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
The Carnival
Jaya the Cat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All the bums are singing at the patterned glass in the church across the lot
And all the thieves and the liers and the hypocrites that brought us down so low
All pile past the coffin, man, like wolves out on a prowl
And everyone has an alibi, no one was at the scene
The only eulogy is written out in spray paint on the street
Lady Libery, what the hell is happening?
Your children are hungry, they can't find their way home
Whatever happened to the dream
And druggies(?) and the drunks and the burnout(?) punks
Are wandering the streets
Just looking for a fast(?) ??? of happiness
To burn away their broken dreams
While in a penthouse apartment in the high row(?)
Standing high above the filth
You know the promise land just wouldn't make a promise to someone else
And the guns on the roof are silenced for now, but you still dont feel safe
Until you're locked in your room, five floors up, man, planning your escape
Lady libery, what the hell is happening?
It seems like your torch - it don't burn for me(?)
Your children are hungry, they can't find their way home
Whatever happened to the dream
Lady libery, what the hell is happening?
It seems like your torch - it don't burn for me(?)
Your children are hungry, they can't find their way home
Whatever happened to the dream
Whatever happened to the dream
Whatever happened to the dream
The Carnival by Jaya the Cat is a song that examines the darker side of society, especially in light of the American Dream. The song takes place at a carnival where the lights go down and the last ride comes to a stop. The bums gather at the church across the lot, and the thieves, liars, and hypocrites that brought society down so low all pile past the coffin, looking like wolves out on a prowl. Everyone has an alibi, and the only eulogy is written out in spray paint on the street.
In the second verse, the song shifts the focus to Lady Liberty and the broken dreams of the people. People on the streets are wandering around, just looking for a fast moment of happiness to burn away their broken dreams. Meanwhile, someone in a penthouse apartment in the high row is standing above the filth. The promise land just wouldn't make a promise to someone else. The guns on the roof are silenced for now, but it's still not safe until locked in the room, five floors up, planning the escape.
The lyrics of the song paint a vivid picture of a society that's struggling and disillusioned. The Carnival effectively highlights the disparity and disillusionment that exists within the American dream.
Line by Line Meaning
As the lights go down at the carnival and the last ride grinds to a stop
As the night ends at the amusement park and the last ride stops moving.
All the bums are singing at the patterned glass in the church across the lot
All the homeless people are singing at the stained glass window of the church nearby.
And all the thieves and the liers and the hypocrites that brought us down so low
All the robbers, deceivers, and hypocrites who caused our downfall.
All pile past the coffin, man, like wolves out on a prowl
Everyone gathers around the coffin like hungry wolves on the hunt.
And everyone has an alibi, no one was at the scene
Everyone has excuses, nobody claims responsibility for the situation.
The only eulogy is written out in spray paint on the street
The only tribute is graffiti on the pavement.
Lady Libery, what the hell is happening?
The Statue of Liberty, what is going on?
It seems like your torch - it don't burn for me(?)
It feels like your symbol of freedom is not relevant for me.
Your children are hungry, they can't find their way home
The people of your country are struggling to find a way out of their situation.
Whatever happened to the dream
What happened to the visionary hope of a better future?
And druggies(?) and the drunks and the burnout(?) punks
Drug addicts, alcoholics, and cynical punks.
Are wandering the streets
Roaming aimlessly through the city.
Just looking for a fast(?) ??? of happiness
Searching for a fleeting glimpse of happiness.
To burn away their broken dreams
Trying to forget the shattered dreams of the past.
While in a penthouse apartment in the high row(?)
Meanwhile, wealthy people live in luxury apartments high above the city.
Standing high above the filth
Up there, far away from the dirt and poverty of the streets.
You know the promise land just wouldn't make a promise to someone else
They are aware that the American Dream doesn't apply to everyone.
And the guns on the roof are silenced for now, but you still dont feel safe
Although things might seem peaceful, they are still afraid for their safety.
Until you're locked in your room, five floors up, man, planning your escape
They don't feel secure until they are locked inside their high-rise room, planning their escape.
Whatever happened to the dream
What happened to the visionary hope of a better future?
Whatever happened to the dream
What happened to the visionary hope of a better future?
Whatever happened to the dream
What happened to the visionary hope of a better future?
Contributed by Natalie M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.