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.
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Strange
Ratcat Lyrics
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I have all the pieces to the puzzle,
But I can't seem to fit them all together.
I can't see what's going down.
I have the air, but not the lungs,
To hold my breath, to step inside,
To see what's going wrong.
And the times that we spent together,
Makes me feel so strange.
I can't find no sympathy.
I've held my breath for such a time,
I'm turning blue, but I can't see,
Still what's going wrong.
I don't know why I fall down.
I stand up straight, I close my eyes,
As I walk towards and up the walls,
To the ceiling and the sky.
How did I, how did I, end up such a mess ??
And the times that we spent together,
Makes me feel so strange.
I can't see what going wrong.
I have all the pieces to the puzzle,
But I can't seem to fit them all together.
I can't find no piece of mind.
I've looked in all the darkest places,
But all I seem to see, is see,
There is never two alike.
How did I, how did I, end up such a mess ??
And the times that we spent together,
Makes me feel so strange.
{We have the pieces & I hold my breath & I fall down, you win}
The lyrics to Ratcat's song Strange convey the feeling of confusion and frustration that arises when one knows that something is not right, yet is unable to put the pieces together to understand what it is. The singer describes having all the pieces to the puzzle, yet feeling like they cannot fit them together. This creates a sense of helplessness and despair, as the singer walks towards the walls, the ceiling, and the sky in search of answers. This desperation is further emphasized by the repeated questions of "How did I, how did I, end up such a mess??".
The singer also references the times they spent together with someone else, which now make them feel strange. This suggests that the dissolution of a relationship or the loss of a friend may have contributed to the singer's current state of confusion. The line "I've held my breath for such a time, I'm turning blue, but I can't see" adds to the sense of suffocation and being stuck in a difficult situation.
Overall, the lyrics to Strange express a sense of feeling lost and unable to understand what is happening. This may be relatable to anyone who has experienced a difficult period in their lives where everything seems to be falling apart and no solution seems to present itself.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't see what going wrong.
I am unable to understand what is happening or causing the current situation to be problematic.
I have all the pieces to the puzzle,
I possess all the necessary information or components to solve the problem.
But I can't seem to fit them all together.
Despite having all the required pieces, I am unable to put them together in a way that solves the problem.
I can't see what's going down.
I am unaware of what is happening or unfolding in the current situation.
I have the air, but not the lungs,
I possess some of the essential elements required to succeed, but not all of them.
To hold my breath, to step inside,
I need to be brave and venture into a difficult situation without hesitation.
To see what's going wrong.
So that I can identify the root cause of the problem.
How did I, how did I, end up such a mess ??
I am questioning how I ended up in this chaotic or disastrous situation.
And the times that we spent together,
The memories of our past experiences together.
Makes me feel so strange.
Those memories create an uncomfortable or awkward feeling.
I can't find no sympathy.
I am unable to receive or feel any compassion or understanding from others.
I've held my breath for such a time,
I have been waiting for a long time in anticipation or fear.
I'm turning blue, but I can't see,
I am in distress or experiencing difficulty, but I am unable to identify the cause.
Still what's going wrong.
I am still unable to comprehend what is causing the problem.
I don't know why I fall down.
I am unaware of why I keep failing or struggling to cope.
I stand up straight, I close my eyes,
I am trying to face the situation with courage and inner strength, regardless of my fear or discomfort.
As I walk towards and up the walls,
I am making an effort to overcome obstacles and face challenges head-on, even if it seems impossible.
To the ceiling and the sky.
As I reach higher and higher, I am pushing myself to achieve more than I ever thought was possible.
I can't find no piece of mind.
I am unable to find any peacefulness or calmness in my current situation.
I've looked in all the darkest places,
I have searched for solutions or help in every possible avenue, even the most unlikely ones.
But all I seem to see, is see,
Despite all my efforts, I am unable to find a way forward.
There is never two alike.
Every situation is unique, and there might not be any previous experiences that I can rely on to navigate it successfully.
{We have the pieces & I hold my breath & I fall down, you win}
This appears to be a separate line of lyrics not included in the original song. Therefore, no meaning can be assigned to it.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: SIMON DAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind