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".
Maybe Not
Cat Power Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Look cross the land, shake this land
A wish or a command
I dream that I see, don't kill it, it's free
You're just a man, you get what you can
We all do what we can
So we can do just one more thing
Maybe not in words
Maybe not with a look
But with your mind
Listen to me, don't walk that street
There's always an end to it
Come and be free, you know who I am
We're just living people
We won't have a thing
So we'd got nothing to lose
We can all be free
Maybe not with words
Maybe not with a look
But with your mind
You've got to choose a wish or command
At the turn of the tide, is withering thee
Remember one thing, the dream you can see
Pray to be, shake this land
We all do what we can
So we can do just one more thing
We won't have a thing
So we've got nothing to lose
We can all be free
Maybe not with words
Maybe with a look
But with your mind
But with your mind
The lyrics of Cat Power's song Maybe Not speak about the desire to break free from one's limitations, and to live life to the fullest extent. The dream that the singer sees is of a free land, where people can be themselves without any restrictions. She urges her listeners to choose between a wish or a command and shake the land, which could either be interpreted as a call to action or simply a cry for change. The lyrics suggest that we can all be free, but perhaps not with words or even looks - it is all in the mind.
The song also speaks about the power of choice, and about taking risks. The singer implores the listener not to walk the street, as there is always an end to it. She highlights how we won't have a thing, so we have nothing to lose, which encourages listeners to take chances and embark on new, uncertain paths. The song is ultimately a call to reject the limitations that society places on us and to break free from them to embrace a life of liberty.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a dream that I see, I pray it can be
The singer has a hopeful dream that she wishes to see come true.
Look cross the land, shake this land
She hopes to inspire others to create change and better the world.
A wish or a command
This change can come from either a hopeful desire or an assertive demand.
I dream that I see, don't kill it, it's free
The singer has a dream that she hopes won't be ruined or restricted.
You're just a man, you get what you can
The singer accepts that people will do what it takes to survive and thrive.
We all do what we can
Everyone is trying their best with the resources they have.
So we can do just one more thing
Even with limited means, it's important to keep making progress and moving forward.
Maybe not in words
Not all positive change is communicated through language.
Maybe not with a look
Small actions and expressions can also be meaningful.
But with your mind
True change starts with a change in mindset.
Listen to me, don't walk that street
The singer warns of danger and urges caution.
There's always an end to it
Bad situations and experiences will eventually come to a conclusion.
Come and be free, you know who I am
The singer offers freedom and connection to those who need it.
We're just living people
The singer empathizes with the struggles of others and reminds us of our shared humanity.
We won't have a thing
Material possessions aren't necessary for happiness and fulfillment.
So we'd got nothing to lose
Without material possessions, there is less to worry about losing.
You've got to choose a wish or command
To create change, one must have a clear goal or directive.
At the turn of the tide, is withering thee
If you don't act quickly, you may lose your opportunity for change.
Remember one thing, the dream you can see
Hold onto your dreams and don't give up hope.
Pray to be, shake this land
The singer hopes for divine assistance in creating a better world.
Lyrics © BEGGARS MUSIC, LTD.
Written by: CHAN MARSHALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Peter Pumkinghead
on He-War
i love the cats