I Don't Blame You

It's quite possible that you're not obsessed with Cat Power. It's equally probably that she's not your favorite musician and that you don't really know her history. However, she is my all-time favorite for her minimalistic style and surrealistically powerful music. Initially, she got bashed as an artist and why you may ask? Because she had tremendous stage fright and would face nights where she simply couldn't play. Well, luckily she didn't give up and now she's the tremendous musician that she is today. Nonetheless, I read the lyrics to "I Don't Blame You" for the first time tonight and I love it. Not only does it express her feelings about her fans through a third person view, but it's also a humble reminder to concert goers not to abuse their artist by expecting something. If you truly love an artist, you'll respect them for who he or she is, not just the songs you have on constant repeat on your ipod (or zoon if you're one of those people).

I Don't Blame You by Cat Power (a.k.a. Chan Marshall)

Last time I saw you, you were on stage
Your hair was wild, your eyes were red
You were in a rage
You were swinging your guitar around.
Cause they wanted to hear that sound
That you didn’t want to play.
I don’t blame you.

I don’t blame you.

Been around the world, in many situations
Been inside many heads in different positions
But you never wanted them that way.
What a cruel price you thought that you had to pay.
And that for all that shit on stage.

But it never made sense to them anyway,
Could you imagine when they turned their backs
They were only scratching their heads.
Cause you simply deserve the best.
And I don’t blame you

They said you were the best,
But then they were only kids
Then you would recall the deadly houses you grew up in
Just because they knew your name,
Doesn’t mean they know from where you came
What a sad trick you thought that you had to play.
But I don’t blame you

They never owned it
And you never owed it to them anyway.

I don’t blame you.