From August 11, 2002 version
So you think you see a pussycat you'd like to pet
You start to come on strong to see how far you will get
You feed that pussycat that "I'm a tiger" line
You don't know you're messin' with 99, 99
Well, you brag about your motorboat and Cadillacs
You cheated about a million on your income tax
It isn't till they slap you with a great big fine
That you know that you've been messin' with 99, 99
Well, there's music on the hi-fi and she dims the light
She fixes a Martini that is out of sight
Your tongue begins to loosen 'cause you're all alone
But that ain't an olive, buddy, that's a microphone
Oh you're a foreign spy who wants to come in from the cold
You've never been uncovered, you're so self-controlled
But then all these things will happen in time
Because you know you have been messin' with 99, 99
You're the highest paid informer for a Balkan state
On your night off, you invite her for a dinner date
But if she freshens up, then you'll be unemployed
'Cause that ain't a lipstick, buddy, that's a Polaroid
So listen, tigers, this is what it's all about
A pussycat will get you if you don't watch out
And everytime I see you walking up your spine
That's a lesson, don't go messin' with a girl
Who is caressin' a tiny Smith and Wesson
She's 99, she's 99
This song is from the Get Smart soundtrack (a spy-comedy sitcom from the '60s).
This song was sung by Agent-99 herself, the sexy Barbara Feldon.
Played live once:
August 11, 2002
Beck played this song with Jack White and Smokey Hormel on August 11, 2002, in Michigan. An interesting, and fun, choice of a song for the three groovy cats to do together. Beck was on his keyboard, Smokey played guitar, and Jack sang. They also played "Cold Brains" and "Last Fair Deal Gone Down" together.
Beck and Jack's live performance
the original version
- Beck and Jack White are friends who have worked together quite a bit.
Live, Beck has covered "Black Math." Jack White has shown up at a couple of Beck concerts over the years, joining in on "Cold Brains," "99," and "Last Fair Deal Gone Down." Beck showed up once at a White Stripes concert to play bass on "The Denial Twist." Jack has also covered a few of Beck's songs on stage on occasion.
In the studio, Jack White plays bass on "Go It Alone." Beck produced (in his living room, no less), and played, on a Stripes single with these songs: "Honey, We Can't Afford To Look This Cheap," "It's My Fault For Being Famous," and "Cash Grab Complications On The Matter."
Beck was in a White Stripes music video for "The Hardest Button To Button," and then a number of years later, The Stripes released Beck's remix of the song.
More recently, Beck recorded "I Just Started Hating Some People Today" and "Blue Randy" in Jack's studio. Jack plays on both tracks, and released them as a single on his record label. Supposedly, Beck recorded an entire album in Jack's studio, which we're still waiting on.