The inspiration for this project came naturally while Gertjie Besselsen and Jacques du Plessis were working on the Theatrical Music Score for the Award winning, Marthinus Basson, theater production, ‘Die Storm’, for which they received a KANNA nomination. While working on this project they experimented with instruments like Xylophones, glockenspiels etc. and consequently found tremendous inspiration for their own project.
With a perfect combination of the understanding of, and the passion for, interesting instruments…and exceptional musical genius, they incorporated these instruments in songs already written by them and voila! Mr. Cat and The Jackal were born! They thought, what the hell and went ballistic on instruments like the Accordion, Lap-slide, Bouzouki, Melodica, Kalimba and a shit-load of percussion instruments, to only name a few! Soon afterwards the name ‘Mr. Cat & The Jackal’ emerged out of thin air and a five piece band was formed.
Gertjie and Jacques started performing with muso’s who came and went and was finally joined permanently by the talented and groovy, JC Visser on bass, Bernard Willemse on light percussion and Pierre Theron on low percussion.
Since then they have been recording an album at their own studio, making some of their own instruments, creating and writing songs, Performing live, in and all around Cape Town, Creating a whole repertoire of theatre soundtracks (from Peter Pan to more serious stuff), and made a music video.
There sound can best be described as experimental acoustic folk, with a dash of blues. With a circus of sounds created by foreign and handmade instruments their live performances is a complete musical experience.
Their debut album “Themes and Variations” was released 28 Nov 2009. The music video “Fresh Meat” is available at Youtube.
My Friends From The Cabinet
Mr. Cat & The Jackal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Only just for a day
But from my cabinet my friends were all singing
Please Jackson, can we come out and play
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, naNa, na, na, na
Oh, Harry is a loyal a hound as they come
I take him for a walk everyday
And the Captain's always singing by the four fellers swinging
It was Jimmy, hung himself from a beam
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na
And after a couple of hours
I've drained all my friends as I poured
With their body's all scattered and broken
I went for a nap on the floor
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na
In my dream I jumped in the ocean
Hoping to catch a wave
But the blackness reasoned in the mirror
And willingly I saw my fate
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na
When I woke up I thought I was drowning
Realised I was floating away
But Three Ships came along and dragged me to shore
So I thanked them for I have been saved
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na
And I know, and I know, that we'll have to outgrow
But we're often just stuck in a dream
When we wake up we realise the nightmare's won't fade
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na
The lyrics of "My Friends From The Cabinet" by Mr. Cat & The Jackal express a haunting narrative of struggle with addiction, personifying alcohol as the singer's friends from the cabinet. The opening lines describe the singer's attempt to resist the temptation of drinking, even if only for a day. The cabinet, personified as the singer's friends, beckons him to indulge in their company, creating a sense of longing and familiarity that is hard to resist.
As the song progresses, the lyrics introduce characters like Harry and the Captain, adding depth to the metaphor of the cabinet friends. Harry is portrayed as loyal, symbolizing the comfort and routine that alcohol can provide, while the Captain's presence alongside tragic imagery of Jimmy's suicide hints at the dark consequences of addiction. The repetition of the "na na na" refrain throughout the song serves as a haunting backdrop to the unfolding narrative.
The lyrics delve deeper into the destructive nature of addiction as the singer describes draining his "friends" and their bodies being scattered and broken, culminating in a moment of numbness where he falls asleep on the floor. This imagery paints a vivid picture of the toll that addiction can take on one's physical and emotional well-being, with the dream sequence hinting at a subconscious realization of the consequences.
The song concludes on a note of reflection and gratitude as the singer recounts a surreal experience of being rescued by Three Ships, symbolizing a moment of clarity and salvation from the cycle of addiction. The lyrics touch on themes of self-awareness, the struggle to break free from destructive patterns, and the acknowledgment that facing one's demons is necessary for growth and healing. The haunting refrain underscores the lingering impact of addiction, emphasizing the difficulty of breaking free from its grasp.
Line by Line Meaning
I've tried my hand at not drinking
I attempted to avoid alcohol consumption
Only just for a day
But it was only for a short period
But from my cabinet my friends were all singing
Yet, my inner demons were calling out to me
Please Jackson, can we come out and play
Begging for me to give in to temptation
Oh, Harry is a loyal a hound as they come
Referring to a trustworthy companion
I take him for a walk everyday
A daily routine to distract myself
And the Captain's always singing by the four fellers swinging
The haunting memories of lost friends linger
It was Jimmy, hung himself from a beam
A tragic event that still weighs heavy on my mind
And after a couple of hours
Eventually, after some time has passed
I've drained all my friends as I poured
I exhaust myself with substances to numb the pain
With their body's all scattered and broken
Facing the aftermath of destructive behavior
I went for a nap on the floor
Seeking solace in sleep amidst chaos
In my dream I jumped in the ocean
Escaping reality in a subconscious realm
Hoping to catch a wave
Yearning for a sense of freedom and release
But the blackness reasoned in the mirror
Confronting the darkness within myself
And willingly I saw my fate
Acknowledging the consequences of my actions
When I woke up I thought I was drowning
Feeling overwhelmed by the weight of reality
Realised I was floating away
Only to discover a momentary escape
But Three Ships came along and dragged me to shore
External sources of hope and rescue appear
So I thanked them for I have been saved
Expressing gratitude for a second chance
And I know, and I know, that we'll have to outgrow
Understanding the need for personal growth
But we're often just stuck in a dream
Yet, frequently caught in a cycle of escapism
When we wake up we realise the nightmare's won't fade
Confronting the harsh reality that troubles persist
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind