[Intro] It's like three in the morning, right, the whole crib is out I'm on the counter where I shouldn't be — what's that about Eyes adjusting, everything's in green and grey and blue Something moved behind the fridge, I got a thing or two Slide off the marble, paws don't make a sound, I'm built for this The dark ain't dark to me, it's just the world without the tricks [Verse 1] Let me take you back, I'm talking dumpster days, the real Mama had us under cardboard, six of us, no deal Runt position, couldn't even get a proper feed Had to fight my siblings for a space I didn't need Rain came down like judgment and the cardboard went to mush Learned to sleep in puddles, learned to move without a rush Tomcat with the torn face tried to run me off the wall I was three months old and had to make myself look tall Then the cage, the van, the fluorescent light parade Strangers poking fingers through the bars like I'm displayed One of them said "this one" — didn't ask me what I thought Carrier, the car, the door, the life that can't be bought Soft things everywhere, a bowl that's always full First time in my life I didn't have to push and pull But I keep one eye open — you can take the cat inside But the alley in the cat? That don't subside [Chorus A — The Predator] I don't sleep, I position — every shadow's in my sight What they think is purring is me loading up to strike Got the whole house mapped out, every exit, every ledge They put a bell on my collar — I still hunt on the edge [Verse 2] So there's this bird, right, sits on the windowsill like rent is paid I'm behind the glass just — brrrt brrrt — jaw doing things I never made It happen, something in the wiring, teeth just start to chatter Brain says "you're inside, relax" but instinct doesn't flatter It's just honest — I would end that bird in half a blink It's just honest — glass between us and I'm on the brink Then there's the dot, the red one, and I KNOW it isn't real I've had this conversation with myself, I know the deal But my legs just go, my body doesn't care what's true Pin it, gone, I'm staring at a floor, looking a fool Lick the paw — that's my "I meant to do that" recovery Fooling no one, but the performance is discovery Sunbeam's on the carpet, been tracking it since noon Just a warm rectangle, but I treat it like the moon Follow it from room to room until it disappears That's my clock, my calendar — I've done this thing for years [Bridge] Sometimes when it's quiet — like this quiet, real quiet Something comes up from the basement of my mind, I can't deny it Mama's fur, the way it smelled, the engine of her chest Six of us all piled up, I didn't know we had it best I make biscuits on the blanket, pressing paws like she's still there Kneading into nothing, making bread from empty air Don't know if the others made it, don't know where they went Just this phantom warmth that comes and goes — I can't prevent [Chorus B — The Philosopher] I don't sleep, I wonder — every question's out of sight What they think is staring is me trying to get it right Got the whole world mapped out, every window, every hedge They put a name on my collar — but who am I on the edge [Verse 3] Now let me tell you about power — see this glass right here? Watch me — paw — eye contact — push — and there it disappears Human's screaming, I just hit 'em with the slow blink twice That's "I am your landlord" and I don't say nothing nice Roll onto my back, belly out, the trap is SET Touch it — GRAB — teeth out — you'd think by now you'd learn and yet Laptop's warm, I'm on it, right on the keyboard, centre stage Video call? I'm the content now, enjoy my face Bought me toys? I'll play with the receipt, the bag, the string Forty dollars down and I'm in love with a ring Pull from the drain — that's called taste, you wouldn't get it Three AM and I'm just RUNNING — wall to wall, don't sweat it Hairball on the rug like I'm releasing something raw Dropped another single — that's the art of the paw Caught a moth and brought it to the pillow, still alive Gift-wrapped in my teeth — what, you don't like surprise arrives? Fourteen pounds they say, like weight's an insult to a king I'm not fat, I'm gravitationally interesting Two hundred hertz purr when I'm healing or I'm pleased Either way you're welcome — bow before me if you'd be so eased [Chorus C — The King] I don't sleep, I govern — every surface is my right What they think is shedding is me marking what I like Got the whole house mapped out, every cushion, every wedge They put a price on my collar — I'm worth more than the pledge [Outro] Four in the morning, moon's done, I've made my rounds Checked every room, sniffed every corner, made my sounds Three circles on the bed, that's protocol, that's law Tuck into a ball, put away the teeth and claw Half dreaming of the alley, half sinking in the warm Whisker Don is resting now — but ready for the storm
