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.
The Call
Mr. Cat & The Jackal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
やぶった君の午前2時のコール
「話してごらん」と優しい声で
許してしまう僕の悪い癖
「彼女は元気?」と君なたずねる
「あきれるくらい」と僕は笑う
見えない心で呼んでいる
君を 君を 君を聞こえぬ言葉で呼んでいる
僕を 僕を 僕を
けれどあの日の悲しみを
繰り返すことはできない
夜中の電話は長い沈黙
さまよいこんだ午前2時の迷路
「それじゃあ切るよ」と瞳を閉じて
僕は自分を守ろうとしてる
「幸せなのね」と君はつぶやく
「そうしておこう」と僕は笑う
見えない心で呼んでいる
君を 君を 君を
聞こえぬ言葉で呼んでいる
僕を 僕を 僕を
けれどあの日の悲しみを
繰り返すことはできない
見えない心で呼んでいる
君を 君を 君を
聞こえぬ言葉で呼んでいる
僕を 僕を 僕を
見えない心で呼んでいる
君を 君を 君を
聞こえぬ言葉で呼んでいる
僕を 僕を 僕を
The lyrics of Mr. Cat & The Jackal's song "The Call" delve into the complexities of human emotions and relationships, specifically focusing on the theme of communication and connection. The song portrays a scene where two individuals have a tacit agreement not to call each other late at night, but one of them breaks this promise by making a call at 2 AM. The singer, represented as "僕" (boku - 'I' or 'me' in Japanese), answers the call from the other person, portrayed as "君" (kimi - 'you' in Japanese), with a gentle voice, showcasing a tendency to forgive the other's transgressions due to a personal flaw of giving in easily.
The lyrics further explore the exchange between the two individuals during the late-night call, where "君" inquires about another person's well-being, perhaps hinting at a past lover or someone close to both individuals. The singer responds with a wry smile, indicating a sense of disbelief or irony at the situation. Despite the distance between them, the singer admits to calling out for "君" with unheard words, suggesting a longing or yearning that transcends verbal communication. This unseen yearning and emotional connection persist even as the singer acknowledges an inability to relive the sadness of a past event, alluding to a sense of emotional growth or closure.
As the conversation continues in the dark of night, the singer describes the late-night call as a long silence filled with uncertainty, akin to navigating a labyrinth at 2 AM. The decision is hinted at to end the call, with the singer closing their eyes as a self-protective measure, possibly to shield themselves from further emotional vulnerability or attachment. The exchange between the two individuals turns to reflections on happiness, with "君" murmuring about contentment and the singer responding with a resigned smile. The unspoken emotions and desires that bind the two characters together are conveyed through invisible hearts calling out to each other, evoking a sense of longing and connection that transcends mere words or actions.
The repetition of the refrain "見えない心で呼んでいる 君を 君を 君を" (Calling out to you with an unseen heart) and "僕を 僕を 僕を" (Calling out to me) underscores the deep emotional resonance between the characters, emphasizing a sense of yearning and longing that persists despite past pain and the inability to change the course of events. The mysterious and intangible nature of these emotional connections is highlighted through the repeated calls from unseen hearts, creating a poignant and evocative atmosphere in the song. Ultimately, the lyrics of "The Call" by Mr. Cat & The Jackal encapsulate a complex web of emotions, longing, and unspoken desires that linger between two individuals, offering a haunting portrayal of human connections and the depths of the heart.
Line by Line Meaning
夜中の電話はしない約束
We promised not to call in the middle of the night.
やぶった君の午前2時のコール
But you broke that promise with your 2 AM call.
「話してごらん」と優しい声で
You ask me to talk with a gentle voice.
許してしまう僕の悪い癖
It's my bad habit to forgive you.
「彼女は元気?」と君なたずねる
You ask if she is doing well.
「あきれるくらい」と僕は笑う
I smile and say she's doing unbelievably well.
見えない心で呼んでいる 君を 君を 君を
Calling you with an invisible heart.
聞こえぬ言葉で呼んでいる 僕を 僕を 僕を
Calling me with words that cannot be heard.
けれどあの日の悲しみを 繰り返すことはできない
But we can't repeat the sadness from that day.
夜中の電話は長い沈黙
The late-night call brings a long silence.
さまよいこんだ午前2時の迷路
Wandering through the 2 AM maze.
「それじゃあ切るよ」と瞳を閉じて
You say 'I'll hang up now' and close your eyes.
僕は自分を守ろうとしてる
I am trying to protect myself.
「幸せなのね」と君はつぶやく
You mutter 'You must be happy.'
「そうしておこう」と僕は笑う
I laugh and agree to let it be.
見えない心で呼んでいる 君を 君を 君を
Calling you with an invisible heart.
聞こえぬ言葉で呼んでいる 僕を 僕を 僕を
Calling me with words that cannot be heard.
けれどあの日の悲しみを 繰り返すことはできない
But we can't repeat the sadness from that day.
見えない心で呼んでいる 君を 君を 君を
Calling you with an invisible heart.
聞こえぬ言葉で呼んでいる 僕を 僕を 僕を
Calling me with words that cannot be heard.
見えない心で呼んでいる 君を 君を 君を
Calling you with an invisible heart.
聞こえぬ言葉で呼んでいる 僕を 僕を 僕を
Calling me with words that cannot be heard.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: としひこ 新沢
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@thatbird2
The computerised captions are so off putting. Intrusive and often faulty to begin with. Great pity...