Charles stated that he based this song off a story he used to tell his kids, that he himself had heard when he was younger, about a wanderer who would hunt and wrestle with catfish.
[Verse 1]
Call me devil, call me friend
But call me Black Jack Hooligan
I came all the way from Aberdeen
To live among the go-betweens
Let me tell you about Catfish Kate
In the time before when she's just Kate
Here in the mountains, all alone
Before the time we called this home
[Chorus]
Where is my angel fallen?
Down at the river bottom
And will she get away?
Where is my Blackfoot blossom?
Is she just playing possum
Who lives another day?
[Verse 2]
Here in the valley that we all know
A river bend that's deep and slow
Where every creature drinks their fill
And other creatures take their kill
Now Kate had went to catch a fish
To put inside her favorite dish
A catfish grabbed her by the head
And took her to his house instead
[Chorus]
Where is my angel fallen?
Down at the river bottom
And will she get away?
Where is my Blackfoot blossom?
Is she just playing possum
Who lives another day?
[Bridge]
Well, they wrestled all the day and night
The morning showed the bloody sight
Kate all dressed in catfish clothes
His whiskers for her catfish robe
Whiskers for her robe
[Chorus]
Where is my angel fallen?
Down at the river bottom
And is she there to stay?
Where is my Blackfoot blossom?
Is she just playing possum
Who lives another day?
[Outro]
Now she's known as Catfish Kate
Catfish Kate was written by Frank Black.
Catfish Kate was produced by Tom Dalgety.
Pixies released Catfish Kate on Tue Aug 06 2019.