Janet Jackson Songs - Black Cat Lyrics

Janet Jackson - Black Cat

Janet Jackson - Black Cat Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Rhythm Nation 1814
Released: 1990

Black Cat Lyrics

One, two, three, four
All the lonely nights I spend alone
Never 'round to love me
You're always gone
'Cause you're hangin' out

Breakin' the rules
Oh the man has come
Lookin' for you

You're a rebel now
Don't give a damn
Always carrying on
With the gang

I'm tryin' to tell ya boy
It's a mistake
You won't realize
'Til it's too late

Don't understand
Why you insist
On ways of living such a dangerous life
Time after time you stay away
And I just know that you're telling me lies

Black Cat nine lives
Short days long nights
Livin' on the edge
Not afraid to die
Heart beat real strong
But not for long
Better watch your step
Or you're gonna die

You're so together boy
But just at a glance
You'll do anything
If given the chance

Scheming, plannin' lies
To get what you need
So full of promises
That you never keep

Don't you tell yourself
That it's okay
Sick and tired of
All of your games

And you want me to stay
(Aww) Better change
Makes no sense to me
Your crazy ways

Don't understand
Why you insist
On ways of living such a dangerous life
Time after time you stay away
And I just know that you're telling me lies

Not afraid to die

Black cat
Black cat
Short days long nights
Livin' on the edge
Don't understand
Why you insist
On ways of living such a dangerous life
Time after time you stay away
And I just know that you're telling me lies

Black cat nine lives
Short days long nights
Livin' on the edge
Not afraid to die
Heart beat real strong
But not for long
Better watch your step
Or you're gonna die

Black cat nine lives
Short days long nights
Livin' on the edge
Not afraid to die
Heart beat real strong
But not for long
Better watch your step
Or you're gonna die

Writer/s: JANET JACKSON
Publisher: JANET JACKSON DBA BLACK ICE
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Black Cat

This was the only song on the Rhythm Nation album to be written entirely by Jackson. It was produced by guitarist Jellybean Johnson, who also performed on the track.

The song finds Janet warning her bad-boy boyfriend that he needs to shift his priorities before he loses both her and his life. Two superstitions/folk tales come into play on the track: cats having nine lives and black cats being a sign of bad luck. Janet sees her man as someone whose lives are quickly running out, and also a negative influence on her.

Although she didn't win the Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance with this song (she lost to Alannah Myles for "Black Velvet"), Janet became the first artist to earn nominations across Pop, Dance, Rock, Rap, and R&B categories when "Black Cat" was nominated.

Jimmy Jam, another of her producers, encouraged Jackson to tap into her Rock side with this song. "One night I told her I wanted her to sound like a Rock and Roll queen on it - she usually uses one of her other voices to sing R&B funk. This, you wanted to be funky, but more rocked out. That was what I was trying to get her to do, and she did it in one or two takes."

Jackson employed a real black leopard during her concerts until some fans became concerned about the cat's welfare. She announced: "While the illusion with the cat was appreciated by most of the audience, if it caused even a few people to worry about the safety of the cat, it's not worth keeping it."

But there was really nothing to worry about, she added. "I know how well the animal was treated by its trainer and my production staff. I love animals and would never do any harm, or allow anyone to do any harm, to one. Rather than let my fans worry, I would rather do without the cat."

For a more frightening black cat mishap, check out the Songfacts for Hall & Oates' "Maneater."

This song was featured in the 1991 action-thriller The Taking of Beverly Hills.