Those who know Cat Power (Chan Marshall) would agree, she’s evolved beautifully. Musically, her sound has grown richer and more refined over the years. Chan will be releasing a new album, SUN on Sept 4th via Matador, which is already rumored to be her best yet.
Nevertheless, i still have a fondness for the raw emotion and sparse sound of her early songs. There’s a pure vulnerability in her singing that i find so comforting…like she gets “it”…and by “it” i refer to “what i feel/think/wish/hope/fear”.
To honor her influence in the soundtrack of my life, here are some lyrical (and literal) snapshots of Cat Power over the years. (You can listen to these and other songs HERE):
“One absence of truth
And one horrible thing I saw
What you truly wanted to become
And who you thought I was” - In This Hole
“After this there will be no one,
After this there will be so many good ones
After this there will be less interest,
After this there will be no more good clean fun” - Good Clean Fun
“Intuition knocked again, Fair
Only you should know by now there’s
Not enough to go around
But I never go that way
Other half of me says I should” – Enough
“Holding on for something
Have you ever held on
Holding on for someone
Feels like holding on too long
Have you ever held on” – He Turns Down
“Do you remember
That night, at context
Making up shit, like we were animals?
We made no sense, No sense
We had no sex” - No Sense
“Never give up, no, never give up
If you’re looking for something easy
You might as well give it up.” – Say
“I once was lost, but now I’m found
Was blind, but now I see you.
How selfish of you
To believe in the meaning of all the bad dreaming.
Metal heart, you’re not hiding
Metal heart, you’re not worth a thing” -Metal Heart
“See you looking through me
Like you’ve unzipped the zipper
You hold the big picture so well
Can’t you see that we’re going to hell
…Couldn’t park that fucking car,
Couldn’t part from you” – Back of Your Head
“Oh how time flies
With crystal clear eyes, And cold as cold
When you’re ending with diamond eyes”
- Cross Bones Style
“They never owned it
And you never owed it to them anyway
I don’t blame you” – I Don’t Blame You
“…this is why I am leaving
And this is why I can’t see you no more.
This is why I am lying when I say
That I don’t love you no more.” – Good Woman
“Come along Fool,
A direct hit to the sense you’re disconnected
It’s not that it’s bad, it’s not that it’s death
It’s just that it’s on the tip of your tongue and you’re so silent” – Fool
“I’m not that hot new chick
And if you won’t let me run with it
We’re on to your same old trick
Get up and run away with it” – He War
“We can all be free
Maybe not with words
Maybe not with a look
But with your mind” – Maybe Not
“I was hypnotized
By your fairy eyes
Like a tiger in the dark
You were hungry from the start”
- I’ve Been Thinking
“Once I wanted to be the greatest
Two fists of solid rock
With brains that could explain any feeling”
- The Greatest
“Will you terrorize this, with your perfect lips” – Living Proof
“But I don’t know you
And i don’t need you
And i don’t want you anymore”
- Empty Shell
“Half of it is innocent, the other half is wise
The whole damn thing makes no sense
I wish I could tell you a lie…” - Hate
“Hated to see you sad when I left
There’s just no good in that but the good part was
That I came at all ‘cuz I don’t venture out…
Can you tell me if there is something better
‘Cuz you know there always is” – Love and Communication
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