Cat in the Midsummer Night
TANUFOXCreated by M.Sawaguchi / Lyrics by M.Sawaguchi
This song was created based on the real-life experience of TANUFOX, the administrator of this website.
The Asagaya Tanabata Matsuri (Asagaya Tanabata Festival) is one of the most famous and vibrant summer festivals in Tokyo, held annually in early August along the Asagaya Pearl Center shopping arcade.
Established in 1954 to boost local business during the slow summer months, the festival is renowned for its massive, colorful hariko (paper-mache) ornaments. These giant decorations—handcrafted by local shopkeepers and residents—hang from the arcade ceiling, depicting everything from traditional folklore characters to popular anime figures and current celebrities. Along with the beautiful decorations, the streets come alive with open-air food stalls, music, and a festive community spirit, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.
It was on just such a night that it happened.
Filename: Cat-in-the-Midsummer-Night-.wav
File type: audio/wav
File size: 38 MB
Length: 3 minutes, 27 seconds
Cat in the Midsummer Night
Lyrics
"Let me tell you a story… back when I lived in Asagaya, Tokyo.
Every summer, the town goes wild for the Tanabata Festival.
If you ever visit Japan, man, that’s the time you wanna aim for.
Yeah… let me tell you about a strange thing that happened to me on one of those crazy, hot summer nights…"
(Verse 1)
Hot summer night in Asagaya town
The festival hung up, the stars looking down
I’d had too many drinks, the room was spinning tight
With an empty stomach, I walked into the midnight light
(Verse 2)
Strolling down the street, not a soul in sight
When a strange little shadow broke the heavy night
A fat, arrogant cat, coming straight my way
"Hey man, back off," I wanted to say
(Chorus)
Oh, that midnight cat in the summer heat
Spooky little rhythm on the neon street
You better be kind to the creatures you meet
Before they take a seat in your dreams
(Verse 3)
He wouldn't move an inch, didn't care about my pride
So I kicked him high, sent him for a ride
But he flipped in the air, landed on his feet
Hissed like a demon, standing in the street
(Bridge)
Summer sweat and cold fear, mixing on my skin
Drenched to the bone, from the trouble I was in
I grabbed my snacks, ran back to my bed
But that damn fat cat was stuck inside my head
(Guitar & Trumpet Solo)
(Verse 4)
Five long years have passed since that crazy night
Every sweaty summer, he returns to my sight
Visiting my sleep, talking in my head
Now we're best friends, but only when I'm dead in bed
(Outro)
Yeah, it’s a true story, believe it or not
Be kind to animals, give 'em what you got
So remember Asagaya, remember the cat…
(Gahahaha… yeah, be kind, man…)
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File size: 525 KB
Size: 1080 x 1080 pixels
Filename: Cat-in-the-Midsummer-Night01.jpg
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File size: 761 KB
Dimensions: 1920 x 1080 pixels
Filename: Black-cat.jpg
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File size: 322 KB
Dimensions: 1920 x 1081 pixels
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Filename: Cat-in-the-Midsummer-Night04.jpg
File type: image/jpeg
File size: 747 KB
Dimensions: 1920 x 1080 pixels
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