Ratcat formed in 1986 in Sydney and were a mainstay of that city's live music scene until they were eventually signed to Waterfront Records where they released a self-titled EP, several singles ("I Think I Love You", "Baby's Got A Gun") and their debut album, This Nightmare in 1989. Another EP, Killing Joke, and another single, "Saying Goodbye" followed.
In 1990, the band signed to the rooArt label. Their first release for their new label was a 6-track EP called Tingles. A combination of budget pricing and catchy A-side "That Aint Bad" saw the Tingles EP reach #1 on ARIA's alternative charts, and shortly afterwards, the top of the Australian national chart. The band's subsequent album, Blind Love and the singles "Don't Go Now" both reached #1. Their next single "Baby Baby" and a follow-up album Insideout sold well, but not to the extent of their previous successes. The band sporadically played live shows over the next few years and released another album Easyrider in 1997.
Ratcat reformed in 1998 to play at the Homebake Festival with new bassist Nic Dalton (formerly of The Lemonheads) and again in 2006 to play a support slot on the Psychedelic Furs Australian tour.
http://www.myspace.com/ratcat
Candyman
Ratcat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mother, mother.
I'm feeling ill.
Can I have a pill.
So I'm not so ill.
Father, father.
I'm feeling ill.
Can I have a pill.
The candyman says,
Take another pill and make
The world seem good.
Doctor, doctor.
I'm feeling ill.
Can you get me a pill.
So I'm not so ill.
Doctor, doctor.
I'm feeling ill.
Can you get me a pill
So I can get my thrils.
The candyman says,
Take another pill and make
The world seem good.
Doctor, doctor.
You're looking ill
Maybee take a pill.
So you're not so ill.
Doctor, doctor.
You're looking ill
Maybee take a pill.
So you can get your thrills.
The candyman says,
Take another pill and make
The world seem good.
Make the world seem good (*6)
The song "Candyman" by Ratcat utilizes simple, repetitive lyrics to create a sense of helplessness and addiction. The singer, likely a young person, is feeling ill and asks for a pill from their mother, father, and doctor so they can feel better or chase thrills. The lyrics suggest a theme of dependence on medication, the candyman being a metaphor for the drug dealer who provides the singer with the pills they crave. The repeated line "take another pill and make the world seem good" reinforces the idea that the pills are a temporary escape from reality.
The lyrics can also be interpreted as a commentary on the pharmaceutical industry's tendency to overprescribe medication as a quick fix for mental health issues, rather than addressing the root causes of these issues. The singer's dependence on pills to feel better is not a sustainable solution, and their constant search for the next thrill suggests an inability to deal with negative emotions in a healthy way.
Overall, "Candyman" is a cautionary tale about the dangers of relying on medication as a means of coping, and the importance of finding healthier coping mechanisms to deal with life's challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Mother, mother.
The singer is addressing their mother.
I'm feeling ill.
The singer is experiencing physical discomfort.
Can I have a pill.
The singer is requesting medication for their illness.
So I'm not so ill.
The artist hopes that the medication will alleviate their symptoms.
Father, father.
The artist is addressing their father.
The candyman says,
The singer is referring to a person named "the candyman."
Take another pill and make
The world seem good.
The candyman is encouraging the singer to take more pills in order to feel better, even if it means distorting their perception of reality.
Doctor, doctor.
The artist is addressing a medical professional.
Can you get me a pill.
The artist is requesting medication for their illness.
So I can get my thrills.
The artist wants medication not just for the purposes of healing, but also for pleasure.
Doctor, doctor.
You're looking ill
Maybe take a pill.
The singer is suggesting to the medical professional that they themselves might need medication, possibly implying that they are overworked or stressed.
Make the world seem good (*6)
Repeating the previous sentiment, the candyman is promoting the idea that taking pills is a way to artificially create a positive perspective on life.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ArcaneAzmadi
Holy shit, I remember seeing this music video just once or maybe twice almost 20 years ago on Rage and it has stuck in my head ALL THIS TIME, even though I couldn't remember the band name. Now I finally made a serious effort to track it down and here it is again! My god this takes me back to my childhood.
palenoise
Love this band even though they've had way too much candy! hahahaha
Stevie Taylor
Bloody hell, there's been a bit of an explosion of Ratcat content of late... What a stonking band!
chris binckes
viva ratcat.... thanks for posting greetings from way down tasmania
ashley jacobsen
How did you first become interested in roaches?
My best friend around the time of this song was Peter Roach
TheRobash
Man I could do with some Candy
Tania Dottie
doctor doctor............
Michael Knowles Anthony
M