Stolen
Diamonds

To the gods in the sky
there’s one thing you can do
you can send us some sun
and we’ll play you this tune
because sitting in our room
lying down with a scoob
and the sunshine
through our window
It’s days like these
that make us happy
like a puppy getting lucky
with Lassie hassle-free
hours passing by
with the beat one two
said it’s days like these kicking back
just doing what we do
Number one I’d find some
loving in the sun
with someone that can make me
growl and hum say hmmm…
a boom boom shak
and the beat that she throw at me
knocking me flat
Number two
I’d cruise where the grass is smooth
and the sound of the sea
is a dreamy melody
snooze all afternoon
till the night time wake me
cos shakedown soon
Number three
I’d be dancing like a monkey up a tree
find sweet simplicity
by kissing my honey
get funky like Bond
when he’s played by Connery
and get crafty
like Don Corleone
Four
watching Oliver jam a little more
remember the night when I saw
what i never never never seen before
Lavender wrestling a rich wild boar

CHORUS
HARRY’S NIGHT TIME RHYME
And dirty hands
I like them see
they make the music that we play
sound oh so sweet
and my mother always made me eat broccoli
and now look at me
i’m as strong as can be
so put some spice in my sauce
honey in my tea
an ace up my sleeve
and a slinky plan b
and most importantly
my mad family
they named me lucky
and for that I’ll sing about
days like these

[F REIBL]
I had nine lives but I lost all of them
and I’ve been searching in the night
and I’ve been searching in the rain
I tried to find them
but they disappeared
they walked away they dressed in black
they left my side and all I say
is that I wasted time
when I looked for them
for now I know that things gone past
are never to be found again
no never never again
I had nine lives
but lost all of them
I had a plan
but never finished it
and I’ve been searching for the thought
and I’ve been searching in a haze
I try all days
to remember it
but now the blueprint in my mind has gone
my mind forgot the colour of direction
and my eyes they see the hands
that could have built
that could have constructed
the empire in my mind
the empire
I’ll never find
I had a plan
but that was where it ended

[F REIBL]
Walking down the street
with some evil in my eye
and some thoughts in my head
that were making me feel high
on my head was a hoodi
in my ears was some bass
was walking by my dog
when I saw that sexy face
come towards me
with a little cheeky smile
if she was a phone
I’d pick her up and dial
the fire brigade
or zero zero zero
she stopped me in my tracks
and I said ‘mmm hchello hchello…’
I was sleeping in the sand
with some dreams in my head
that were causing an extension
to the towel and my bed
and the waves were rolling
like the curves on those legs
of a sweet beach bella
with that centrefold spread
in the midst of the slumber
I heard some footsteps creeping
and I woke to discover
the woman I’d been dreaming
she knelt down beside
said ‘can I share your pillow?’
I rolled over and I said
‘well hchello hchello…’
Some like money making
some like cars
and some like the houses
with the rooftop spas
and some like to gossip
about some rich sugar daddies
but me and my friends
we like the golden brown honeys
and some like watching people
living on TV
that’s a little strange
if you’re asking me
cos I like to eat and laugh
and **** and play down low
these are the things I know
well hchello hchello…
Welcome to this night
welcome to this song
welcome to these rhymes
that be going on and on
welcome to the empire
and the funky empire tunes
but most of all welcome
to the bellas in this room…
well hchello hchello

[F REIBL]
Walking down the street
with some evil in my eye
and some thoughts in my head
that were making me feel high
on my head was a hoodi
in my ears was some bass
was walking by my dog
when I saw that sexy face
come towards me
with a little cheeky smile
if she was a phone
I’d pick her up and dial
the fire brigade
or zero zero zero
she stopped me in my tracks
and I said ‘mmm hchello hchello…’
I was sleeping in the sand
with some dreams in my head
that were causing an extension
to the towel and my bed
and the waves were rolling
like the curves on those legs
of a sweet beach bella
with that centrefold spread
in the midst of the slumber
I heard some footsteps creeping
and I woke to discover
the woman I’d been dreaming
she knelt down beside
said ‘can I share your pillow?’
I rolled over and I said
‘well hchello hchello…’
Some like money making
some like cars
and some like the houses
with the rooftop spas
and some like to gossip
about some rich sugar daddies
but me and my friends
we like the golden brown honeys
and some like watching people
living on TV
that’s a little strange
if you’re asking me
cos I like to eat and laugh
and **** and play down low
these are the things I know
well hchello hchello…
Welcome to this night
welcome to this song
welcome to these rhymes
that be going on and on
welcome to the empire
and the funky empire tunes
but most of all welcome
to the bellas in this room…
well hchello hchello

