
The Stray Cats’ song “Crawl up and Die” is a rockabilly track with lyrics about living on the edge and losing control. The opening lines suggest that the singer is confused, possibly under the influence of drugs or alcohol. He can’t control his legs and can barely see, indicating that he’s in a state of physical and emotional disarray. The imagery of smoking past the filter and burning lips reinforces this idea of destructive behavior, and his shaking body suggests that he’s experiencing withdrawal or other negative effects.
Despite the unpleasant sensations and desire to crawl up and die, the singer begs to stay in the moment. He seems to be searching for the poison that will “keep him alive,” a suggestion that the feeling of being out of control may actually be keeping him going, even though he acknowledges that he’ll “die” without it. The repetition of the line “I want to crawl baby crawl up” implies a sense of allure, even as the rest of the song points to the negative consequences of such behavior.
Overall, the song suggests a reckless, dangerous lifestyle that may lead to destruction, but that also has its own strange appeal. It’s a common theme in rock ‘n’ roll music, and one that the Stray Cats execute with their signature energy and style.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I don't know what's the matter
The singer confesses to feeling physically and emotionally unwell, but cannot determine the cause.
Oh, what's the matter with me
The singer questions the root of their discomfort, which is manifesting in physical and mental symptoms.
Well, I can't control my legs now
The singer is experiencing a loss of physical control, potentially due to substance abuse or a neurological condition.
And I can't hardly see
The artist is also experiencing visual disturbances, which further contribute to feelings of being out of control.
Well, I'm smoking past the filter
The artist is consuming something in excess, pushing beyond safe or reasonable limits.
And it's burning my lips
The physical sensations caused by this excess consumption are painful and damaging.
My body is a shakin'
The singer's physical symptoms are becoming more pronounced, reaching a point of visible and notable distress.
Down to my finger tips
The shaking is so severe that it is also affecting the extremities.
Well, I'm searchin' for the poison
Despite the pain and negative effects of excessive consumption, the artist seeks out more of the same substance, calling it 'poison'.
That's gotta keep me alive
The substance is so integral to the artist's experience that they feel it is necessary for their continued life.
And if I don't find that poison
The singer is so dependent on this substance that they feel they cannot survive without it.
I'm gonna crawl up and die
Without this substance, the artist feels they will metaphorically 'crawl up and die', likely due to withdrawal or intense physical and emotional pain.
Well, I can't control this feeling
The singer feels overwhelmed by their emotions, which are likely fueled by the substance they consumed.
That I'm having inside
The singer feels their emotional turmoil internally, manifesting in further physical symptoms.
Oh, please let me stay here
The singer addresses another person, possibly a romantic partner, begging them to allow them to stay in their current place of comfort and security.
I want to crawl baby crawl up
The artist returns to the idea of 'crawling up and dying', suggesting a desire to escape their current struggles through death.
And die and die
The repetition of 'die' further emphasizes the artist's desperation and desire to escape their current situation.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@CarlosSanchez-nc6zm
Digging these cats since 79, good rocking
@onko1951
I was about 9 year old when I found my fathers old stray cats albums in our house attic. Those were the first two albums from the cats. And I looked at the pictures in the album cover and I thinked " wow ! What a cool looking quys " and I knew instantly in that moment that what ever It is that those cool looking quys are playing, im going to like It. And those albums blew my mind! Rock on !
@onko1951
One of my favorite songs that I have ever listened
@alanfaulkner7113
such a cool good song, sure is a good rocker from the cats, remember getting there 1st album n luvin it as well as most of the other songs on the album this there 1st album in the uk in 1981,
@pringueychristophe5166
La rage
La vraie
Le rock
@jean-bernardlalanne2808
Rock n roll at it's finest.
@seanqueripel6230
Rockabilly