Founded through a mutual love of 60’s and 70’s dub and punk by three friends namely Geoff Lagadec - (vocals / guitar) ; Dave Smith - (guitar / vocals) and Ben Murphy - (bass).
Jaya The Cat create songs ranging from booze fueled anthems to chilled out dance tracks to outright political commentary.
With a current line up including Jordi ‘Pockets’ Nieuwenburg on guitar, Jeroen Kok on bass, and Onverwagt on keyboards.
Following the 2001 release of their debut album Basement Style ( Gold Circle Records ), Jaya The Cat were joined by ex-Shadows Fall drummer David ‘The Germ’ Germain and began a steady touring schedule of stages across the United States and Europe, playing major clubs and festivals such as Lowlands in Holland, Pukkelpop in Belgium, and the Warped Tour in the US. Their music has also been featured in numerous skate, surf and snowboard videos.
Summer 2003 saw their sophomore release, First Beer of a New Day ‘’ (4tune Records).
Although both albums met with positive critical success and they had gathered a loyal worldwide following, personal differences saw the departure of Smith and Murphy that fall, which effectively left the band in limbo. After a freezing music-less winter working shitty jobs in Boston, Lagadec and Germain met up and decided to look for new members. Temporarily joined for a spring European tour by dutch musicians Jan Jaap Onverwagt (Green Lizard) and Alejandro Londoño, they took a 3 month sublet on an apartment in Amsterdam with the plan of regrouping and figuring out what the hell to do with themselves. Three months turned into three years.
In the interim, the band has continued to grow, playing hundreds of live shows to an ever expanding audience, as well as adding keyboards, samples, percussion and a tiki bar to their onstage act. An average Jaya the Cat concert usually becomes more of a party than a performance, with the audience singing, dancing and drinking right along with the band.
September 7th 2007, saw the European release of their third studio album entitled More Late Night Transmissions with... on I Scream Records. Drawing on their experiences, More Late Night Transmissions with... delivers 13 tracks filled with seedy bars, cheap hotels, dysfunctional love affairs and political disillusionment. Punk rock, reggae, ska and pop, glued in their own unique style.
More Late Night Transmissions with... was released on the 10th of May in the US by I Scream Records USA.
Discography:
* CD ‘Basement Style’ (Gold Circle Records 2000)
* CD ‘First ‘Beer Of A New Day’ (4Tune Records 2002)
* CD/LP ‘Ernesto’s Burning’ (Music Machine Records 2004)
* CD More Late Night Transmissions with... (I Scream Records 2007)
* CD Single ‘Closing Time’ (I Scream Records 2007)
* CD Single 'Good Morning' (I Scream Records 2008)
* CD More Late Night Transmissions with... (I Scream Records 2009)
Web links:
Jaya The Cat Official Site
Facebook Fan Page
Myspace page
Purevolume
Final Solution
Jaya the Cat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
she's been living in a shelter down on 20th and mission
it's a fucking miracle that she's still breathing
traded in her torch for a needle
lock down final solution
the lives of the many decided by the few
there's gotta be a better way but i don't see it
aint no one free in this so called war for freedom
the sacrificial lambs are trained and ready
and in the business district the drums of war
top the charts shake the dancefloor
where'd we go wrong? we've been running in the same direction too long
where'd we go wrong? once there was a way but now it's gone
lock the doors turn out the lights
when the cops come knocking better keep it quiet
and a voice keeps talking in the back of my mind
how long can you last where you gonna hide
eye for eye one devil fights another
when the antichrists clash the innocent suffer
and what's all this about one man one vote
check who's in the white house it's a fucking joke
in the name of god or in god we trust
either way it just don't add up
the streets aint save man stay in your homes
when the curfew falls in the occupied zone
all the rats are jumping ship
and the sailors are asleep below deck
and the captains drunk again
and there aint no sign of land anywhere
where'd we go wrong? we've been running in the same direction too long
where'd we go wrong? once there was a way but now it's gone
lock the doors turn out the lights
when the cops come knocking better keep it quiet
and a voice keeps talking in the back of my mind
telling me to stop...
