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The Cat Empire

The Cat Empire emerged as a live band. We all grew up playing around Melbourne and we are always most comfortable on a stage.

We would always finish gigs and people would say that the energy of the live show was what they wanted to take home on a CD.

Alongside this, we wanted to produce a recording that would get our music on radio and other streams that could access a larger audience.

So the challenge was to create something that was energetic, vibrant, and alive, but also subtle and decisive.
This concept passed by a few different models, but in the end we aimed for simplicity.

We recorded all the tracks live, then spent time re-doing vocal takes, and some other additions.

We had Andy Baldwin on our team, who was the perfect co-producer and engineer. This album took us 8 months to make, with different parts of it being added in Byron over summer, in Melbourne at studios, at Andy's house and anywhere else we found ourselves.

We are pretty happy with the final product. Make up your own minds by getting your hands on a copy.

  • How To Explain

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  • Days Like These

    • Lyrics

      Days Like These [F REIBL, H ANGUS, O McGILL]

      To the gods in the sky
      there's one thing you can do
      you can send us some sun
      and we'll play you this tune
      because sitting in our room
      lying down with a scoob
      and the sunshine
      through our window

      It's days like these
      that make us happy
      like a puppy getting lucky
      with Lassie hassle-free
      hours passing by
      with the beat one two
      said it's days like these kicking back
      just doing what we do

      Number one I'd find some
      loving in the sun
      with someone that can make me
      growl and hum say hmmm...
      a boom boom shak
      and the beat that she throw at me
      knocking me flat

      Number two
      I'd cruise where the grass is smooth
      and the sound of the sea
      is a dreamy melody
      snooze all afternoon
      till the night time wake me
      cos shakedown soon

      Number three
      I'd be dancing like a monkey up a tree
      find sweet simplicity
      by kissing my honey
      get funky like Bond
      when he's played by Connery
      and get crafty
      like Don Corleone

      Four
      watching Oliver jam a little more
      remember the night when I saw
      what i never never never seen before
      Lavender wrestling a rich wild boar

      CHORUS

      HARRY'S NIGHT TIME RHYME
      And dirty hands
      I like them see
      they make the music that we play
      sound oh so sweet
      and my mother always made me eat broccoli
      and now look at me
      i'm as strong as can be
      so put some spice in my sauce
      honey in my tea
      an ace up my sleeve
      and a slinky plan b
      and most importantly
      my mad family
      they named me lucky
      and for that I'll sing about
      days like these

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      Days Like These

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  • The Lost Song

    • Lyrics
      • Lyrics

        [F REIBL]

        I had nine lives but I lost all of them
        and I’ve been searching in the night
        and I’ve been searching in the rain
        I tried to find them
        but they disappeared
        they walked away they dressed in black
        they left my side and all I say
        is that I wasted time
        when I looked for them
        for now I know that things gone past
        are never to be found again
        no never never again
        I had nine lives
        but lost all of them

        I had a plan
        but never finished it
        and I’ve been searching for the thought
        and I’ve been searching in a haze
        I try all days
        to remember it
        but now the blueprint in my mind has gone
        my mind forgot the colour of direction
        and my eyes they see the hands
        that could have built
        that could have constructed
        the empire in my mind
        the empire
        I’ll never find
        I had a plan
        but that was where it ended

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  • The Chariot

    • Lyrics

      [F REIBL]

      Walking down the street
      with some evil in my eye
      and some thoughts in my head
      that were making me feel high
      on my head was a hoodi
      in my ears was some bass
      was walking by my dog
      when I saw that sexy face
      come towards me
      with a little cheeky smile
      if she was a phone
      I'd pick her up and dial
      the fire brigade
      or zero zero zero
      she stopped me in my tracks
      and I said ‘mmm hchello hchello...’

      I was sleeping in the sand
      with some dreams in my head
      that were causing an extension
      to the towel and my bed
      and the waves were rolling
      like the curves on those legs
      of a sweet beach bella
      with that centrefold spread
      in the midst of the slumber
      I heard some footsteps creeping
      and I woke to discover
      the woman I'd been dreaming
      she knelt down beside
      said 'can I share your pillow?'
      I rolled over and I said
      ‘well hchello hchello...’
      Some like money making
      some like cars
      and some like the houses
      with the rooftop spas
      and some like to gossip
      about some rich sugar daddies
      but me and my friends
      we like the golden brown honeys
      and some like watching people
      living on TV
      that's a little strange
      if you're asking me
      cos I like to eat and laugh
      and **** and play down low
      these are the things I know
      well hchello hchello...

