She's Got You
Cat Power Lyrics

In Cat Power’s “She’s Got You,” the artist encapsulates the feeling of heartbreak through the lens of tangible reminders of a past relationship: a picture, records, a memory, and even a class ring. The song’s structure includes a repeating verse, with minimal variation and simple harmony, which allows for the lamentation of the singer to take center stage. “She’s Got You” presents a powerful vision of the persistence of love and the overwhelming pain that people feel when trying to move on. Even as the singer holds onto these symbols of their past relationship, they know that the other person has moved on: “The only thing different / The only thing new / I’ve got these little things / She’s got you.”

The first verse begins with a past gift from the former partner. The second verse discusses the records that they shared, which bring to mind the good times they once had. The third verse speaks to the power of memories, which both comfort and imprison the singer, forcing them to confront their loss over and over again. The final verse ends with a class ring, a symbol of youthful commitment, and a reminder of the importance of the relationship--and also of the fact that it is over.

Overall, the song’s imagery conveys the lingering pain of being left behind, unable to let go of the past. It speaks to a universal experience of heartbreak, and the painful reminders that people hold onto as they try to move on from the end of a relationship.