Chilton said in the September 1994 issue of Guitar Player that he considers himself a "musical performer, not a songwriter" and that some of his songs sound only "half-baked" to him. Nonetheless, his compositions have been performed by a number of artists, including Teenage Fanclub, This Mortal Coil, The Bangles, Wilco, Graham Coxon, Garbage, Tom Bradbury, Son Volt, Counting Crows, Elliott Smith, Jeff Buckley, Superdrag, Evan Dando, Cat Power, Yo La Tengo, Placebo, Xiu Xiu, and His Name Is Alive. The Replacements wrote the song Alex Chilton in his honor on their 1987 Pleased to Meet Me album, produced by Jim Dickinson in Memphis.
On March 17, 2010, Alex Chilton died of an apparent heart attack in a hospital in New Orleans. He was 59.
My Baby Just Cares for Me
Alex Chilton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My baby don't care for clothes
My baby just cares for me
My baby don't care for cars and races
My baby don't care for high-tone places
Liz Taylor is not his style
And even Lana Turner's smile
My baby don't care who knows
My baby just cares for me
Baby, my baby don't care for shows
And he don't even care for clothes
He cares for me
My baby don't care
For cars and races
My baby don't care for
He don't care for high-tone places
Liz Taylor is not his style
And even Liberace's smile
Is something he can't see
Is something he can't see
I wonder what's wrong with baby
My baby just cares for
My baby just cares for
My baby just cares for me
The lyrics to Alex Chilton's song "My Baby Just Cares for Me" express the unconditional love and devotion that the singer's partner showers on him. The opening lines make it clear that his lover doesn't care for materialistic things like shows, clothes, cars, and high-tone places. The emphasis is on the personal connection between the two. They don't need expensive outings or luxury items to enjoy each other's company. When the singer mentions Liz Taylor and Lana Turner's smiles not being enough for his baby, he implies that even the most beautiful and glamorous women can't compare to the simple pleasure of loving and being loved by the one you care about.
The repeated line "My baby just cares for me" shows the singer's amazement at the depth of his partner's feelings for him. He wonders what's wrong with his partner that they don't care about the things that other people usually value. But he concludes that he doesn't need to understand it; he's grateful just to be loved. The song is a celebration of the purity of love and how it can transcend materialistic desires.
Line by Line Meaning
My baby don't care for shows
My significant other has no interest in attending performances or spectacles.
My baby don't care for clothes
My significant other is not concerned with the latest fashion or attire.
My baby just cares for me
My significant other only has affection for me and nothing else.
My baby don't care for cars and races
My significant other is uninterested in automobiles and competitions on the racetrack.
My baby don't care for high-tone places
My significant other does not enjoy fancy or upscale venues.
Liz Taylor is not his style
My significant other is not attracted to the famous actress Elizabeth Taylor.
And even Lana Turner's smile
Even the famous actress Lana Turner cannot capture my significant other's attention.
Is somethin' he can't see
These celebrity women do not meet my significant other's standards and preferences.
My baby don't care who knows
My significant other does not care if others are aware of our relationship or not.
My baby just cares for me
My significant other is solely devoted to me and my well-being.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Gus Kahn, Walter Donaldson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind