Honky Cat

"Honky Cat" was a song from the 1972 Elton John album Honky Chateau. It was the first song on the album, and had a running time of five minutes ten seconds.

A fast, spirited number (circa 150 bpm) played without any guitar, "Honky Cat" is essentially about the illusion created by city life. The song is dominated by John's piano, but features the most extensive horn section on any Elton John song of the time to provide additional rhythm elements. The bass is difficult to hear even on vinyl.

"Honky Cat" was his most "soul" like song of his classic period, and probably because of this it reached the Billboard Top Ten when released as a single, but only reached #31 in Britain and did not chart in Australia - though it is still a staple of "classic rock" radio. The song hit #8 on the U.S. charts, just as Elton John launched an American tour, in September of 1972. The album title "Honky Chateau" is a reference to where the entire record was made, at a place called "Chateau d'Herouville", which is about 30 miles outside of Paris. .1

"Honky Cat" was one of the most famous Elton John numbers not to be covered on the 1991 tribute album Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin. Indeed, not a single well-known cover of the song has ever been recorded.

Lyrics 

When I look back boy I must have been green
Bopping in the country, fishing in a stream
Looking for an answer trying to find a sign
Until I saw your city lights honey I was blind

They said get back honky cat
Better get back to the woods
Well I quit those days and my redneck ways
And oh the change is gonna do me good

You better get back honky cat
Living in the city aint where its at
Its like trying to find gold in a silver mine
Its like trying to drink whisky from a bottle of wine

Well I read some books and I read some magazines
About those high class ladies down in new orleans
And all the folks back home well, said I was a fool
They said oh, believe in the lord is the golden rule

They said stay at home boy, you gotta tend the farm
Living in the city boy, is going to break your heart
But how can you stay, when your heart says no
How can you stop when your feet say go