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".
Ice Water
Cat Power Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Backwards saying
I can take one thousand
Showers
And never be clean
Of course she lied away
She is ten times heavier
Stronger, then you found
Or ever was
He's got it down name
You know what I need
Who doesn't lie?
You know what I mean
If I'm never in
Without you
Like you don't know
I am so, angry
I am so, at ease
I feel just like
Some great big disease
I think you need
Ice water
But the only thing that
You really hate
Is all its emptiness
Ah, you'll swim
And I will drink myself to
Death
If I'm never in
Down with you
Like you don't know
these lyrics are quite cryptic; as with many songs by Cat Power, there is a palpable sense of emotion, but the meaning is elusive. It seems as though the singer is struggling with feelings of anger and emptiness, but is equally conflicted about her relationship with someone else. At times, the lyrics suggest a sense of dependence, while at others, there is a sense of resentment or even hatred.
The opening lines of "Ice Water" - "Like I heard her / Backwards saying / I can take one thousand / Showers / And never be clean" - set the tone for the rest of the song. There is a sense of frustration and futility in these lyrics, as though the singer is trying to cleanse herself of something that she knows can never truly be washed away. The repetition of the phrase "one thousand showers" emphasizes this feeling of desperation, suggesting that no matter how long or hard she tries to wash herself clean, she will never succeed.
Later in the song, the lyrics take on a more accusatory tone, as the singer asks, "Who doesn't lie?" and suggests that her partner is somehow complicit in her feelings of anger and emptiness. However, it's unclear exactly what the partner has done to cause these feelings - the lyrics are allusive and open to interpretation. Similarly, the closing lines of the song - "If I'm never in / Down with you / Like you don't know" - suggest a sense of longing or dependence, but it's impossible to say exactly what the singer is searching for.
Overall, "Ice Water" is a powerful and emotionally fraught song, full of evocative imagery and enigmatic lyrics. While it's not always clear what the singer is trying to say, there is no doubting the intensity and rawness of the emotions on display.
Line by Line Meaning
Like I heard her
As if I heard her speaking
Backwards saying
Speaking in reverse
I can take one thousand
I am capable of undergoing a large number of
Showers
Bathing sessions
And never be clean
Yet, I won't feel any cleaner
Of course she lied away
Obviously, she denied the truth
She is ten times heavier
Her burden is much greater
Stronger, then you found
And stronger than what you encountered
The grave
Death
Or ever was
Compared to what it is now
He's got it down name
He knows exactly what to call it
You know what I need
You understand what I require
Who doesn't lie?
Everybody tells falsehoods sometimes
You know what I mean
You comprehend my point
If I'm never in
If I'm not included in something
Without you
In your absence
Like you don't know
As if you're unaware
I am so, angry
I am exceedingly furious
I am so, at ease
I am incredibly relaxed
I feel just like
I am experiencing emotions equivalent to
Some great big disease
A severe ailment or sickness
I think you need
I honestly believe you require
Ice water
Very cold or chilled water
But the only thing that
The singular desire that
You really hate
You deeply loathe
Is all its emptiness
Is the feeling of being hollow or unfulfilled
Ah, you'll swim
Oh, you'll thrive
And I will drink myself to
And I will imbibe until
Death
My demise
If I'm never in
If I'm not involved
Down with you
Together with you
Like you don't know
As if you lack knowledge of it
Lyrics © BEGGARS MUSIC, LTD.
Written by: CHAN MARSHALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rach
Like I heard her backwards saying
"I can take one thousand showers
and never be clean"
Of course she lied awake
She is ten times heavier
Stronger, than you found the grave
Or ever was
He's got it down now
You know what I need
Who doesn't lie?
You know what I mean
If I'm ever in doubt you
Like you don't know
I am so, angry
I am so, at ease
I feel just like
Some great big disease
I think you need
Ice water
But the only thing that
You really hate
Is all its emptiness
I will swim
And I will drink myself to
Death
If I'm never in
Doubt of you
Like you don't know
Silvie Ray
This song is truly addictive, extremely beautiful - my favourite from Cat Power, just stunning. So much emotion and depth in it. <3
keeblin
It was this song that connected me to Cat Power. I got into her because I was and still am obsessed with Sonic Youth. Steve Shelly drummed. . I just remember loving Myra Lee. This song is very tender. Sad. achingly beautiful.
Don Gately
Becuz - the first track on Washing Machine is probably Steve Shelley at his finest
Don Gately
Same. His drumming is just amazing on this whole album.
Benjamin Lucas
This song is so amazing, definitely my favorite Cat Power song. I keep listening to it over and over again, I don't think I'll ever get sick of it :D
Sal Sardini
This music puts an angsty baby to sleep easily. So soothing
King Hippo
Every time I hear Chan sing "and I will drink myself to death" I get chills from head to toe.
James Lafferty
King Hippo me too
Benjamin Lucas
I seriously listen to this almost everyday multiple times, sometimes up to about 10 times. I never seem to get sick of it! ^_^
jarv
she's absolutely amazing, a friend recommended her music me being a fan of Feist...but Cat Power kicks Feist's ass!