Tommy the Cat
{{More citations needed|date=November 2008}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Tommy the Cat
| cover =Tommy the Cat.webp
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Primus
| album = Sailing the Seas of Cheese
| released = 1991
| format =
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = *Funk metal{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/style/1991/10/27/californias-funk-metalists-putting-on-airs/1e84cb28-534e-4615-9d47-84bea43e9e18/ |title=California's funk-metalists, putting on airs |first=Mark |last=Jenkins |date=October 27, 1991 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}
| length = 4:15
| label = Interscope
| writer = Les Claypool, Todd Huth, Larry LaLonde, Tim Alexander
| producer = Primus
| prev_title = Jerry Was a Race Car Driver
| prev_year = 1991
| next_title = Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers
| next_year = 1991
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|r4OhIU-PmB8|"Tommy the Cat"}} }}
}}
"Tommy the Cat" is a song by the American funk metal band Primus, released on their second album, Sailing the Seas of Cheese.
Recording
The song contains spoken word portions (as the voice of Tommy the Cat) interspersed with the singing of Les Claypool. In their live performances, Claypool does both parts himself; however, Tom Waits provided the voice of Tommy the Cat on the studio version from Sailing the Seas of Cheese.
Release
Primus released "Tommy the Cat" following their first major label single, "Jerry Was a Race Car Driver". In concert, Claypool started introducing all of their other songs by saying "This next song is not Tommy the Cat", apparently due to the popularity the song had gained after a video was released and played on MTV.{{cite web|last=single popularity|title=Seas Of Cheese|url=http://thedailyguru.blogspot.nl/2010/07/july-22-primus-tommy-cat.html|work=the daily guru|date=22 July 2010|accessdate=13 November 2013}}
The song was briefly featured in the 1991 film Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey during the "Battle of the Bands" portion of the movie, where Primus was shown performing it.
The song was also used in the teaser trailers for South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut.
A version called "Butters the Cat" was performed by Primus and Matt Stone at the South Park: 25th Anniversary Concert. {{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc3LR1HB59M | title=Primus & Matt Stone - Butters the Cat - South Park 25th Anniv. Concert - 8/10/22 - Red Rocks - CO | website=YouTube }}
Music video
A black-and-white music video was made featuring live action and animation. Les Claypool is seen as a bartender pouring milk for an elderly man dressed as a cat and a smiling figure. The animation featured a female cat strolling into an alley filled with numerous tomcats while the titular Tommy relays what happened. Interspersed are occasional footage of the band playing the song.