Cowboy Junkies are a Canadian alt-country band formed by three siblings fro… Read Full Bio ↴Cowboy Junkies are a Canadian alt-country band formed by three siblings from the Timmins entertainment family (Margo Timmins, vocals; Michael Timmins, songwriter & guitars; Peter Timmins, drums) plus Alan Anton on bass. The group formed in Toronto in 1986. The band's name was simply a random choice as they approached their first ever gig, but it has come to perfectly represent their sound. (Some sources may credit Townes Van Zandt's song "Cowboy Junkies Lament" as the source of the band's name, but that song was written especially for Cowboy Junkies several years after they coined the name.)

The Trinity Session is perhaps their best known record, recorded live in a single day on a single microphone in a church in Toronto. This album also included a unique cover version of Lou Reed's "Sweet Jane". Reed reportedly liked the Junkies' version of the song better than his own, and began performing their version in concert.

None of the band's subsequent albums have been hits outside of Canada, although the band has maintained a dedicated following and have continued to have chart hits in their native country. Following their 1998 album Miles from Our Home, Cowboy Junkies were dropped from their major label contract. They have continued to release albums on their own independent label, Latent Records.

Cheap Is How I Feel
Cowboy Junkies Lyrics

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It's the kind of night that's so cold, when you spit
It freezes before it hits the ground
And when a bum asks for a quarter, you give a dollar
If he's out tonight, he must be truly down
And I'm searching all the windows for a last minute present
To prove to you what I said was real
For something small and frail and plastic baby
Cause' cheap is how I feel

Half a moon in the sky tonight, bright enough
To come up with an answer
To the question, why is it that every time I see you
My love grows a little stronger
But your memory leaves my stomach churning
Feeling like a lie about to be revealed
But I'll horde all this to myself
Cause' cheap is how I feel

It's not the smell in here that gets to me, it's the lights
How I hate the shadows that they cast
And the sound of clinking bottles is the one sure thing
I'll always drag with me from my past
I think I'll find a pair of eyes tonight, to fall into
And maybe strike a deal

Your body for my soul, fair swap
Cause' cheap is how I feel

Overall Meaning

In Cowboy Junkies' song “Cause Cheap Is How I Feel,” the singer tells a story of loneliness, desperation and heartache. The song describes the kind of night that is so cold, even your spit freezes before it hits the ground. It talks about giving more than what's asked for to a homeless man, as if to provide some kind of hope. The singer searches for a last-minute present for someone he cares about and desperately needs to prove his love. Even something small, frail and plastic will do, as cheap is how he feels.

The song continues, highlighting the memory of someone fading, whose presence brings bittersweet feelings. The melancholy melody perfectly captures the moment of a love that's deepening while knowing that it won't last. The sound of clinking bottles then represents the person’s past, which is always with them. And finally, the singer talks about wanting to find someone for the night, to strike a deal and enjoy their bodies, because at that moment, cheap is how he feels.

“Cause Cheap Is How I Feel” is an emotional, raw and honest song about love, loss, desperation and loneliness. The song provokes a strong emotional response and the music can be described as a slow, wistful, and purposeful. It's a reminder that sometimes the most profound messages are conveyed through the simplest of words.

Line by Line Meaning

It's the kind of night that's so cold, when you spit It freezes before it hits the ground
The night is extremely cold, to the point where even saliva freezes immediately upon leaving one's mouth.

And when a bum asks for a quarter, you give a dollar If he's out tonight, he must be truly down
Even though a homeless person only asks for a small amount, you give them much more as a sign of compassion, because they must be struggling badly if they are begging on such a chilly night.

And I'm searching all the windows for a last minute present To prove to you what I said was real For something small and frail and plastic baby Cause' cheap is how I feel
You are desperately looking for a cheap and insignificant gift to show your love's true intentions, because you feel unworthy and unable to buy anything more grand or sentimental.

Half a moon in the sky tonight, bright enough To come up with an answer To the question, why is it that every time I see you My love grows a little stronger But your memory leaves my stomach churning Feeling like a lie about to be revealed But I'll horde all this to myself Cause' cheap is how I feel
The moon is bright enough for introspection, and upon reflection, you realize that every time you see your love interest, your feelings for them intensify. However, there is an uneasy feeling inside you that their memories that affect you leave you feeling nauseous, making you conceal your emotions and refrain from expressing them due to your sense of inadequacy.

It's not the smell in here that gets to me, it's the lights How I hate the shadows that they cast And the sound of clinking bottles is the one sure thing I'll always drag with me from my past I think I'll find a pair of eyes tonight, to fall into And maybe strike a deal Your body for my soul, fair swap Cause' cheap is how I feel
The smell of the surroundings does not bother as much as the lights do, and you detest the shadows they cast. You hear the sound of glass bottles clinking, which reminds you of your past struggles with addiction. You plan on finding a new partner to fill the emotional void, hoping to engage in a transaction where you'll trade your soul for their body, because you consider yourself a cheap option and undeserving of love and affection.

Lyrics © PAZ JUNK MUSIC INC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Michael Edward Timmins

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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