The Chariot
The Cat Empire Lyrics

This is a song that came upon me One night When the news it had been telling me Bout one more war and one more fight and
The inspiration for this song came from the constant news reports about war and conflict around the world. The lyrics express a desire for a more peaceful way of life.

I, I sighed But then I thought about my friends Then I wrote this declaration Just in case the world end
The singer expresses a sense of sadness and despair at the state of the world, but finds comfort in the thought of his friends. He writes this song as a message to them, in case the world ever ends.

Our guns We shot them in the things we said Ah we didn't need no bullets Cause we rely on some words instead
The 'guns' they refer to are their words and the power they have in conversation. They believe that words can be just as deadly as bullets, and they rely on their wit and intelligence to win arguments.

Kill someone in argument Outwit them with our brains And we'd kill ourselves laughing At the funny things we'd say
They use their intelligence to outsmart their opponents in arguments, and find humor in their own wit and cleverness.

And bombs We had them saved for special times When the crew would call a shakedown We'd break down a party landmine
The 'bombs' they refer to are their ability to throw a great party. They save this skill for special occasions, and when they do unleash it, it's like a bomb going off with the energy and excitement they bring.

Women that so sexy They explode us with their looks Ah we blowing up some speakers Jumping 'round 'til the ground shook
They use the power of music and dance to make themselves and others feel alive. They are particularly drawn to the beauty of women and the way they can make them feel explosive and energized.

And missiles They were the road-trips that we launched T-t-tripping 'cross this island Starting missions at the break of dawn
The 'missiles' they refer to are their road trips, which they view as missions. They set out early in the morning to explore the island and discover new adventures.

Yawn and smile say What direction shall we take? Somewhere where it warm and wet This be the route we'd always take and
They approach their road trips with a sense of relaxed spontaneity. They don't have a set itinerary or plan, but instead go where the wind takes them. They are drawn to warm and tropical destinations.

Our weapons were our instruments Made from our timber and steel We never yielded to conformity But stood like kings In a chariot that's riding on a Record wheel
Their 'weapons' are their musical instruments, made from the natural materials of timber and steel. They see music as a way to rebel against conformity and to assert their own unique identities. They see themselves as kings riding in a chariot, powered by the record wheel of their music.

And our air-force flying When the frisbee in the sky Have a session while we're smoking Now we're feeling extra high
Their 'air force' is a reference to playing frisbee, which they do while smoking. They feel especially happy and carefree in these moments.

And we'd sneak into a car-park With the skaties on our back And we're flying down the levels howling "On the attack now, on the attack"
They enjoy sneaking around and breaking the rules a bit, as they do when they go roller-skating in a forbidden area. They are full of energy and excitement, like they are on the attack in a battle.

And battles They happened in these dancehalls See we'd rather fight with music Choosing when the rhythm won
Their 'battles' take place on the dance floor, where they compete with each other through their music and dance moves. They prefer to fight through music and rhythm, rather than with physical violence.

Battle at these shakedowns And we'd battle at these gigs We do battle in our bedrooms Made some sweet love to the beat
They continue to battle each other through their music and dance skills, whether they are at concerts, parties, or even in their own bedrooms. They also see music as a way to connect with each other and make love.

And our allies grew Wherever we would roam See whenever we're together Any stranger feel at home
As they travel and explore new places, they find allies and friends everywhere they go. They have a way of making any stranger feel welcome and accepted when they are together.

In a way we are an army But this army not destruct No instead we're doing simple things Good loving, find it, run amuck
They see themselves as a type of army, but one that is not destructive. Instead, they spread joy and happiness through their music and their ability to love and connect with others. They encourage others to join them in running amuck and having fun.

This be a declaration Written about my friends It's engraved into this song So they know we're not forgetting them
This song is a declaration of love and appreciation for the singer's friends. He wants them to know how much they mean to him and that he will never forget them.

See maybe if the world contained More people like these Then the news would not be telling me Bout all that warfare endlessly and
The singer suggests that the world would be a better place if more people were like his friends, spreading love and joy instead of conflict and war.