[F REIBL]
Listen doctor I have pain
that grows inside myself
shelf me please
I just can’t ease the pain
I need some drugs to help
ah pollution fills my lungs
and convolution fills my mind
ah my legs do ache
I contemplate
that living’s less than fine
my spine does tingle
when I think of being
freed from this curse
but what is worse I feel
life is a bubble
blown until it’s burst
oh doctor I am desperate
to get rid of this feeling
oh doctor I am desperate
for some good soul healing
The doctor turned and gave a grin
and reached into his bag
but instead of an injection
got a record with a tag
that said listen to this daily
with hip shaking and such things
then he puts the record in
grabs a mic and starts to sing
you need some
One four five
to make you high to make you high
to make you high to make you high
when heaven falling from the sky
to make you high to make you high
Doctor I am feeling better
what was that you sang
did you write it or recite it
or just steal it from a band
ah my bones are feeling stronger
and my spirit’s feeling fresh
ah that dose of 145 has put the life
back in my breath
‘yes yes yes’ the doctor said
then he sat me down and say
‘young man don’t think I wrote
these chords they’re written in
your brain’
and when you hear them
there’s a shakedown that begins within
the mind
cos these three chords make people
feeling better all the time ah
they keep repeating
like a scratch on a cd
but it’s quality cos these three harmonies
breed positivity
protecting against insanity
of modern insecurities
believe me when I tell you
all you need is to be hearing all that
One four five
to make you high to make you high
to make you high to make you high
when they said what and you said why
to make you high to make you high
The doctor turned and gave a grin
and reached into his bag
but instead of an injection
got a record with a tag
that said listen to this daily
with hip shaking and such things
then he puts the record in
grabs a mic and starts to sing
you need some
One four five
to make you high to make you high
when you could not count to pi
when you’re told you can’t fly
to make you high to make you high
times like these you need some
One four five …. hhhuuummnn

[F REIBL, H ANGUS]
And for all of the sweet loving that
I have received
in the sun in the rain
by the moon by the sea
there is one time that I’m thinking of
one time where one woman
did knock me off my feet
and my knees were shaking
and my jaw was dropping
and my eyes were squinting
and my smile was growing
and my pants were bulging
and my hands were sweating
and my chest was beating
so I cry ‘excuse me,
what is the secret to your song?’
Cause when you’re walking along
when you’re walking along…
Your legs are a melody my hands
would like to play
and your hips are a note
that does take me away
and your face and your eyes and your hair
and your waist and your smile
drive me to distraction
she turned and she gave the evil eye
‘why thankyou’ she said
then she sigh ‘ah there’s one thing
I think you failed to mention…’
‘What?’ I said then she said
‘It’s the rhythm you forgot’
and right then I knew what was what
and she snuck to my lips
and she kissed them
said ‘young man
I’ll show you some rhythm’
And she’ll show you some rhythm
And since then ha
the rhythm’s been running through my veins
in my thoughts in my eyes
in my head it’s insane
it’s the thing that does drive me
to scream
on the street when I think of some
places it’s taken me
I feel horny when I thinking of some of that rhythm in my mind
what she gave what she gives to me
all of the time
say a little bit of sweet loving in your day
all my friends know it keeps the
bad thoughts away
so sing with your hips my baby
when you’re dancing to this tune
and when this tune is through
we’ll sneak to some place
and continue to…
say sing with your hips my baby
when you’re dancing to this tune
and when this tune is through
we’ll sneak to some place and
continue to –
she said I’ll show you some rhythm
And she’ll show you some rhythm

[H ANGUS]
Song and melodies change and change
and sway
but they still stay the same
the songs that we sung when the dark days come
are the songs that we sung when we chased them away
if I ever found a pot of gold
I’d buy bottles untold of the nectar of the vines
I’m going to die with a twinkle in my eye
‘cause I sung songs spun stories loved laughed and drank wine
Tomorrow is another day
the cats are out to play, to play
that old rusty spaceship wants to sail
into the milky way again
on a river of red red wine
Run…
(let’s have some)
Fun…
(we’ll)
Drink…
(a toast to the)
Sun…
In summer the bushfires rage and rage
and rage
on such beautiful days
and we fight them with water that runs through the cracks
water we’re desperately trying to save
so I’ll just live on wine and water my vines
and sleep on the wind with the fires right behind
and sing on the beaches and dance through the night
oh we’ll cry ‘pass the wine, pass the wine, pass the wine’
Run…
(let’s have some)
Fun…
(we’ll)
Drink…
(a toast to the)
Sun…
Oh what a beautiful day today!
today’s a day to celebrate
grab your bucket, grab your spade
we’re heading down to Half Moon Bay
I saw a plane go into a cloud
I’m drunk I’m happy I’m singing and loud
two o’clock in the arvo, but hey that’s allowed…
I’m having a good time and of that I am proud

