Mr. Cat & The Jackal was conceptualized at the beginning of 2007, although … Read Full Bio ↴Mr. Cat & The Jackal was conceptualized at the beginning of 2007, although the name of this music project was at that stage not yet found.

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 Man
Mr. Cat & The Jackal Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

He was put in a garden he was put to the test
He fell for temptation but that didn't stop the man
Then came the darkest waters during the earth of sin
No, he built himself a boat, you know that didn't stop the man

Oh, through the middle ages and then the black plague
Might have made a small dent but it didn't stop the man
Oh, he built himself machines, he built himself guns

Started digging up the earth and no one stopped the man

Oh, we invented money and along with it came greed
There's no hope for the needy but that doesn't stop the man
And through the first world war and then the second one
The atomic bomb didn't stop the man

Through floods and through famine and through earthquakes and droughts
By your thoughts on depression but it didn't stop the man
Malaria and Cancer, various viruses and disease
Killing them by the millions but it doesn't solve the matter

If you can claim you're not guilty, wash your hands of any concerns
But by being alive you are a part of this
By being alive you are a part of this
By being alive you are a part of this
By being alive you are a part of this

Now it's drying up the rivers, melting solar ice caps
There's a whole in the ozone layer but that doesn't stop the man
These toxic chemical wastelands the
Is poisoning the water and no one stops the man

And the Vietnamese will he ever change his ways?
History is warning and I'm warning but that doesn't stop the man
Now he's going to the moon and going to outer space
Not sure the end of Earth would even stop the man

If you can cry for your most loved ones you should weep for they have sinned
And the fires of Hell will be kept hot for them
The fires of Hell will be kept hot for them

The fires of Hell will be kept hot for them
The fires of Hell will be kept hot for them

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Mr. Cat & The Jackal's song "The Man" explore the relentless and destructive nature of mankind throughout history. The song begins by referencing the biblical story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, suggesting that humans have constantly been tempted and tested. Despite facing trials and succumbing to sin, the man perseveres and adapts, symbolized by building a boat to navigate through the darkest waters.

As the song progresses, it chronicles different eras of human history, from the middle ages to the modern age of technology and warfare. The man is portrayed as a relentless force, always striving for progress even at the cost of destruction. This is illustrated through the development of machines, guns, and the use of resources without consideration for the consequences.

The lyrics also touch upon themes of greed and self-destruction, highlighting how the pursuit of wealth and power has driven humanity towards environmental degradation and warfare. Despite facing natural disasters, diseases, and conflicts like the world wars, the man continues to advance without pausing to reflect on the impact of his actions.

The chorus emphasizes the collective responsibility of humanity, suggesting that everyone is complicit in the destructive cycle of greed and exploitation. The repeated phrase "By being alive you are a part of this" serves as a reminder that individuals cannot separate themselves from the larger issues plaguing society. In the end, the song warns of the consequences of unchecked human behavior, alluding to a future where even catastrophic events might not be enough to halt the destructive path of mankind.

Line by Line Meaning

He was put in a garden he was put to the test
He was placed in a situation that tested his character

He fell for temptation but that didn't stop the man
Despite succumbing to temptation, he continued on his path

Then came the darkest waters during the earth of sin
Amidst difficult times of wrongdoing and immorality

No, he built himself a boat, you know that didn't stop the man
He found a solution to overcome the obstacles he faced

Through floods and through famine and through earthquakes and droughts
Despite facing natural disasters and hardships

By your thoughts on depression but it didn't stop the man
Despite dealing with negative emotions and challenges

If you can claim you're not guilty, wash your hands of any concerns
If you deny responsibility, you are still complicit

And the Vietnamese will he ever change his ways?
Will humanity ever learn from its mistakes?

If you can cry for your most loved ones you should weep for they have sinned
We should mourn for the harm caused by our loved ones

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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