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
Hollywood
Ratcat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But she's so fucked up.
She finds it hard to try.
She is my heroin.
And I am her hero.
Everything for each other.
For the world gets zero.
You are my best friend.
I'll be rights quiet clearly.
My I love you dearly.
Hollywood if she could.
But she's so fucked up.
She finds it hard to try.
She is my heroin.
And I am her hero.
Everything for each other.
For the world gets zero.
You are my best friend.
You can be till the end.
I'll be rights quiet clearly.
My I love you dearly.
You are my best friend.
You can be till the end.
I'll be right quiet clearly.
My I love you dearly.
The lyrics of Ratcat's song "Hollywood" are a poignant commentary on the destructive influence of fame and the difficulties it brings to those seeking it. The song seems to be telling the story of a young woman who dreams of making it big in Hollywood but struggles with addiction and self-doubt, making it difficult for her to achieve her goals. The singer of the song is her partner or close friend, who understands her struggles and provides support and comfort.
The lyrics "Hollywood if she could, but she's so fucked up, she finds it hard to try" express the paradoxical nature of fame and success. The desire for success often comes at a great cost, and those who are most vulnerable may find it difficult to cope with the pressures that come with it. The use of the term "my heroin" to describe the girl suggests that her addiction is a major obstacle to her goals, while the line "and I am her hero" implies that the singer sees himself as the only support she has in her struggles.
The song advocates for the power of love and friendship to overcome the challenges of life, emphasizing that the most important things in life are not fame and success, but the relationships we build with the people we care about. The singer repeatedly tells the girl that she is his "best friend" and that he loves her dearly, suggesting that their love for each other is more important than any other goals they may have. In the end, the song seems to be a plea for people to value the relationships they have and to remember that true happiness comes from the connections we make with other human beings.
Line by Line Meaning
Hollywood if she could.
If she had the opportunity, she would go to Hollywood.
But she's so fucked up.
However, she is mentally and emotionally unstable.
She finds it hard to try.
She struggles with motivation and finds it difficult to put forth effort.
She is my heroin.
She is the drug that I am addicted to, despite the negative effects on my life.
And I am her hero.
In her eyes, I am her savior, even though I may not be able to help her.
Everything for each other.
We are willing to do anything for each other, regardless of the consequences.
For the world gets zero.
The outside world and its opinions hold no value to us.
You are my best friend.
You are the person that I trust and confide in the most.
You can be till the end.
I know that you will be with me until the very end.
I'll be right quiet clearly.
I will stand by you, steadfast and clear in my intentions.
My I love you dearly.
I love you greatly and deeply, beyond measure.
Contributed by Camden L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@DJProfessorDan
“Don’t Go Now” is fizzy fuzzy pop noise confection, a dizzifying whirl of distortion featuring everything you need in a perfect pop song and nothing you don’t.
Do you need an intro? Of course not, waste of time! Simon jumps straight in with “well I’ve been looking around my some kind of feeling” and suddenly everybody is jumping up and down as if they are five years old and just been fed a loaf of fairy bread washed down with raspberry cordial, making particularly gleeful leaps in the air as Simon tells us that - “when you smile at me, you make me feel so HAP-PY!!!” – which may be the most child-like declaration of love ever penned.
All that jumping up and down is quite a workout and it’s only 2 minutes, 50 seconds long. (there is an extended mix that goes for an utterly epic 3 minutes, 13 seconds). No wonder everyone collapses on the ground at the end of it; “I wanna live with you til I die.” No need for a faded outro. Waste of time.
The secret weapon to “Don’t Go Now” is Robyn St Clare of The Hummingbirds, who both co-wrote the song and sang back-up. She makes an already adorable racket sound even more adorable. Robyn also wrote “Into Your Arms” for the Lemonheads, who for some reason spent a lot of time in Sydney in the early 90s. It’s fair to say she is quite good at composing sweet indie pop gems.
Ratcat’s chart dominance wouldn’t last long. In fact, we are already at the end of it. Two Number Ones in a month, and then BOOM! it was over! Their next single – “Baby Baby”, not a cover of the Amy Grant song – would only make it to No.20.
But once Nirvana arrived a few months later all this joyful jumping around would suddenly seem twee-fully naïve. They would try to go all distorty and weird on their next album, but that’s not what people wanted from Ratcat. But their influence would remain; by the end of the decade they would be every second Aussie indie bands first musical crush.
“Don’t Go Now” is a 10.
@Julians561
Well I've been looking around for feeling, some kind of sensation,
And you know I can feel it all inside.
I don't care baby where you've been,
And I don't care to see what your've seen.
Don't you know I will be dying to be by your side.
Don't go now, Don't go now, Don't go now.....
Well You can have my heart, & have my soul,
Without you I feel cold.
Won't you come with me and I will make you happy.
And then when I'm alone, I dream of you,
Til the day is done,
Don't you know I will be dying to be by your side.
Oh Don't go now, Don't go now, Don't go now....
I will love you, I will love you forever.
When you smile at me it makes me feel so happy.
And then when I'm alone, I dream of you,
Til the day is done,
Don't you know I will be dying to be by your side.
Don't go now, Don't go now, Don't go now
I Wanna live, I Wanna live, I Wanna live with You til I Die !!!
@Bondgirl73
Takes me back to my first true love and working at Pizza Hut. Ahhh gotta love being a teen in the early 90’s! Best days ever! 🥰🙌🏻🌟
@dashamanstevo5326
Remember being 14 when it came out, used to listen to the "Nightly countdown" on 92.9 in Perth, waas a feature for several months.
Good memories
@billymustang3241
How many true loves do ya get? Lol don't mind me just havin a dig, I'm totally with you sista! 🙌 this song blew me out as a teen and once more in the 2000s when i fell in love again lol
@katrinamenzies9398
Early 90s 💜💜💜
@kVkV-sw5se
One of those bands that pops out of nowhere but leaves a lasting effect for decades. Their music and message was outstanding. Thank you Rat Cat.
@Joe-hc1bz
The greatest Australian pop rock song ever made.
@mikal0457
dont know how the number 1 song on the charts back in 91 only has 40,000 views
@katgilbert8507
Big call.
@oldsoulone7557
I remember hearing this on the radio when i was a kid...
80s baby, 90s kid, and a milenial teenager. :)
@dashduntoche4133
Pigs ears...