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.
I Won't Stand in Your Way
Stray Cats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That I've been cheated on and lied to
If it's so then it's wrong, we've hung on for so long
Why don't we have that magic anymore?
I got a strange sneaking suspicion
That it's been going on for some time now
Something stirs deep inside
I won't stand in your way anymore
You said that I'm just a little guy
Who's easily led astray
Well, aren't you the same little girl
Who alway gets her way?
The opening lyrics of Stray Cats's song I Won't Stand in Your Way speak about a sense of betrayal or mistrust that the singer is experiencing. The lyrics say that the singer has a "low down dirty feeling" that they have been cheated on and lied to. The following lyrics detail how they have been holding onto their relationship for a long time, but they are now questioning why the magic between them has disappeared. There is a "strange sneaking suspicion" that the cheating has been going on for some time, but the singer doesn't wish to delve into it any longer.
The chorus of the song is where the singer takes a firm decision to end their relationship. They say that they won't stand in their partner's way anymore, implying that they won't stop them from doing what they have been doing. The lyrics suggest that there are still some strong feelings that the singer has for their partner, as something still shines in their eyes and stirs deep inside, but they do not wish to pursue it any longer.
In the last verse, the singer brings up a possible argument or accusation that their partner may have thrown at them before. They say that their partner has called them a "little guy" who is easily led astray, but asks if they are not the "same little girl who always gets her way." The lyrics provide an interesting perspective on a relationship in which trust has been lost, and one partner is ready to move on.
Line by Line Meaning
I, I got a low down dirty feeling
I have a gut feeling that something is wrong
That I've been cheated on and lied to
I suspect that my partner has been unfaithful and dishonest
If it's so then it's wrong, we've hung on for so long
If my suspicions are true, then our relationship is flawed and has lasted too long
Why don't we have that magic anymore?
I am wondering why our relationship has lost its spark
I got a strange sneaking suspicion
I have an odd but strong feeling
That it's been going on for some time now
That my partner's behavior has been going on for a while
Something shines in your eyes
I can see a glint in your eyes that suggests something is hidden
Something stirs deep inside
I feel a strong emotion welling up within me
I won't stand in your way anymore
I won't try to stop you from leaving or pursuing whatever you're hiding
You said that I'm just a little guy
You've belittled me and my role in our relationship
Who's easily led astray
You've accused me of being gullible and weak
Well, aren't you the same little girl
But aren't you also similar in your behavior and tendencies
Who alway gets her way?
That always wants to have control and have things her way
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRIAN SETZER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Myky Roldan
I won’t stand in your way
I, I’ve got a low down dirty feeling
That I’ve been cheated on, and lied to
If it’s old then it’s wrong, we’ve held on for so long
Why don’t we have that magic anymore
I’ve got a strange sneaking suspicion
That it’s been going on for some time now
Something shines in your eyes, something stirs deep inside
I won’t stand in your way anymore
You said that I’m just a little boy
Who’s easily led astray
Well aren’t you the same little girl
Who always gets her way
I, I’ve got a low down dirty feeling
That I’ve been cheated on, and lied to
If it’s old then it’s wrong, we’ve held on for so long
Why don’t we have that magic anymore
I’ve got a strange sneaking suspicion
That it’s been going on for some time now
Something shines in your eyes, something stirs deep inside
I won’t stand in your way anymore
You said that I’m just a little boy
Who’s easily led astray
Well aren’t you the same little girl
Who always gets her way
REED RICHARDS 2
One of the most BEAUTIFUL ballads of all times!!!!!
Heather B
Swoon! Break my heart! Oh oh me oh my the Stray Cats! This is pure bliss
Chad Collins
It's amazing just how good this music is. The Stray Cats had so much against them at the time yet still managed to have success based on their persistence and pure talent alone.
Jonathon
I’m a death/black metal fan, yet the Stray Cats are in my top 10
Matt Madge
What do you mean they had so much against them?
Chad Collins
@Matt Madge the music industry in the early 80's had no interest in promoting a band that played 50's style rock'n'roll.
Big’Em Hawker
I agree! They were amazing and persevered.
Jeffrey Martin
The guitar interlude is proof that it's not only talent but time spent with fingers on the fretboard. Really, really cool solo.
Zeppelin Fighter
Represents a revival of a classic, important and beautiful part of American Rock and Roll history - thank you boys!
GitaarEddy
One of the best guitar solo's ever!