Strong Coffee
The Cat Empire Lyrics


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It’s like the sound of St Petersburg bells banging in my head
The night train rattle shake and rumble through that cabin bunk bed
Now Sigmund said something about this super static travel tension that we get
My magic woman met this woman while the wheels squealed and the tracks they gripped and sped
My Maria got me thinking about soul in a whole new way
We took a stroll got a ham and cheese roll and some strong coffee
On the TV it’s Germany and Italy
You be the Goalie Holly I am the referee
Hey Hey I need some strong coffee
My Maria’s got me thinking about soul in a whole new way
Hey Hey I need some strong coffee
My Maria you got me thinking in a whole new way
When I looked down I found the edges of the mattress start to levitate
The next thing I knew we were above the city gates
Rised over steeple tops and all I could think to say was




‘You be the Kremlin and I’ll be the saint
And you can be the person from the head of state’

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Cat Empire's song Strong Coffee are layered with imagery and references that paint a vivid picture of a train journey with a loved one. The opening line, "It's like the sound of St Petersburg bells banging in my head," sets a dream-like tone with an atmospheric sense of place. This is followed by the jarring reality of "the night train rattle shake and rumble through that cabin bunk bed," conveying both the excitement and discomfort of travel.


The lyrics then take a turn towards the philosophical with a nod to Sigmund Freud's concept of "super static travel tension." This idea of tension and unease during travel is juxtaposed with the magical moment of meeting someone special while on the move. The singer's Maria has him "thinking about soul in a whole new way," and the two take a break from their journey to enjoy a ham and cheese roll and some strong coffee.


The song then takes a playful turn with a reference to a soccer match on TV and a request for more coffee. As the journey continues, the lyrics turn surreal with the image of the mattress edges levitating and the couple rising above the city gates. The song ends with a fanciful suggestion of role-playing where Maria is the Kremlin and the singer is the saint and the "person from the head of state."


Overall, Strong Coffee is a dreamy and poetic song about the joys and challenges of travel and the transformative power of meeting someone special along the way.


Line by Line Meaning

It’s like the sound of St Petersburg bells banging in my head
The feeling is overwhelming, like the powerful sound of St Petersburg bells ringing loudly in my head.


The night train rattle shake and rumble through that cabin bunk bed
The train journey was rough and bumpy, as it moved quickly through the tracks while I was lying in my bunk bed.


Now Sigmund said something about this super static travel tension that we get
Sigmund Freud had once mentioned the uneasiness that people experience during travel, which is caused by the static energy in the air.


My magic woman met this woman while the wheels squealed and the tracks they gripped and sped
My partner met someone new on the train journey and they became acquaintances while the train was in motion and making loud noises.


My Maria got me thinking about soul in a whole new way
Maria made me start contemplating about the essence of the soul in a different and unique way.


We took a stroll got a ham and cheese roll and some strong coffee
We went for a walk, bought some food and had some energizing and potent coffee.


On the TV it’s Germany and Italy
The television broadcasted a sporting event between two countries, Germany and Italy.


You be the Goalie Holly I am the referee
I play the role of the referee in this imaginary soccer match, and you play as the goalkeeper, Holly.


Hey Hey I need some strong coffee
I am making a statement that I require some strong coffee.


My Maria’s got me thinking about soul in a whole new way
Maria has made me rethink my beliefs on the soul in a different perspective.


Hey Hey I need some strong coffee
I repeat that I am in need of some energizing coffee.


My Maria you got me thinking in a whole new way
Maria has been responsible for making me consider things from a fresh, new viewpoint.


When I looked down I found the edges of the mattress start to levitate
In my altered state of mind, I noticed that my bed appeared to be rising from the ground.


The next thing I knew we were above the city gates
Suddenly, we were flying above the gates of the city, defying gravity and soaring through the sky.


Rised over steeple tops and all I could think to say was
We flew over the tops of many church steeples, and all I could say in response to the surreal landscape was...


‘You be the Kremlin and I’ll be the saint
I propose that she takes the role of the powerful Kremlin, while I play the part of the saint, in this dream-like world.


And you can be the person from the head of state’
Continuing from the last line, I offer for her to represent the government head, symbolizing the authority and power it holds.




Contributed by Maria D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Michaël Pimbert

Vous êtes des dieux les mecs!..

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