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
Reflections
Catapilla Lyrics
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In the eye, I saw myself...
In the eye, I saw myself...
In the heart of the river was reflected,
In the eye, I saw myself...
In the heart of the river was reflected,
a hole,
of liquid movement...
of liquid movement...
In the eye that made moves,
he saw himself...
In the heart of the river was reflected,
In the heart of the river was reflected,
on the movement,
rain, hole, a river...
Her eyes reflected,
moving traffic
and soul in shimmering blades,
soul in shimmering blades,
his movement
his fragile feeling
burnt out in frozen places
where he's not smothered.
In the eye, I saw myself...
In the eye, I saw myself...
The lyrics of Catapilla's song "Reflections" are full of vivid imagery and introspective themes. The chorus, which repeats the line "In the eye, I saw myself," seems to suggest a deep self-awareness and self-reflection. The lyricist seems to be looking into a river and seeing his or her own reflection, but the imagery is much more than that. The "heart of the river" is also reflected, suggesting a deeper connection to the natural world and perhaps a sense of being part of something larger than oneself.
The second stanza is more abstract and seems to describe a kind of dance or movement. The "liquid movement" suggests something fluid and graceful, and the repeated phrase "of liquid movement" adds a hypnotic quality to the lyrics. In the third stanza, the focus shifts to "his" movement and "his" fragile feeling. It's unclear who "he" is, but the sense of vulnerability and isolation that comes through is palpable. The final two lines of the third stanza provide a flicker of hope, suggesting that there are some places where "he's not smothered."
Overall, the lyrics of "Reflections" are full of rich images and emotions, but they're also somewhat elusive. It's not clear exactly what the lyricist is reflecting on, or what they hope to find in their self-reflection. The sense of floating, fluid movement and connection to the natural world is palpable, however, and the repeated refrain of "In the eye, I saw myself" suggests a deep and ongoing process of self-discovery.
Line by Line Meaning
In the eye, I saw myself...
The singer looks into someone's eye and catches a glimpse of their own reflection.
In the heart of the river was reflected,
The singer sees a reflection in the water, specifically in the part of the river that is at its center.
a hole,
The reflection in the water appears to have a gap or hole in it.
of liquid movement...
The reflection is constantly shifting and changing, with fluid movements.
In the eye that made moves,
The person whose eye the artist is looking into is also moving around.
he saw himself...
The person the singer is looking at also sees a reflection of themselves in the singer's eyes.
on the movement,
The reflection in the water changes based on the movement and activity around it.
rain, hole, a river...
There are other elements present in the reflection, including rain and the river itself.
Her eyes reflected,
The artist is now looking into a different person's eyes and seeing a reflection.
moving traffic
The reflection in this person's eyes includes the view of moving cars or people.
and soul in shimmering blades,
The reflection also shows the soul or innermost self of the singer, portrayed as shining blades.
his movement
The person the artist is looking at is also moving around.
his fragile feeling
The person seems to be displaying vulnerability or sensitivity.
burnt out in frozen places
The singer sees evidence of the person becoming emotionally drained or numb in difficult situations.
where he's not smothered.
Despite the challenges, the person has managed to hold onto their sense of self and identity.
Contributed by Avery F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
DirtLevel
Love this album
Iain Neville
Me too.
DirtLevel
@Iain Neville Their other one is good, too.
Iain Neville
@DirtLevel Yes, both l.p.'s are very good with Changes having the slight edge for me. The group disbanded after the first album so new musicians were sought for the Changes l.p. leaving only Anna Meek (I believe) from the original line up which would explain why both records sound quite different to each other. I have both but they're the Akarma reissues and saddly not the legendary swirl releases. Good to chat mate. All the best, Iain.