      Welcome to this night
      welcome to this song
      welcome to these rhymes
      that be going on and on
      welcome to the empire
      and the funky empire tunes
      but most of all welcome
      to the bellas in this room...
      well hchello hchello

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      The Chariot

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  • Hello

    • Lyrics

      [F REIBL]

      Walking down the street
      with some evil in my eye
      and some thoughts in my head
      that were making me feel high
      on my head was a hoodi
      in my ears was some bass
      was walking by my dog
      when I saw that sexy face
      come towards me
      with a little cheeky smile
      if she was a phone
      I'd pick her up and dial
      the fire brigade
      or zero zero zero
      she stopped me in my tracks
      and I said ‘mmm hchello hchello...’

      I was sleeping in the sand
      with some dreams in my head
      that were causing an extension
      to the towel and my bed
      and the waves were rolling
      like the curves on those legs
      of a sweet beach bella
      with that centrefold spread
      in the midst of the slumber
      I heard some footsteps creeping
      and I woke to discover
      the woman I'd been dreaming
      she knelt down beside
      said 'can I share your pillow?'
      I rolled over and I said
      ‘well hchello hchello...’
      Some like money making
      some like cars
      and some like the houses
      with the rooftop spas
      and some like to gossip
      about some rich sugar daddies
      but me and my friends
      we like the golden brown honeys
      and some like watching people
      living on TV
      that's a little strange
      if you're asking me
      cos I like to eat and laugh
      and **** and play down low
      these are the things I know
      well hchello hchello...

      Welcome to this night
      welcome to this song
      welcome to these rhymes
      that be going on and on
      welcome to the empire
      and the funky empire tunes
      but most of all welcome
      to the bellas in this room...
      well hchello hchello

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      Hello

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  • One Four Five

    • Lyrics
      • Lyrics

        [F REIBL]

        Listen doctor I have pain
        that grows inside myself
        shelf me please
        I just can’t ease the pain
        I need some drugs to help
        ah pollution fills my lungs
        and convolution fills my mind
        ah my legs do ache
        I contemplate
        that living’s less than fine
        my spine does tingle
        when I think of being
        freed from this curse
        but what is worse I feel
        life is a bubble
        blown until it’s burst
        oh doctor I am desperate
        to get rid of this feeling
        oh doctor I am desperate
        for some good soul healing

        The doctor turned and gave a grin
        and reached into his bag
        but instead of an injection
        got a record with a tag
        that said listen to this daily
        with hip shaking and such things
        then he puts the record in
        grabs a mic and starts to sing
        you need some

        One four five
        to make you high to make you high
        to make you high to make you high
        when heaven falling from the sky
        to make you high to make you high

        Doctor I am feeling better
        what was that you sang
        did you write it or recite it
        or just steal it from a band
        ah my bones are feeling stronger
        and my spirit’s feeling fresh
        ah that dose of 145 has put the life
        back in my breath
        ‘yes yes yes’ the doctor said
        then he sat me down and say
        ‘young man don’t think I wrote
        these chords they’re written in
        your brain’
        and when you hear them
        there’s a shakedown that begins within
        the mind
        cos these three chords make people
        feeling better all the time ah
        they keep repeating
        like a scratch on a cd
        but it’s quality cos these three harmonies
        breed positivity
        protecting against insanity
        of modern insecurities
        believe me when I tell you
        all you need is to be hearing all that

        One four five
        to make you high to make you high
        to make you high to make you high
        when they said what and you said why
        to make you high to make you high

        The doctor turned and gave a grin
        and reached into his bag
        but instead of an injection
        got a record with a tag
        that said listen to this daily
        with hip shaking and such things
        then he puts the record in
        grabs a mic and starts to sing
        you need some

        One four five
        to make you high to make you high
        when you could not count to pi
        when you’re told you can’t fly
        to make you high to make you high
        times like these you need some
        One four five .... hhhuuummnn

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  • The Rhythm

    • Lyrics

      [F REIBL, H ANGUS]

      And for all of the sweet loving that
      I have received
      in the sun in the rain
      by the moon by the sea
      there is one time that I’m thinking of
      one time where one woman
      did knock me off my feet
      and my knees were shaking
      and my jaw was dropping
      and my eyes were squinting
      and my smile was growing
      and my pants were bulging
      and my hands were sweating
      and my chest was beating
      so I cry ‘excuse me,
      what is the secret to your song?’

