The Naming of Cats Lyrics

von Cats (Musical)

There's a man over there with a look of surprise.
As much as to say as to say now, well how about that?
Do I actually see with my own very eyes?
A man who's not heard of a Jellicle Cat?
What's a Jellicle Cat?
What's a Jellicle Cat?

The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter.
It isn't just one of your holiday games.
You may think at first I'm mad as a hatter
When I tell you a cat must have three different names.

First of all, there's the name that the family use daily.
Such as Peter, Augustus, Alonzo or James.
Such as Victor or Jonathan, George or Bill Bailey.
All of them are sensible, everyday names.

But I tell you, a cat needs a name that's particular.
A name that's peculiar and more dignified.
Else how can he keep up his tail perpendicular?
Or spread out his whiskers or cherish his pride?

Of names of this kind, I can give you a quorum.
Such as Munkustrap, Quaxo, or Coricopat.
Such as Bombalurina or else Jellylorum.
Names that never belong to more than one cat.

But above and beyond, there's still one name left over.
And that is the name that you will never guess.
The name that no human research can discover.
But the cat himself knows and will never confess.

When you notice a cat in profound meditation,
The reason, I tell you, is always the same.
His mind is engaged in rapt contemplation
Of the thought, of the thought, of the thought of his name.
His ineffable, effable, effanineffable
Deep and inscrutable singular name.
Name, name, name, name, name, name.