He was born in Tupelo
Out on Old Saltillo Road
He learned guitar from a preacher-man
Country Blues from a Shake Rag band
He was a Hillbilly Cat
Hillbilly Cat
A heart of gold and a voice to match
That rock and rollin' Hillbilly Cat
He'd go strollin' down on Beale
He loved the way the music made him feel
He flew so high when he looked down
He could not even see the ground
They came from miles around to hear him play
He poured his heart and soul out on the stage
Just another hard-luck kid
God gave him a powerful gift
When it came to crossin' lines
Music made him color-blind!
He was a Hillbilly Cat
Hillbilly cat
Too hip for white too white to be black
Folks just called him the Hillbilly Cat
Never be another one like that
Rock and rollin' Hillbilly Cat