      Cause when you’re walking along
      when you’re walking along…

      Your legs are a melody my hands
      would like to play
      and your hips are a note
      that does take me away
      and your face and your eyes and your hair
      and your waist and your smile
      drive me to distraction
      she turned and she gave the evil eye
      ‘why thankyou’ she said
      then she sigh ‘ah there’s one thing
      I think you failed to mention…’
      ‘What?’ I said then she said
      ‘It’s the rhythm you forgot’
      and right then I knew what was what
      and she snuck to my lips
      and she kissed them
      said ‘young man
      I’ll show you some rhythm’

      And she’ll show you some rhythm

      And since then ha
      the rhythm’s been running through my veins
      in my thoughts in my eyes
      in my head it’s insane
      it’s the thing that does drive me
      to scream
      on the street when I think of some
      places it’s taken me
      I feel horny when I thinking of some of that rhythm in my mind
      what she gave what she gives to me
      all of the time
      say a little bit of sweet loving in your day
      all my friends know it keeps the
      bad thoughts away
      so sing with your hips my baby
      when you’re dancing to this tune
      and when this tune is through
      we’ll sneak to some place
      and continue to…
      say sing with your hips my baby
      when you’re dancing to this tune
      and when this tune is through
      we’ll sneak to some place and
      continue to –
      she said I’ll show you some rhythm

      And she’ll show you some rhythm

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  • The Wine Song

    • Lyrics

      [H ANGUS]

      Song and melodies change and change
      and sway
      but they still stay the same
      the songs that we sung when the dark days come
      are the songs that we sung when we chased them away
      if I ever found a pot of gold
      I'd buy bottles untold of the nectar of the vines
      I'm going to die with a twinkle in my eye
      ‘cause I sung songs spun stories loved laughed and drank wine

      Tomorrow is another day
      the cats are out to play, to play
      that old rusty spaceship wants to sail
      into the milky way again
      on a river of red red wine

      Run...
      (let's have some)
      Fun...
      (we'll)
      Drink...
      (a toast to the)
      Sun...

      In summer the bushfires rage and rage
      and rage
      on such beautiful days
      and we fight them with water that runs through the cracks
      water we're desperately trying to save
      so I'll just live on wine and water my vines
      and sleep on the wind with the fires right behind
      and sing on the beaches and dance through the night
      oh we'll cry 'pass the wine, pass the wine, pass the wine'

      Run...
      (let's have some)
      Fun...
      (we'll)
      Drink...
      (a toast to the)
      Sun...

      Oh what a beautiful day today!
      today's a day to celebrate
      grab your bucket, grab your spade
      we're heading down to Half Moon Bay
      I saw a plane go into a cloud
      I'm drunk I'm happy I'm singing and loud
      two o'clock in the arvo, but hey that's allowed...
      I'm having a good time and of that I am proud

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  • Nothing

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  • Beanni

    • Lyrics

      [F REIBL]

      His name was Beanni
      say where you been Beanni
      I saw you on your skateboard
      but I never saw your face
      just saw your beanie
      - Beanni

      Her name was Fly Girl
      say where you been Fly Girl
      I seen you shake your mmm-boobie
      but I never saw your face
      just saw your fly sunglasses
      in the night
      and in the day

      One day that Beanni
      was cruising down the street
      on his skateboard
      and his Beanni eyes did look and see
      that fine freaky Fly Girl
      and that Fly Girl who was dancing
      like only Fly Girl could
      did notice one cruisy Beanni
      flying right to where she stood

