Cat Power
Patterson Hood Lyrics
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If you was any more shy, you'd break in two
Break in two, break in two
someone will point a camera at you
My misguided artist, you
know deep down I'll root for you
find some beauty in what you do
Careful, you're not pulled in two
My little life-avoiding living dream
It's a long hard road to everything
but in the end, or so it seems
Everything is overrated
when you're trapped by what you've created
the drone goes on and on and on
Enigmatic to a fault
Chew you out and spit you up
Chew you up and spit you out
I don't mean to sound unsympathetic to your plight
but if you're really so shy
Why are you standing in the light
In Patterson Hood's song "Cat Power," the lyrics speak to an individual that is struggling with both the pressures of artistic expression and maintaining a persona in the public eye. The first stanza highlights the individual's shyness, comparing it to a breaking point, and acknowledges the pressure that comes with someone pointing a camera at them. The second stanza speaks to the idea that the singer sees the individual as misunderstood, rooting for them to find beauty in their work, but warns them to be careful not to become overwhelmed. The third stanza speaks to the hard work and dedication it takes to succeed in life, but in the end, everything may still feel overrated. The final stanza continues this idea by emphasizing the pressure that comes with being in the spotlight, and questioning why someone who is so shy would want to be there.
Overall, the song speaks to the struggles of fame and artistic expression, and the pressure to maintain an image in the public eye. The singer tries to gently encourage the individual while also acknowledging the difficulties they may face.
Line by Line Meaning
My little disaffected sex symbol you
You depict a person whom society has deemed a sex symbol and has become disillusioned with it all.
If you was any more shy, you'd break in two
Break in two, break in two
someone will point a camera at you
You're so introverted that you're about to snap in two. Nonetheless, your beauty is so compelling that soon someone will shine a light on you and capture that art.
My misguided artist, you
know deep down I'll root for you
find some beauty in what you do
hope that it's enough to pull you through
Careful, you're not pulled in two
I express empathy toward the struggles that artists go through to be noticed, and even though it's challenging, I hope you manage to experience the beauty of your creations without letting it wear your spirit thin.
My little life-avoiding living dream
It's a long hard road to everything
but in the end, or so it seems
Everything is overrated
when you're trapped by what you've created
the drone goes on and on and on
You're an escapist dreamer, running from the difficulties that come with creating a legacy. And even though you're aware that it's a long journey, you begin to believe that everything overrated, because it's hard to escape your own artistic creation, and it can be draining.
Enigmatic to a fault
Chew you out and spit you up
Chew you up and spit you out
I don't mean to sound unsympathetic to your plight
but if you're really so shy
Why are you standing in the light
Your perplexity has you unknowingly becoming prey to people. It's not my intention to sound harsh about your situation, yet if you're so timid, what are you doing in the glare of the spotlight?
Contributed by Nora H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.