as i lay me down to sleep i pray my sanity to keep
and if i die before i wake maybe that's a better way
Jaya the Cat's "Final Solution" is a song that speaks boldly of the failure of the US government and how it has turned its back on Lady Liberty. She is bruised, bleeding, and living in a shelter down on 20th and Mission. The lyrics explain how she has traded in her torch for a needle and how it's a miracle that she's still breathing. The government has implemented a lockdown final solution where the lives of many are decided by the few. The question is asked if there's a better way, but the answer is not clear.
The song suggests that there's no freedom in the so-called war for freedom. The tomb of the unknown soldier lies empty, which means the government has sacrificed countless lives for a cause that is not worthy. The business district's drums of war top the charts and ravage the dancefloor. One devil fights another when the antichrists clash. Innocent people suffer while the government is blinded by politics. The track leaves us with a voice that keeps talking in the back of the mind, telling us to stop.
Line by Line Meaning
Lady liberty is bruised and bleeding
The symbol of freedom and democracy is in a state of injury and distress.
she's been living in a shelter down on 20th and mission
The symbol of liberty is homeless and struggling to survive.
it's a fucking miracle that she's still breathing
Despite being in such a state, it's surprising that she still survives.
traded in her torch for a needle
Instead of holding a torch as a symbol of hope, she now holds a needle as a symbol of addiction.
lock down final solution
The oppressive forces have implemented a final, rigid solution to maintain control.
the lives of the many decided by the few
A small group of powerful people dictate the fate of the majority.
there's gotta be a better way but i don't see it
The current situation is bleak, but there doesn't seem to be any obvious solution.
aint no one free in this so called war for freedom
The war being fought in the name of freedom has resulted in the loss of freedom for everyone involved.
the tomb of the unknown soldier lies empty
The memorial for those who died in service to their country has been forgotten and left behind.
the sacrificial lambs are trained and ready
Innocent people are being prepared as sacrificial offerings for the greater cause.
and in the business district the drums of war top the charts shake the dancefloor
Even in the financial center, the sound of war overshadows everything else and becomes the dominant theme.
where'd we go wrong? we've been running in the same direction too long
A rhetorical question asking where we went wrong and why we've continued down the same path for so long without change.
once there was a way but now it's gone
Previously there was a solution, but that solution is no longer present.
lock the doors turn out the lights when the cops come knocking better keep it quiet
In order to avoid confrontation or danger, it's best to hide and stay silent.
and a voice keeps talking in the back of my mind telling me to stop...
There's a part of oneself that wants to resist, but it's difficult to do so.
how long can you last where you gonna hide
The present situation is dangerous and uncertain, and one must consider how long they can survive and where they can hide if needed.
eye for eye one devil fights another
An endless cycle of violence and vengeance where no one truly wins.
when the antichrists clash the innocent suffer
When two opposing forces fight, those who are not involved or guilty get caught in the crossfire and suffer the consequences.
and what's all this about one man one vote
The idea of equal representation and democracy is being called into question.
check who's in the white house it's a fucking joke
The current leader or government is not qualified or deserving of their position.
in the name of god or in god we trust either way it just don't add up
Using religion as a justification for actions or beliefs doesn't necessarily make sense or solve problems.
the streets aint save man stay in your homes when the curfew falls in the occupied zone
Due to danger or occupation, it's no longer safe to be outside, and one must stay indoors and abide by a curfew.
all the rats are jumping ship and the sailors are asleep below deck and the captains drunk again and there aint no sign of land anywhere
Those in power who should be leading and guiding the ship are either fleeing or neglecting their duties, while those who should be awake and aware are instead asleep and unaware of the situation, and there seems to be no hope or solution in sight.
as i lay me down to sleep i pray my sanity to keep and if i die before i wake maybe that's a better way
In the face of such bleakness and despair, one can only hope to hold onto their sanity and maybe even find peace in death.
Contributed by Matthew I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.