Lived In Bars

Album: The Greatest (2006)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Chan Marshall aka Cat Power's mother left her when she was six months, only to return when she was three, having been brought up by her grandmother in the meantime. After divorcing the singer's father, Marshall's mom spent a lot of time in bars, dragging her two children along. Marshall recalled to Q magazine October 2012 the background to this autobiographical song: "My sister and I would go to this place called Aunt Charlie's every day, til about two in the morning, sitting on men's laps getting quarters and nickels while my mother played pool. Then we'd sit in the bushes because our eyes would hurt so bad from all the cigarette smoke… Then we'd throw those berries at guys we didn't like."
  • The song is from The Greatest, Marshall's seventh studio album. The record won the 2006 Shortlist Music Prize, an annual music award for the best album released in the United States that had sold fewer than 500,000 copies at the time of nomination. Marshall was the first woman to win the honor.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

JJ Burnel of The Stranglers

JJ Burnel of The StranglersSongwriter Interviews

JJ talks about The Stranglers' signature sound - keyboard and bass - which isn't your typical strain of punk rock.

John Kay of Steppenwolf

John Kay of SteppenwolfSongwriter Interviews

Steppenwolf frontman John Kay talks about "Magic Carpet Ride," "Born To Be Wild," and what he values more than awards and accolades.

James Bond Theme Songs

James Bond Theme SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know the 007 theme songs?

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s EditionMusic Quiz

You know the scenes - Tom Cruise in his own pants-off dance off, Molly Ringwald celebrating her birthday - but do you remember what song is playing?

Top American Idol Moments: Songs And Scandals

Top American Idol Moments: Songs And ScandalsSong Writing

Surprise exits, a catfight and some very memorable performances make our list of the most memorable Idol moments.

Sarah Brightman

Sarah BrightmanSongwriter Interviews

One of the most popular classical vocalists in the land is lining up a trip to space, which is the inspiration for many of her songs.