Cat Power is American singer, songwriter, musician, occasional actress, and… Read Full Bio ↴Cat Power is American singer, songwriter, musician, occasional actress, and model. Charlyn Marie Marshall (also known as Chan, pronounced "Shawn") was born in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. on 21 January 1972. Cat Power was originally the name of Marshall's first band, but has become her stage name as a solo artist.

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".

Up and Gone
Cat Power Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Every time you
Up and gone
Meet me up and gone
For as long
As he can

Lonesome wind has
Come again

And he will ride that
Lonesome train
And it's all
The same to him

Baby's back
Should be at his back
And she crumbles
Saying left you alone
But you was
Up and gone
Forever all
He may have know

Turn you in to my best friend
I waited all alone
Waitin' for the telephone
But you were
Up and gone
Forever all he'd know

Now you know
Guess you've always known
It's no secret
That he's never coming home
'Cause you were up and gone
Forever all we'd know

Everytime you
Up and gone
Meet me

Up and gone for as long
As he can

Overall Meaning

In Cat Power's song Up and Gone, the lyrics hint at a relationship that is troubled by a partner who is consistently leaving or disappearing, leading to a sense of loneliness for the other partner. The refrain "Every time you up and gone" is a clear allusion to this pattern of behavior, where the partner repeatedly leaves, leading to feelings of abandonment and isolation for the singer of the song. The "lonesome wind" that is mentioned in the song can be thought of as a symbol for this sense of isolation and loneliness, as it is a reminder of the emotional distance between the partners. The song seems to suggest that despite the singer's best efforts to connect with their partner, they ultimately end up feeling left behind and unsure of the relationship's future, with the lyrics "It's no secret that he's never coming home" signaling a sense of resignation and acceptance of this situation.

One of the interesting facts about this song is that it was included on Cat Power's album Myra Lee, which was originally released in 1996 but was later re-released in 2003 with additional tracks. Up and Gone was one of the new tracks included on the re-release, and it showcases Cat Power's distinctive voice and emotional range. The song was written by Chan Marshall, who is the woman behind the Cat Power moniker, and it is one of many poignant and introspective tracks on the album. Another interesting fact is that the song's lyrics are somewhat open to interpretation, with the repeated refrain "up and gone" leaving room for listeners to explore the many possible meanings and implications of this phrase. Additionally, the song's sparse instrumentation and haunting melody add to its emotional impact, making it a standout track on Cat Power's early albums.

Other interesting facts about Up and Gone include the fact that it has been covered by a number of other artists, including the folk musician Alasdair Roberts. The song's origins can be traced back to Cat Power's early years as a musician, when she was still developing her unique sound and style. Additionally, the song's lyrics are notable for their evocative imagery and emotional depth, with themes of love, loss, and longing that resonate with many listeners. Finally, the song's simple chord structure and straightforward melody make it a popular choice for musicians who are just starting to learn how to play the guitar or write their own songs.

Chords: Unfortunately, the chords for this song are not readily available.

Line by Line Meaning

Every time you
Every instance you

Up and gone
Departed suddenly

Meet me up and gone
Encounter then abruptly leave

For as long
During a prolonged period of time

As he can
Until it's no longer possible

Lonesome wind has
A solitary breeze has

Come again
Returned once more

And he will ride that
He'll journey on that

Lonesome train
Isolated locomotive

And it's all
And it's everything