Harry James Angus (b. 1982) is an Australian singer-songwriter, trumpet pla… Read Full Bio ↴Harry James Angus (b. 1982) is an Australian singer-songwriter, trumpet player, and guitarist. He is one of the lead vocalists in the Melbourne band The Cat Empire. He is the nephew of comedienne, actress, and writer, Mary-Anne Fahey.

Angus was born on the 11th June 1982 in Melbourne, Victoria. he started playing trumpet at the age of twelve, and learnt to scat from listening to jazz recordings. He went to Malvern Primary School, where he often sang at school assemblies. He then went to McKinnon Secondary College and was taught by Ian Orr in Melbourne before studying at the Victorian College of the Arts. In 2006 he appeared twice as a panellist on the ABC Australian Music Quiz show Spicks and Specks. Angus is also part of The Conglomerate, a four-piece Melbourne jazz band. He also played basketball for the Malvern Tigers Basketball Club, and used to wear the club's black and yellow singlet while performing at gigs. He is married to Emily Lubitz, the lead singer of Tinpan Orange.

His side project, Jackson Jackson, is a partnership with producer and film composer Jan Skubiszewski (Two Hands, The Rage in Placid Lake, Last Man Standing). "Jackson Jackson and the New Apocalypso Beat" features Melbourne trio The Genie (composed of Ollie McGill on keyboards and keytar, Ryan Monro on bass, and Will Hull-Brown on drums). His backing singers are known as "The Jackson Jackson 5" (made up of Elana Stone, Karishma Sadhai, Bec Ari, Chantal Mitvalsky, and Rory Osman). Jackson Jackson are signed to EMI, and their debut album The Fire Is on ohe Bird was released in 2007. In 2008 they released their second album. Tools for Survival.

Angus is a member of The Conglomerate, and plays trumpet on four tracks of the debut album Aroona Palace by Tinpan Orange, which also features Ollie McGill.

He has also released two folk/acoustic solo albums: Live at the Famous Spiegeltent (2008) and Little Stories (2011).

My Boring Life
Harry James Angus Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You're a son and you're a father, is there nothing in between?

I'm afraid, I'm afraid, I'm afraid that I'm afraid
I'm afraid, I'm afraid that I'm afraid
Of my boring life, my boring life

(ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)

I went on holidays, we got to Burma shave
In the mountains in the jungle we were crazy
We were drunk, we were young, we were lawyers on the run
I saw this begging man, his legs were little stumps

He tried to grab my ankle as I passed
I admit that I was frightened, but I laughed
I threw a coin and he grabbed it from the air
Then he turned his rotting face to me and said

"I would kill, I would kill, I would kill you where you stand
I would kill you, I would kill you where you stand
For your boring life, your boring life"

(ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)

I bought my girlfriend a necklace for her birthday
She calls me her lawnmower babe
In the mornings we run around the lake
In the evenings I try to stay awake

My bedroom lamp has a soft warm glow
With the TV, it dances on the wall
Keeps me up a little longer, I like to smell the air
After midnight, when it feels like the highway isn't there

And I think, and I think, I think to myself
To myself I think that I should learn to love
My boring life, so clear and bright

(ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)

My boring life, my sacrifice

(ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh...)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "My Boring Life" by Harry James Angus convey a sense of disappointment and resignation towards life. The song opens with the singer reminiscing about his former glory days - the fire in his eyes and the hammer in his fist - when he believed he could change the world with his music. However, as time passed, his passion for music waned, and now he simply doesn't care. He has given up on his dreams and accepted his boring life.

The singer's life is presented as mundane and unremarkable, with all his plans and papers scattered in the wind. Even his furniture is fresh and new from Sweden, indicating a new start or shift in his life, yet it still seems unfulfilling to him. He ponders the fact that he is a son and a father, but feels there's nothing significant in between. The chorus repeats the phrase "I'm afraid" as a refrain, highlighting the singer's sense of apprehension towards his life.

In the second verse, the singer reminisces about a time when he was young and carefree, traveling through the jungle, and getting drunk with his fellow lawyers. However, he encounters a beggar who curses him for his boring life. This encounter seems to stun him, and he realizes that he may be wasting his life in a dull routine. Despite this, he continues to live a monotonous life with his girlfriend, running around the lake in the mornings, and struggling to stay awake in the evenings.

Overall, "My Boring Life" is a contemplative song that aims to showcase the struggles of an individual grappling with the mundanity of their existence. It highlights the struggles of individuals who feel unfulfilled and are searching for meaning in their lives.

