Virtute the Cat Explains Her Departure
The Weakerthans Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

It had something to do with the rain
Leaching loamy dirt
And the way the back lane came alive
Half moon whispered go

For a while I heard you
Missing steps in the street
And your anger pleading
In an uncertain key

Singing the sound that you found for me

When the winter took the tips of my ears
Found this noisy home
Full of pigeons and places to hide
And when the voices died

I emerged to watch abandoned machines
Waiting for their men
To return, I remember the way
I would wait for you

To arrive with kibble
And a box full of beer
How I'd scratch the empties
Desperate to hear

You make the sound that you found for me

After scrapping with the ferals and the tabby
Let you brush my matted fur
How I'd knead into your chest while you were sleeping
Shallow breathing made me purr

But I can't remember the sound that you found for me




I can't remember the sound that you found for me
I can't remember the sound

Overall Meaning

Virtute the Cat is a unique and creative song that tells the story of a cat who leaves her home for reasons that are unknown. The first verse sets the scene with an eerie and melancholic tone, as Virtute describes the rain causing the back lane to come alive. It almost feels like there is something ominous or unsettling in the air, and Virtute hears her owner walking outside but something seems off, like they're missing steps and their voice sounds uncertain. Virtute seems to draw comfort from their presence and the sounds they make, specifically the 'sound that you found for me', but we don't yet know what this sound is or why it's important.


The second verse reveals that Virtute has been left alone for a while in a noisy home full of pigeons and waiting for her owner's return. She remembers waiting eagerly for them to arrive with snacks and love, and how she would scratch at the empty beer boxes to hear the sound. There is a sense of sadness and loneliness here as Virtute is left to wait and wonder when her human will come back. The final verse takes us to a more tender place as Virtute remembers how she would knead into her owner's chest while they were sleeping, and how their shallow breathing would make her purr with contentment. However, there is a heartbreaking punchline as Virtute admits that she can't remember the sound that was so important to her earlier in the song. Was it the sound of her owner's voice, their footsteps or something else entirely? We'll never know for sure.


The song seems to be about the things that connect us to the people we love, and how sometimes those things are elusive and hard to grasp. We cling to the sounds and sensations that remind us of someone when they're gone, but over time those memories can fade or be replaced by new ones. The Weakerthans have captured the bittersweet nature of human-animal relationships in a way that is both poignant and relatable.


Line by Line Meaning

It had something to do with the rain
The reason for leaving was related to the rain and how it affected the surroundings.


Leaching loamy dirt
The dirt becoming muddy and wet due to the rain.


And the way the back lane came alive
The rain bringing life to the back alley and making it more vibrant.


Half moon whispered go
The half-moon indicating that it was time to leave.


For a while I heard you
The cat heard its owner's footsteps for a brief period.


Missing steps in the street
The owner being upset and confused, stumbling while walking in the street.


And your anger pleading
The owner's anger begging for something.


In an uncertain key
The owner's tone being unsure and lacking confidence.


Singing the sound that you found for me
The cat remembering the owner's soothing voice that he used to calm her down.


When the winter took the tips of my ears
In winter, the cat's ears got cold and numb.


Found this noisy home
The cat found a new place to live.


Full of pigeons and places to hide
The new place was abundant in pigeons and had many good hiding spots.


And when the voices died
When everything became silent.


I emerged to watch abandoned machines
The cat came out of hiding to look at the machines that had been abandoned.


Waiting for their men
The machines were waiting for someone to come and use them.


To return, I remember the way
The cat remembers how the owner would look for her and she misses him.


I would wait for you
The cat used to wait for her owner to come back.


To arrive with kibble
The owner used to bring kibble for the cat to eat.


And a box full of beer
The owner used to have beer with him when he came back home.


How I'd scratch the empties
The cat remembers how she used to scratch the empty beer cans and bottles for hours to entertain herself.


Desperate to hear
The cat was desperate to hear the familiar sounds of her owner's presence.


You make the sound that you found for me
The owner's voice was the only sound that would comfort the cat and make her feel safe.


After scrapping with the ferals and the tabby
After fighting with other cats in the area.


Let you brush my matted fur
Allowed the owner to groom her matted fur.


How I'd knead into your chest while you were sleeping
The cat remembers how she used to knead into her owner's chest while he slept.


Shallow breathing made me purr
The cat would purr while feeling her owner's shallow breathing and being comforted by it.


But I can't remember the sound that you found for me
The cat can no longer remember the soothing sound of her owner's voice and it makes her sad and confused.


I can't remember the sound that you found for me
Reinforcing the fact that the cat can no longer remember that sound.


I can't remember the sound
The cat can't seem to remember anything about the owner's voice and it vexes her.




Contributed by Liam C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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