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".
Free
Cat Power Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Free
Everybody get together
Free
It's okay if you can stand to let her dance
It's okay it's your right, come on and take a chance
True romance, when you dance
Free
Just be in love when you scream that song on and on
Free
Everybody come together
Free
Everybody get together
Free
You can feel her from the palm that you're holding on your arm
Cool hands from the get-go
Can your feast on the real one?
Don't be in love with the autograph
Just be in love when you love that song on and on
Free
It's okay if you can stand to let him dance
It's okay, it's your right, come on and take a chance.
True romance, when you dance
Free
Everybody come together
Free
Don't fall in love with the autograph
Just fall in love when you sing your song on the?
Take a chance
True romance, when you dance
Free [Repeat: x6]
The song "Free" by Cat Power is a call for people to come together and enjoy the freedom and unity that comes with dancing and singing. The opening lines of the song call for everyone to come together and be free. The repetition of the word "Free" reinforces the idea that freedom is the key to unity and togetherness. The second verse talks about how it's okay to let loose and enjoy the music without worrying about anything else. The lyric "It's okay if you can stand to let her dance" encourages people to let go of any inhibitions they may have and simply let the music take over. The third verse speaks about the physical sensations that come with dancing, such as feeling someone else's cool hands on your arm.
The chorus of the song reinforces the message of togetherness and freedom, encouraging people to come together and be free. The lyric "Don't be in love with the autograph" could be interpreted as a warning against idolizing celebrities or putting too much value on external validation. The final verse encourages people to embrace the power of song and dance, and to let go of any self-doubt or fear. Overall, the song encourages people to come together and enjoy the freedom that comes with music and movement.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody come together
Everyone should unite.
Free
Everyone should be free to do what they desire.
Everybody get together
Everyone should join each other to form a collective.
Free
Everyone should be able to act freely without any restrictions.
It's okay if you can stand to let her dance
It is alright to let someone else enjoy their time dancing.
It's okay it's your right, come on and take a chance
It is alright to take a chance to do what you desire.
True romance, when you dance
The real romance happens when you enjoy yourself while dancing.
Free
Everyone should have the freedom to enjoy while dancing.
Don't be in love with the autograph.
Don't get fascinated by someone's signature or fame.
Just be in love when you scream that song on and on
Just enjoy singing your favorite song over and over again.
Free
Enjoy your experience without any constraints.
You can feel her from the palm that you're holding on your arm
You can feel the person you're holding hands with.
Cool hands from the get-go
You can sense their coolness from the beginning.
Can your feast on the real one?
Can you enjoy and appreciate the real person in front of you?
Don't be in love with the autograph
Don't fall in love with someone's status or fame.
Just be in love when you love that song on and on
Just enjoy singing your favorite song over and over again without any pressure.
Free
Experience the freedom in enjoying music you love.
It's okay if you can stand to let him dance
It is alright to let someone else enjoy their time dancing.
It's okay, it's your right, come on and take a chance.
You have the permission to take a chance and experience something new.
True romance, when you dance
True love is captured when you enjoy your time dancing.
Free
Experience the freedom in enjoying music you love.
Don't fall in love with the autograph
Don't fall in love with someone's status or fame.
Just fall in love when you sing your song on the?
Just enjoy singing your favorite song without any constraints.
Take a chance
Don't be afraid to take a risk.
True romance, when you dance
True love is captured when you enjoy your time dancing.
Free
Experience the freedom in enjoying music you love.
Free
Experience the freedom in enjoying music you love.
Free
Experience the freedom in enjoying music you love.
Free
Experience the freedom in enjoying music you love.
Free
Experience the freedom in enjoying music you love.
Free
Experience the freedom in enjoying music you love.
Lyrics © HIPGNOSIS SONGS GROUP, Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: TREY ANASTASIO, TOM MARSHALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Peter Pumkinghead
on He-War
i love the cats