Line by Line Meaning

I used to have this fire in my eyes
I used to have an intense passion and drive

I used to have this hammer in my fist
I used to feel powerful and capable

I used to think that I would write a song that saved the world
I used to believe that I had the ability to make a significant impact on the world through my music

Now I think I couldn't give a shit
Now I feel apathetic and unmotivated

All my plans and papers in the wind
All of my hopes and dreams have been abandoned or forgotten

All my furniture is fresh and new from Sweden
I have surrounded myself with material possessions, but they do not bring me happiness or fulfillment

All the things I've done, and all the things I'll be
Both my past and future seem unremarkable and uninspiring

You're a son and you're a father, is there nothing in between?
I am struggling to find my identity or purpose beyond my familial roles

I'm afraid, I'm afraid, I'm afraid that I'm afraid
I am overwhelmed by anxiety and fear

Of my boring life, my boring life
I am dissatisfied with the mundane nature of my existence

I went on holidays, we got to Burma shave
I have had exciting experiences in the past

In the mountains in the jungle we were crazy
I have done things that were unconventional or foolish

We were drunk, we were young, we were lawyers on the run
I have had moments of rebellion and nonconformity

I saw this begging man, his legs were little stumps
I have been confronted with the harsh reality of poverty and disability

He tried to grab my ankle as I passed
I have been in uncomfortable or scary situations

I admit that I was frightened, but I laughed
I used humor to cope with my fear

I threw a coin and he grabbed it from the air
I tried to help, but in a limited or ineffective way

Then he turned his rotting face to me and said
I was confronted with the reality of another person's suffering

"I would kill, I would kill, I would kill you where you stand
The begging man was so disillusioned and angry that he threatened to harm me

For your boring life, your boring life"
The man was angry that I appeared to have a comfortable and uneventful life

I bought my girlfriend a necklace for her birthday
I have loved and cared for another person

She calls me her lawnmower babe
We have a playful and lighthearted relationship

In the mornings we run around the lake
I have a routine and a sense of stability in my life

In the evenings I try to stay awake
I struggle with boredom or restlessness

My bedroom lamp has a soft warm glow
I find comfort in small things

With the TV, it dances on the wall
I seek distraction or entertainment

Keeps me up a little longer, I like to smell the air
I enjoy the solitude and stillness of late nights

After midnight, when it feels like the highway isn't there
I find peace in the quiet of the night

And I think, and I think, I think to myself
I am introspective and reflective

To myself I think that I should learn to love
I recognize that I need to find happiness and contentment in my current life

My boring life, so clear and bright
I realize that my life, while not always exciting, has its own virtues and joys

My boring life, my sacrifice
I am willing to accept the mundane aspects of my life as a price worth paying for stability, security, and love

Writer(s): Henry James Angus Copyright: J Albert And Son Pty Ltd.

Contributed by Jordyn H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

sonnyvegaresto

I used to have this fire in my eyes
I used to have this hammer in my fist
I used to think that I would write a song that saved the world
Now I think I couldn't give a shit

All my plans and papers in the wind
All my furniture is fresh and new from Sweden
All the things I've done, and all the things I'll be
You're a son and you're a father, is there nothing in between?

I'm afraid, I'm afraid, I'm afraid that I'm afraid
I'm afraid, I'm afraid that I'm afraid
Of my boring life, my boring life

(ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)

I went on holidays, we got to Burma shave
In the mountains in the jungle we were crazy
We were drunk, we were young, we were lawyers on the run
I saw this begging man, his legs were little stumps

He tried to grab my ankle as I passed
I admit that I was frightened, but I laughed
I threw a coin and he grabbed it from the air
Then he turned his rotting face to me and said

"I would kill, I would kill, I would kill you where you stand
I would kill you, I would kill you where you stand
For your boring life, your boring life"

(ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)

I bought my girlfriend a necklace for her birthday
She calls me her lawnmower babe
In the mornings we run around the lake
In the evenings I try to stay awake

My bedroom lamp has a soft warm glow
With the TV, it dances on the wall
Keeps me up a little longer, I like to smell the air
After midnight, when it feels like the highway isn't there

And I think, and I think, I think to myself
To myself I think that I should learn to love
My boring life, so clear and bright

(ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)

My boring life, my sacrifice

(ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh...)

All comments from YouTube:

Melissa P

9y↑26

I think Harry is one of Australia's most underrated musicians. If you've seen The Cat Empire live, he gives it everything and he is just amazing to watch.

Miguel Faro Bird

9y↑2

Completely agree Melissa. I've just seeThe Cat Empire in Madrid, last night. They had to come out with a second date here in Madrid, first date tickets were sold out in a couple of days. They are simply amazing, probabbly one of the best lives I've ever seen. I was quite surprise with Harry. He was simply perfect.

Thirstyspirit

8y↑1

Absolutely, he is a lively magical musician

Terrance Haz

11y↑2

This guy is a amazing musician if you know him,his work,and the bands he plays with you have heard true music to cherish.

Cameron Forbes

10y↑2

Such a talented musician!
Went to watch The cat empire a couple of months ago and he was just insane on the trumpet and now i see him play the guitar as well as he plays the trumpet, thats talent! and to top it of his voice is just so good!