CATAPILLA were an English band from the early 70's who released two interes… Read Full Bio ↴CATAPILLA were an English band from the early 70's who released two interesting albums of experimental jazz rock, without symphonic traces as in other bands of the moment such as AFFINITY, CRESSIDA, or SPRING. The band had a line-up of six to seven people performing on saxophones, keyboards, bass, guitar, vocals, bass, and drums.

Catapilla were formed in the late 1960s in west London, with early members Malcolm Frith on drums, Dave Taylor on bass, Graham Wilson playing guitar and a wind section (Hugh Eaglestone, Robert Calvert and Thierry Rheinhart). Joe Meek was the first lead vocalist.

Black Sabbath manager Patrick Meehan produced the band's self-titled debut album, recorded with Anna Meek.

After the release of their first album, the group toured, and Eaglestone, Frith, Rheinhart and Taylor were substituted by Brian Hanson (drums), Ralph Rolinson (keyboards) and Carl Wassard (bass). With this new line-up, the band recorded their second album, Changes. This album is regarded as the group's main achievement, and had a great influence on other musicians of that time, although without mainstream success. Soon after the release of this album Catapilla disbanded.

Members

* Malcolm Frith – drums
* Dave Taylor – bass
* Graham Wilson – guitar
* Joe Meek – vocals
* Hugh Eaglestone – saxophone
* Robert Calvert – saxophone
* Thierry Rheinhart – woodwind
* Anna Meek – vocals
* Brian Hanson – drums
* Ralph Rolinson – keyboards
* Carl Wassard – bass

Promises
Catapilla Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The promises you made to me,
when you thought I couldn't see,
the part of a plan was ment to be my schooling.
And when you saw you mercies fade,
you realized that you are made,
I'll be under a light way full back to your fooling.
And now you try to deny,
that you are on your own,

you did promised,
but now your chances are gone,
and now you can see for yourself,
all the harm that you've done.
I'll see you around.

Promises you made to me,
of freedom love and luxury,
are now part of an history's back numbers.
The liberties that you are taking
Ensure that people's shaking,
would eventually whip us from this slumber.
And nobody says,
and no one's secure,
and within I just crashed the lights out,
any fool's a madness, that's for sure,
and tellin' the silence of life,
has been falling to the ground.
I'll see you around.

This soul I see, you think you're clever,
living in your vile endeavour,
the promises you did to me were never ending.
The blood of us is yet unborn,
the body's smashed and bruised and torn.
These answers went when you just keep on sending.
Now you try to justify,
you keep things to me.
I write you with a mind
too of humanity,
but something in the context of your life,
that deadly cuts off every power.
'Cause you are wrong
throwing towels in the air,
we got things answering crashing down.
'Cause you are wrong,
with the shadow that you cast
that nearly touch the ground.
'Cause you are wrong
throwing towels in the air,
we got things answering crashing down.

'Cause you are wrong,
'Cause you are wrong…

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Catapilla's song "Promises" are a critique of broken promises and the consequences that they have on individuals and society. In the first verse, the singer addresses someone who made promises to them while thinking that they couldn't see what was going on. However, when their mercies fade, they realize the harm they have done, and they try to deny it. The singer tells them that they can now see for themselves the harm they have caused, and their chances are gone.

In the second verse, the singer refers to promises of freedom, love, and luxury that have become part of history's back numbers. They criticize the liberties that people are taking and emphasize the importance of waking up from the slumber that society is in. The singer says that nobody is secure, and they crash the lights out on any fool's madness, telling the silence of life that has been falling to the ground.

In the last verse, the singer highlights the destructive nature of broken promises. They criticize those who think they are clever and justify their actions. The singer says that the blood of us is yet unborn, and the body is smashed and bruised and torn. They note that something in the context of the person's life cuts off every power. Thus, the song talks about the destruction that broken promises cause in human relationships and society at large.

Line by Line Meaning

Promises you made to me, of freedom love and luxury, are now part of an history's back numbers.
You made grand promises to me of freedom, love, and luxury, but now they are just a thing of the past, irrelevant and forgotten.

The liberties that you are taking Ensure that people's shaking, would eventually whip us from this slumber.
Your actions are causing unrest and anxiety among people, and they will eventually rise up against them, waking up from the slumber they are in.

And nobody says, and no one's secure, and within I just crashed the lights out,
No one speaks up, and no one feels safe or secure. And in me, I feel like I'm losing hope and giving up.

any fool's a madness, that's for sure, and tellin' the silence of life, has been falling to the ground.
Any act of foolishness is a form of madness, and the peacefulness of life is slowly disappearing.

This soul I see, you think you're clever, living in your vile endeavour, the promises you did to me were never ending.
You think you are smart, living in your wicked ways. The promises you made to me were never intended to last forever.

The blood of us is yet unborn, the body's smashed and bruised and torn. These answers went when you just keep on sending.
Our future is uncertain, and our bodies and minds are damaged. You kept sending messages, but the solutions were never there.

Now you try to justify, you keep things to me. I write you with a mind too of humanity,
Now you are trying to explain yourself, but you still hide things from me. I approach you with empathy and understanding,

but something in the context of your life, that deadly cuts off every power. 'Cause you are wrong throwing towels in the air,
But something in your life undermines your every effort. You are wrong to give up so easily.

we got things answering crashing down. 'Cause you are wrong, with the shadow that you cast that nearly touch the ground.
Things are falling apart, and you are to blame. The shadow you cast is so heavy that it almost touches the ground.

'Cause you are wrong throwing towels in the air, we got things answering crashing down. 'Cause you are wrong,
You are wrong to just give up and throw in the towel. Things are crashing down because of your actions and decisions. You are wrong.

Contributed by Xavier W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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