      And then that Fly Girl was
      a’scream and laughing at the same time
      and till that Beanni
      did fly and fall and crash into her side
      and both of them did fall
      and roll around on their arses
      but then his beanie fell off
      and so did her round glasses
      Beanni reached down
      and picked up Fly Girl's glasses
      from the ground
      and Fly Girl did grab Beanni's
      beanie that she found
      and she gave him back his beanie
      said 'I like you with your beanie on'
      and he did say 'your big black glasses
      look so sexy on'

      They got together
      forever and ever after that
      and had some little Beanni Fly Girl
      and Fly Girl Beanni boys
      gave them glasses for their eyes
      and Beanni beanies for their heads
      and now the Beanni family's dancing
      till the day they're dead

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  • The Crowd

    • Lyrics

      [H, ANGUS] [This song contains a quotation from the poem ‘In a Station of the Metro’ (1913) b Ezra Pound]

      Lord unchain my hands
      let me sing inside the crowded trams
      let me dance among the traffic jams
      we're going to sleep
      on the St Kilda sands

      Lord unbind my feet
      let me mingle with the good people
      we meet
      water rising up into the street
      unbind my feet

      ‘The apparition of these faces in
      the crowd;
      petals on a wet black bough"
      Ezra Pound found the formula
      our houses are rectangular
      but life is curved not angular
      so when things start to strangular
      remember
      rain still falls on the halls of power
      new babies being born every hour
      and the eagle keeps watch on the old clock tower
      over me...

      CHORUS

      On the train I refrain from sitting with head and shoulders bowed
      they told me time is of the essence
      no wandering allowed
      but then I saw a pretty girl
      whose features stood out in the crowd
      went ten minutes past my stop waiting for her to look around
      I'm just another clown kicking around in Melbourne town
      cooling out, relaxing watching the
      world go round
      so if you ever have the time
      and you want to go drink some wine
      I'd rather greet you with a smile
      than greet you with a frown...

      Lord unchain my hands
      let me sing inside the crowded trams
      let me dance among the traffic jams
      we're going to sleep
      on the St Kilda sands

      Lord unbind my feet
      let me mingle with the good people
      we meet
      water rising up into the street
      unbind my feet

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  • Manifesto

    • Lyrics

      [H ANGUS]

      WE BELIEVE
      In the grass in the trees
      WE SUPPORT
      Living life cause life is short
      WE UPHOLD
      Sky of blue sun of gold
      WE MAINTAIN
      On sunny days all sadness and pain be relieved
      WE BELIEVE
      The breeze blows the leaves in the gypsy king's court
      WE SUPPORT
      Food and wine song and thought and when the night gets cold
      WE UPHOLD
      The following rules that I'll sing
      to you all
      We believe in melody
      and harmony
      and all things sweet
      we sing a yum-a-yum chum
      to the moon and the sun
      and the rumble of the drums
      and the big fat beat
      we believe in the ace up the sleeve
      and we shine our gold teeth
      at the cats in the alleys
      a flame on a match
      that the wind can't catch
      and when the bad guys attack
      the empire strikes back

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  • All That Talking

    • Lyrics

      [F REIBL]

      And when it happens it’s like
      honey and pain
      horns in the rain
      misty seas and mysteries
      a dog with no name
      it’s that time again
      not sure if I’m sleeping
      but the vision’s as clear
      as fog on the pier
      someone fishing aimlessly
      a thought’s an idea
      a sound is an ear
      and gods with none believing
      being chased by the lamb
      a knife in its hand
      looked down from that mountain
      saw the moon get a tan
      on the beach with no sand
      something came and something ran
      to make up my mind
      is it bleak or it fine?
      She looked a little doubtful
      smirked and said it’s divine
      to light with no lime
      sometimes

      Oh it’s too late I can’t stop
      moving my mouth
      I’ll shush but I’ll shout
      something’s got a hold of me
      those words coming out
      like froth on a stout
      dreamboat’s sailing into
      stormy weather I see
      salty debris
      cows and tigers jumping at some
      mad dignity
      but passionately we’ll be
      oh finding
      ways without words
      to sing and to purr
      loving without declarations
      stuttered and slurred
      elephants blurred
      nerves resisting urges serve
      to speak with no sight
      a bat taking flight
      only to find tooth marks
      in that sex dynamite
      my girl’s got a bite
      that’s right

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