The Moon
.Cat Power Lyrics


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The moon is not only beautiful
It is so far away
The moon is not only ice cold
It is here to stay

When I lay me down
Will you still be around
When they put me six feet underground
Will the big bad beautiful you be around

Everyone says they know you
Better than you know who
Everyone says they own you
More than you do

When I lay me down
Will you still be around
When they put you six feet underground
Will the big bad beautiful moon still be around

'Cause the moon is not only beautiful
It is so far away
The moon is not only ice cold
It is here to stay

Everyone says they know you
Better than you know who




Everyone says they own you
More than you do

Overall Meaning

In "The Moon," Cat Power praises the celestial body for its alluring beauty but contrasts this with the distance and coldness that it possesses. The moon is often viewed as something mysterious and magnificent, and the lyrics highlight this phenomenon. The first stanza mentions that the moon is not just visually stunning, but it's unapproachable as it is far away from the Earth. The next line suggests that the moon has a cold personality, which complements its physical presence in space.


The second verse contains lines that describe the inevitability of death and the uncertainty surrounding the moon's permanence in the sky. The singer asks whether the moon will still be present when she is buried underground, and whether the "big bad beautiful" entity will still stand strong. The "big bad beautiful" phrase could either refer to the moon or someone who is powerful and beautiful, which is left open for interpretation. The last verse repeats the sentiment from the first verse, feeding on the idea that everyone believes they know the moon, but in reality, it is still an elusive entity.


In conclusion, "The Moon" is a song that praises the beauty and mystery of the moon while meditating on its temporality and distance. The singer reflects on death and the permanence of the moon as well, and the lyrics leave the listener pondering deeper meanings.


Line by Line Meaning

The moon is not only beautiful
The moon is not just pretty to look at


It is so far away
The moon is situated very far from the Earth


The moon is not only ice cold
The moon is not just extremely cold


It is here to stay
The moon will remain in its place for a long time


When I lay me down
When I die and am buried


Will you still be around
Will the moon still exist after I die


When they put me six feet underground
When I am buried six feet below the ground


Will the big bad beautiful you be around
Will the moon, which is powerful and beautiful, still exist after my death


Everyone says they know you
Many people believe they have a thorough understanding of the moon


Better than you know who
These people think they know the moon better than the person who is singing


Everyone says they own you
Many people feel a possessive connection to the moon


More than you do
They feel more ownership over the moon than the person singing does


'Cause the moon is not only beautiful
Because the moon is more than just an attractive celestial body


It is so far away
The moon is extremely distant from the Earth


The moon is not only ice cold
The moon is not just highly cold in temperature


It is here to stay
The moon will be present for a very long time




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CHAN MARSHALL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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