This is the third song in what Shelly Brisbin calls Cheryl's Penrod Trilogy. It was originally titled "I Was a White Cat Once", but then was shortened to "White Cat" when her album Pointing at the Sun came out.
This song is a fantasy about how Penrod viewed "his staff" who were there to serve him, the center of the universe. Anyone who has had pets, especially cats, can probably relate to this song. 
One of the "Notes from the Road" stories talks about when she was writing this song.
March 19, 2003
Today I had a day off in Portland, Oregon, really a fabulous town. I was walking around, working on a Penrod song, and I needed to be sure how to pronounce "Feng Shui" (happily for me it's as I thought, Fung Schway) and make sure it made sense where I wanted to use it.
I was walking by a bus stop when I decided I needed a bookstore. I asked this guy who looked like a reader to me and he sent me to what he said was the biggest bookstore in the country, Powell's City of Books. It was just a few blocks away.
Talk about died and went to heaven, it was HUGE, when you walk in you can pick up a map ... of the store ... and you'll need one. I found the info I needed, (the staff at the info desk was outstanding) as well as a used hardback copy of a book called "Duncton Wood" which I'd been told, in prior attempts, I'd have to order from England, on line. They have new and used books together on the shelves. I also bought a new paperback in a fantasy series I'm reading.
If I lived here I can't imagine how much time I'd spend in Powell's. I'll probably go again tomorrow. The gig here is tomorrow night. I'll be doing a lot of reading till then.
Cheryl
Apparently, Penrod wasn't your typical cat. Unlike most other cats, he groomed himself once or twice a year.
- White Cat
- Words And Music By
- Cheryl Wheeler
- I was a white cat once, but when I roll around I get all gray and brown
- And it does not make sense to waste a busy day licking the dirt away
- And I have staff for that, sent here to serve the cat
- I let my fur get gray and then I dock their pay
- It's a brand new mornin' as I stretch and arise
- Amble over to the table, little nibble on the kibble
- Shred a little sofa as I open my eyes
- Yes I got ratted, matted messed up hair
- This verbal fur ball does not care
- I want to be the lord of the fleas
- I saunter and I do what I please
- So if you need to see the key to be ungroomed
- You just stay tuned to this Maine Coon
- I was in the garden, takin' the sun
- Checkin' out the bugs, musta rolled on one
- So I got this slug bug stuck to my fur real good
- But I didn't really mind, just a little bit o' slime
- I'd find it later, you know, scratchin' my back
- Be glad I saved it, make a nice little snack
- I went inside, I swear the staff went insane
- Runnin' with the comb and scissors, screamin' my name
- But I can give 'em the quick slip I don't make a sound
- I get onto their outfits and roll all around
- My fur looks bad to me all gray and askew
- I think my staff should be displayin' it too
- And they got this two bit sand pit they want me to use
- Sometimes I don't mind, sometimes I refuse
- Hey I am me, I'm free, independence rocks
- This ain't no new craze to find ways to think outside the box
- I'm really messy hey hey I like to be
- And they're so testy all day at the sight o' me
- Just as all work and no play wasn't meant to be
- They sacrifice to feng-shui their joi de vive
- I was a white cat, I was a white cat
- I was a white cat once
- 3/14-19/03
- (P) May 23, 2003
- Penrod And Higgins Music / Amachrist Music
- ACF Music Group
- International Copyright Reserved