His first album, Marshall Crenshaw, was acclaimed as a pop masterpiece upon release, proving Crenshaw a first-rate songwriter, singer and guitarist. His second album, Field Day, sported a somewhat heavier sound which displeased some listeners, but Field Day is regarded by many critics as Crenshaw's best album, and one of the classic power pop statements, although Crenshaw's work, like Alex Chilton's, transcends the genre. "Some of the stuff I've done you could call power pop," he told an interviewer. "But the term does have sort of a dodgy connotation."
Although Marshall Crenshaw has never sold enormous numbers of records, he enjoys a reputation as one of the finest songwriters of the era, with roots in classic soul music, British Invasion songcraft, Burt Bacharach and Buddy Holly -- to whom Crenshaw was often compared in the early days of his career, and whom he portrayed in the 1987 film La Bamba. In 1989 he compiled a collection of Capitol Records country performers of the '50s and '60s called Hillbilly Music...Thank God, Vol. 1, which was extremely well-received. In 1993 he made an appearance in the cult TV show The Adventures of Pete and Pete, in the role of a guitar-playing meter reader. In 1994 he published a book, Hollywood Rock: A Guide to Rock 'n' Roll in the Movies. He continues to record, and in 1999 released the critically acclaimed #447.
Crenshaw has recently been playing guitar with the reunited members of the MC5.
valerie
Marshall Crenshaw Lyrics
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Valerie, you'll give me a heart attack
You say that I'm history
You say I'm no good
Then you want to be like two babes in the wood
That's what I wouldn't call playing to the gallery
I keep waiting, waiting, waiting for Valerie
Valerie, you're gonna choke and drown
If you don't give up off this junk food jag
They're gonna take you home in a body bag
I can't stand to see one more calorie
I keep waiting, waiting, waiting for Valerie
Well, I'm soft in the head, and I give her hard cash
She spends all my money on junk and trash
Nylon fur and plastic shoes
And fifty-seven things she's never gonna use
Never, never gonna use, Valerie
She's got a figure like this, lips like that
Red fingernails, teeth like a cat
I know she's going to be the ruin of me
She's got me running on nervous energy
Runnin' on nervous energy
Valerie, she wants to move out of town
Valerie, she wants the money down
Valerie, she wants leopard skin this and tiger skin that
Matching luggage and a matching hat
I can't afford her on my salary
I keep waiting, waiting, waiting for Valerie
I keep waiting, waiting, waiting for Valerie
The lyrics of Marshall Crenshaw's song Valerie depict a tumultuous relationship between the singer and his lover, Valerie. The first verse finds Crenshaw frustrated with Valerie's fickle affections, as she alternately dismisses him as "history" and then seeks his company "like two babes in the wood." The second verse takes on a more serious tone, as the singer expresses concern for Valerie's well-being and tries to steer her away from a self-destructive path of junk food and excessive consumption. Despite these concerns, however, the singer is hopelessly drawn to Valerie's physical beauty and charisma, and he continues to be consumed by his infatuation with her.
The chorus of the song, "I keep waiting, waiting, waiting for Valerie" captures the singer's sense of helplessness and his belief that despite Valerie's flaws, he is powerless to resist her. Overall, the lyrics of the song convey the singer's struggle to reconcile his feelings of attraction and affection with his growing sense of disillusionment and frustration with Valerie's behavior.
Line by Line Meaning
Valerie, you put me on the rack
Valerie, your actions and words are causing me great stress and anxiety
Valerie, you'll give me a heart attack
Valerie, you're causing so much stress that it feels like it'll kill me
You say that I'm history
You think my time is up and I'm not relevant anymore
You say I'm no good
You think I'm worthless
Then you want to be like two babes in the wood
Then you want us to be in a peaceful and idyllic relationship
That's what I wouldn't call playing to the gallery
That's not something I would consider putting on for show or doing just for attention
I keep waiting, waiting, waiting for Valerie
I keep hoping you will come around and our relationship can improve
Valerie, why don't you put that down?
Valerie, why don't you stop eating junk food?
Valerie, you're gonna choke and drown
Valerie, your poor eating habits are going to kill you
If you don't give up off this junk food jag
If you don't stop eating unhealthy foods
They're gonna take you home in a body bag
You'll die and the only way you'll be taken out of your house will be in a body bag
I can't stand to see one more calorie
I can't bear to see you consume any more calories as it's affecting your health
Well, I'm soft in the head, and I give her hard cash
I'm naive and give her money easily
She spends all my money on junk and trash
She spends my money on things that are worthless and have no value
Nylon fur and plastic shoes
She spends my money on fake fur and cheap shoes
And fifty-seven things she's never gonna use
She buys unnecessary things that she will never use
Never, never gonna use, Valerie
She's never going to use these items but still buys them, Valerie
She's got a figure like this, lips like that
She has an attractive body and features
Red fingernails, teeth like a cat
Her fingernails are painted red and her teeth are sharp
I know she's going to be the ruin of me
I know she's going to destroy me and my life
She's got me running on nervous energy
I'm constantly anxious and on edge because of her
Valerie, she wants to move out of town
Valerie wants to leave the town we live in
Valerie, she wants the money down
Valerie wants the money upfront before she does anything
Valerie, she wants leopard skin this and tiger skin that
Valerie wants expensive clothes made from exotic animals
Matching luggage and a matching hat
She wants items that will match her other belongings
I can't afford her on my salary
I can't support her lifestyle with the money I make
I keep waiting, waiting, waiting for Valerie
Despite everything, I still wait and hope for our relationship to improve, Valerie
Lyrics © WARP MUSIC LIMITED
Written by: JAMES CARGILL, PATRICIA ANN KEENAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind