After dropping out of high school, Marshall started performing under the name Cat Power, while in Atlanta, backed by musicians Glen Thrasher, Mark Moore, and others. She soon moved to New York City, New York, United States in 1992, then later opening for Liz Phair in 1994, she met Steve Shelley of Sonic Youth and Tim Foljahn of Two Dollar Guitar, who encouraged her to record, and played on her first two albums, 1995's Dear Sir and 1996's Myra Lee. In 1996 she was signed to Matador Records, and released her third album, What Would the Community Think, which spawned a single and music video, "Nude as the News".
Shortly following the release of What Would the Community Think Marshall disappeared from the musical scene, initially working as a baby sitter in Portland, Oregon and then moving to a farmhouse in Prosperity, South Carolina with boyfriend Bill Callahan (who performs under the name Smog). The plan was to permanently retire from music but during a sleepless night resulting from a nightmare, Marshall wrote several new songs. These songs would make up the bulk of Moon Pix. The album was recorded at Sing Sing Studios in Melbourne in eleven days with backing musicians Mick Turner and Jim White of the Dirty Three. The album was well-received by critics, and gained her recognition in the indie rock scene. However, during the subsequent tours she grew tired of her own material. This resulted in a series of shows during 1999 involving Marshall providing musical accompaniment to a series of screenings of the silent movie The Passion of Joan of Arc. The shows combined original material and many covers, many of which would later see release on The Covers Record, a collection of cover songs recorded at various sessions in 1998 and 1999. A selection of covers that didn't make it on to the album were recorded at Peel Acres, home of the highly influential and legendary British DJ John Peel. The session was broadcast on his BBC Radio 1 show and featured Marshall's own interpretations of Bob Dylan's "Hard Times in New York Town" amongst others.
In 2003 she resumed releasing original material with You Are Free, a diverse and critically acclaimed album that featured guest musicians such as Eddie Vedder, Dave Grohl, and the Dirty Three's Warren Ellis.
2004 saw the release of Speaking for Trees, a critically polarizing DVD which featured a single two-hour static shot of Marshall performing in a woodland. It was accompanied by an audio CD containing the 18-minute song "Willie Deadwilder", which featured M. Ward on guitar. 2005 found Cat Power out on the road again, touring the world and playing sold-out solo shows, including an Australian tour supporting Nick Cave. The shows largely consisted of material for her next album.
Cat Power's seventh record, The Greatest, was released in January, 2006. This was not a "Greatest Hits" record but rather a collaboration with Al Green's guitarist Teenie Hodges and many other well-known R&B musicians. A tour followed in the fall of 2006.
Early in 2006, Marshall announced the cancellation of her upcoming United States tour, citing "health-related issues". A few days later, Matador announced the cancellation of her two shows in London and Paris. She resumed touring in April 2006, playing some of the most well received shows of her career both with the Memphis Rhythm Band and as a solo performer.
In 2007, she played live music for the spring/ summer Chanel Haute Couture collection in Paris and appeared in Wong Kar Wai's film My Blueberry Nights as Katya. Also in 2007, she became the first female ever to win the Shortlist Music Prize when The Greatest was voted album of the year in June. Earlier in the year she was nominated in the Best International Female category at the annual Brit Awards, alongside more mainstream artists like Christina Aguilera and Nelly Furtado.
On January 22, 2008, Cat Power released a second collection of covers called Jukebox--her eighth LP overall. It included versions of songs by artists such as Hank Williams, James Brown, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Patsy Cline and Janis Joplin.
Since then, she has released an EP called "The Dark End of the Street" on vinyl, only.
Cat Power released her first original song since 2008 just before Christmas 2011 when an MP3 of "King Rides By" was made available on her official site, in exchange for a donation of at least $0.99 to the Festival of Children Foundation and the Ali Forney Center charities. (King Rides By Songfacts).
In 2012, Cat Power released her 9th studio album, Sun which received generally positive reviews from critics. The album was included in several year-end lists by music critics and publications. Rolling Stone magazine, in their list of the "50 Best Albums of 2012", ranked it at sixteenth place, writing "the idea of the brilliantly morose Chan Marshall making a dance-rock record is almost absurd. Yet the groove-powered Sun is a perfect fit." The A.V. Club placed the album at number twenty-two on their list of the "Best Albums of 2012." Billboard also placed the album at number nine in their list of the "10 Best Albums of 2012."The L.A. Times and Filter magazine both placed the album at number six in their lists of the best albums of 2012. Sun was also included on two separate "Best Music of 2012" lists compiled by NPR, appearing at number five on the list compiled by Bob Boilen,while topping the list compiled by Robin Hilton. The album was also listed twenty-eighth on Stereogum's list of top 50 albums of 2012. Thus, becoming Cat Power's most successful original album.
In April 2015, Marshall announced that she recently had a baby.
In February 2016, Marshall had to cancel her New Zealand shows due to health reasons. According to an official press release, this is the first time in Marshall's 18-year touring history she has been forced to postpone, but is "determined to make it back ASAP, and in good health".
Could We
Cat Power Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take a walk?
Could we
Have a talk alone
In the afternoon?
Could we
Have a seat?
You can hold my hand
What a dream
In the grass
We kissed, fell in love
Too fast, too soon
Love full bloom
Should we get up?
Let's wake up
Let's get dressed
I'll let you walk me
Up the street back home
Thank you
It was great
Let's make another date
Real soon
In the afternoon
The lyrics to Cat Power's song "Could We" portray an intimate moment between two individuals who share a connection. The singer invites the listener to take a walk and have a conversation in private during the afternoon. The line “You can hold my hand” suggests a new level of closeness between the two individuals, hinting at romantic feelings that are developing.
As the song progresses, the two become lost in the moment, and their emotions begin to rise. The line “We kissed, fell in love, too fast, too soon,” suggests that the relationship is moving too quickly, and they may be rushing into something they are not ready for. Yet, despite this realization, they are still overwhelmed with emotion, as captured by the imagery of “Love full bloom.”
The last verse sees the two parting ways, with the singer thanking the listener for the time spent together and suggesting that they make another date soon. The song is a testament to the power of human connection and the intense emotions that can emerge in a seemingly ordinary moment.
Line by Line Meaning
Could we
Asking for permission or proposing an idea
Take a walk?
To spend time together by walking
Have a talk alone
To have a private conversation
In the afternoon?
Suggesting a specific time of day
Have a seat?
Offering a place to sit
Why, yes, be my guest
Welcoming the other person to sit down
You can hold my hand
Offering physical touch
What a dream
Expressing positive emotions
In the grass
Describing the setting
We kissed, fell in love
Expressing romantic feelings
Too fast, too soon
Acknowledging the speed of the relationship
Love full bloom
Describing the intensity of the relationship
Should we get up?
Asking if it's time to leave
Let's wake up
Suggesting action
Let's get dressed
Preparing for leaving
I'll let you walk me
Offering companionship back home
Up the street back home
Describing the route
Thank you
Expressing gratitude
It was great
Expressing satisfaction
Let's make another date
Proposing to meet again
Real soon
Emphasizing time
In the afternoon
Suggesting a similar time for the next meeting
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Chan Marshall
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Prizma Ghimire
This song is full of love <3
Robin Marshall
This track isn't from Jukebox; it's from The Greatest.
TRIPLESEVENSIX
I love this woman! Gorgeous. ;)
Kevin Ballesteros
This is like the perfect song for the main menu of a video game
Willow Ufgood
Wtf
Melina Azabache
How cute she is
Jaeda Muze
Love u