[F REIBL]
His name was Beanni
say where you been Beanni
I saw you on your skateboard
but I never saw your face
just saw your beanie
– Beanni
Her name was Fly Girl
say where you been Fly Girl
I seen you shake your mmm-boobie
but I never saw your face
just saw your fly sunglasses
in the night
and in the day
One day that Beanni
was cruising down the street
on his skateboard
and his Beanni eyes did look and see
that fine freaky Fly Girl
and that Fly Girl who was dancing
like only Fly Girl could
did notice one cruisy Beanni
flying right to where she stood
And then that Fly Girl was
a’scream and laughing at the same time
and till that Beanni
did fly and fall and crash into her side
and both of them did fall
and roll around on their arses
but then his beanie fell off
and so did her round glasses
Beanni reached down
and picked up Fly Girl’s glasses
from the ground
and Fly Girl did grab Beanni’s
beanie that she found
and she gave him back his beanie
said ‘I like you with your beanie on’
and he did say ‘your big black glasses
look so sexy on’
They got together
forever and ever after that
and had some little Beanni Fly Girl
and Fly Girl Beanni boys
gave them glasses for their eyes
and Beanni beanies for their heads
and now the Beanni family’s dancing
till the day they’re dead

[H, ANGUS] [This song contains a quotation from the poem ‘In a Station of the Metro’ (1913) b Ezra Pound]
Lord unchain my hands
let me sing inside the crowded trams
let me dance among the traffic jams
we’re going to sleep
on the St Kilda sands
Lord unbind my feet
let me mingle with the good people
we meet
water rising up into the street
unbind my feet
‘The apparition of these faces in
the crowd;
petals on a wet black bough”
Ezra Pound found the formula
our houses are rectangular
but life is curved not angular
so when things start to strangular
remember
rain still falls on the halls of power
new babies being born every hour
and the eagle keeps watch on the old clock tower
over me…
CHORUS
On the train I refrain from sitting with head and shoulders bowed
they told me time is of the essence
no wandering allowed
but then I saw a pretty girl
whose features stood out in the crowd
went ten minutes past my stop waiting for her to look around
I’m just another clown kicking around in Melbourne town
cooling out, relaxing watching the
world go round
so if you ever have the time
and you want to go drink some wine
I’d rather greet you with a smile
than greet you with a frown…
Lord unchain my hands
let me sing inside the crowded trams
let me dance among the traffic jams
we’re going to sleep
on the St Kilda sands
Lord unbind my feet
let me mingle with the good people
we meet
water rising up into the street
unbind my feet

[H ANGUS]
WE BELIEVE
In the grass in the trees
WE SUPPORT
Living life cause life is short
WE UPHOLD
Sky of blue sun of gold
WE MAINTAIN
On sunny days all sadness and pain be relieved
WE BELIEVE
The breeze blows the leaves in the gypsy king’s court
WE SUPPORT
Food and wine song and thought and when the night gets cold
WE UPHOLD
The following rules that I’ll sing
to you all
We believe in melody
and harmony
and all things sweet
we sing a yum-a-yum chum
to the moon and the sun
and the rumble of the drums
and the big fat beat
we believe in the ace up the sleeve
and we shine our gold teeth
at the cats in the alleys
a flame on a match
that the wind can’t catch
and when the bad guys attack
the empire strikes back

[F REIBL]

And when it happens it’s like
honey and pain
horns in the rain
misty seas and mysteries
a dog with no name
it’s that time again
not sure if I’m sleeping
but the vision’s as clear
as fog on the pier
someone fishing aimlessly
a thought’s an idea
a sound is an ear
and gods with none believing
being chased by the lamb
a knife in its hand
looked down from that mountain
saw the moon get a tan
on the beach with no sand
something came and something ran
to make up my mind
is it bleak or it fine?
She looked a little doubtful
smirked and said it’s divine
to light with no lime
sometimes
Oh it’s too late I can’t stop
moving my mouth
I’ll shush but I’ll shout
something’s got a hold of me
those words coming out
like froth on a stout
dreamboat’s sailing into
stormy weather I see
salty debris
cows and tigers jumping at some
mad dignity
but passionately we’ll be
oh finding
ways without words
to sing and to purr
loving without declarations
stuttered and slurred
elephants blurred
nerves resisting urges serve
to speak with no sight
a bat taking flight
only to find tooth marks
in that sex dynamite
my girl’s got a bite
that’s right

The Cat Empire emerged as a live band. We all grew up playing around Melbourne and we are always most comfortable on a stage.

We would always finish gigs and people would say that the energy of the live show was what they wanted to take home on a CD.

Alongside this, we wanted to produce a recording that would get our music on radio and other streams that could access a larger audience.

So the challenge was to create something that was energetic, vibrant, and alive, but also subtle and decisive.
This concept passed by a few different models, but in the end we aimed for simplicity.

We recorded all the tracks live, then spent time re-doing vocal takes, and some other additions.

We had Andy Baldwin on our team, who was the perfect co-producer and engineer. This album took us 8 months to make, with different parts of it being added in Byron over summer, in Melbourne at studios, at Andy’s house and anywhere else we found ourselves.

We are pretty happy with the final product. Make up your own minds by getting your hands on a copy.