Cats (musical)

1981 musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber

Cats is an award-winning musical composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber based on Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot. Most of the lyrics are taken with little or no change from Eliot. First performed in 1981, the show has since been performed around the world in numerous productions and has been translated into more than 20 languages.

Jellicle Cats come out tonight,
Jellicle Cats come one come all...
Yes the Rum Tum Tugger is a Curious Cat
And there isn't any call for me to shout it...
I remember the time I knew what happiness was
Let the memory live again.
  • The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter,
    It isn't just one of your holiday games
    ;
    You may think at first I'm as mad as a hatter
    When I tell you, a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES.
    • "The Naming of Cats".
  • When the day's hustle and bustle is done,
    Then the Gumbie Cat's work is but hardly begun.
    • "The Old Gumbie Cat".
  • Yes the Rum Tum Tugger is a Curious Cat —
    And there isn't any call for me to shout it:
    For he will do
    As he do do
    And there's no doing anything about it!
    • "The Rum Tum Tugger".
  • Jellicle Cats come out tonight,
    Jellicle Cats come one come all:
    The Jellicle Moon is shining bright —
    Jellicles come to the Jellicle Ball.
    • "The Song of the Jellicles".
  • Old Deuteronomy's lived a long time;
    He's a Cat who has lived many lives in succession.

    He was famous in proverb and famous in rhyme
    A long while before Queen Victoria's accession.
    • "Old Deuteronomy".
  • And we all say: OH!
    Well I never!
    Was there ever
    A Cat so clever
    As Magical Mr. Mistoffelees!
    • "Mr. Mistoffelees".
  • He's the bafflement of Scotland Yard, the Flying Squad's despair:
    For when they reach the scene of crime — Macavity's not there!
    • "Macavity: The Mystery Cat".
  • Macavity, Macavity, there's no one like Macavity,
    He's broken every human law, he breaks the law of gravity.
    • "Macavity: The Mystery Cat".
  • Macavity, Macavity, there's no one like Macavity,
    For he's a fiend in feline shape, a monster of depravity.
    You may meet him in a by-street, you may see him in the square —
    But when a crime's discovered, then Macavity's not there!
    • "Macavity: The Mystery Cat".
  • They say that all the Cats whose wicked deeds are widely known
    (I might mention Mungojerrie, I might mention Griddlebone)
    Are nothing more than agents for the Cat who all the time
    Just controls their operations: the Napoleon of Crime!
    • "Macavity: The Mystery Cat".
  • These modern productions are all very well,
    But there's nothing to equal, from what I hear tell,
    That moment of mystery
    When I made history
    As Firefrorefiddle, the Fiend of the Fell.
    • "Gus: The Theatre Cat".
  • Memory
    All alone in the moonlight
    I can smile at the old days
    I was beautiful then.

    I remember the time I knew what happiness was
    Let the memory live again.
    • "Memory" sung by "Grizabella", Act iii.
  • When the dawn comes tonight will be a memory too
    And the new day will begin.
    • "Memory" sung by "Grizabella", Act iii.
  • Touch me
    It's so easy to leave me
    All alone with the memory
    Of my day in the sun.
    If you touch me you'll understand what happiness is
    Look a new day has begun.
    • "Memory" sung by "Grizabella", Act iii.
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