Mean-Eyed Cat - Johnny Cash

I gave my woman half my money at the general store,

I said, «Now buy a little groceries and don’t spend no more.»

But she paid ten dollars for a ten cent hat,

And bought some store-bought cat food for that mean-eyed cat.

When I woke up this mornin' and I turned my head,

There wasn’t a cotton pickin' thing on her side of the bed.

I found a little ol' note, where her head belonged.

It said, «Dear John, honey, baby, I’m long gone.»

When I heard a whistle blowin' and the big wheels a-turnin',

I was scared as I could be.

I put on my overalls and I headed to town.

Gonna bring her back with me.

I asked the man down at the station if he’d seen her there.

I told him all about her pretty eyes and long, blonde hair.

He spit his tobacco, said, «I'll be dad blamed,

I believe I did see her leavin' on the east-bound train.»

I bought a round-trip ticket on the east bound train,

I was broke as I could be,

But when I come back, I gotta buy another ticket,

Gonna bring her back with me.

Well, I got off the train somewhere in Arkansas,

And I worked up the guts to call my mother-in-law,

She said, «I'll tell you where she is, if you act right.

She’s workin' four-to-twelve at Trucker’s World tonight.»

Well, when I walked in she saw me and she took off her apron,

And she grabbed her goin'-home hat

She bought a ticket with her tips.

Now we’re curled up on the sofa,

Me and her and that mean-eyed cat.