ACROSS THE SEED BEDS FIRST

(Music: ACROSS THE UNIVERSE, Lennon-McCartney) (info./disclaimers) (glossary) (index) (gardening guide)

Cats are prowling out around the corner of my windowbox
They stalk along the fence, look back
To see if I am watching

Cats meander through the open cracks within my garden gate
A strange fear is possessing me

Fie, you prowling felines ... git home
Why you wanna change my world?
Why you wanna change my world?
Why you wanna change my world?
Why you wanna change my world?

Cats approach the garden beds I worked so hard in yesterday
I curse because I know they'll walk
Across the seed beds first

Cats are treating my fresh-planted seed beds as a litter box
They scuff young plants to nothingness
Unsprouted seeds fare worse

Fie, you no-good felines ... git home
Why're you scratching up my world?
Why're you scratching up my world?
Why're you scratching up my world?
Why're you scratching up my world?

Carefully planted furrows vanish like we never put them there
Distressing and incensing me

Clumps of soil land in the path, a smell of kitty lingers there
It stinks that I can't garden when
I plant the seed beds first

Fie, you wretched felines ... go home
Why're you messing up my world?
Why're you messing up my world?
Why're you messing up my world?
Why're you messing up my world?

Fie, you cursed felines
Fie, you prowling felines
Fie, you no-good felines
Fie, you wretched felines
Fie, you stinky felines
Fie, you cursed felines … (repeat as above and fade)

 
Comments: Unlike the Beatles, for whom THREE COOL CATS was an early stage favorite, the Beetless express a jaded and rather pathetic attitude toward cats in their work. A good friend and neighbor agrees, believing that cats have no place in the middle of a forest, and rejoicing in the bird life that surrounds her cat-less cabin. On the other hand, the Beetless' herbalist, living nearer to town, loves cats. Even the Beetless would probably agree that cats do reduce rodent populations in food storage areas.

 
Excerpted from The Beetless' Gardening Book: An Organic Gardening Songbook/Guidebook, copyright 1997 by Chris Roth (info./disclaimers) (glossary) (index) (gardening guide)