Evolution

So what is up with this one? I really like Cat Power, but this one just eludes me. Like it's written to defy literal interp - or maybe it's just me missing it. Does it have to do with warning the people that someone is coming to persecute them for being themselves? That we’d better call on evolution – the opposite of creationism – in defense against the rising tide of fundamentalism in the world? 'Coming on land' has an invasion thing going on.... The ambiguity is part of her thing, though and part of what I like about her... Does anybody else out there sit around tearing apart cat power lyrics?

Just whatever you want to get out of it.

Water is a very holy thing, so I went straight to religion when I thought of this song. According to the Bible, Noah's Ark was a massive vessel built at God's command to save Noah, his family, and a core stock of the world's animals from the Great Flood—a male and female of each kind. I believe this song is about people escaping America in the same way as Noah’s Ark, and therefore away from the apocalypse-like notion though she makes it sound so beautiful. Though, the flood would represent the deluge of war, greed, media, and materialists. From the lyrics, it appears to be a mysterious and secretive thing, but they get caught every time. The fact that she sings the entire lyrics twice kind of makes me think that people are trying to escape the land to a new world, but Big Brother will disallow it and “catch” them every time to put a stop to it. The piano I think imitates the idea or dream of gentle innocent marches along the ark to a new world with new possibilities. Unfortunatly, it's an impossible freedom. The faint male voice in the background I find to be really haunting to the aspect. Now, he could represent many people in this senario. I am strongly thinking it might be Noah singing with her. I think Chan represents the angel, and what she sings is almost like kinda making fun of the leader (Bush's) actions, like saying "oh, they're leaving you better go stop them if you know what's good for you" and just hitting him with sarcastic remarks in a more undertone way. I think the 'better make your mind up quick' is when Chan goes 'okay, i'm done i'm tired of insulting you so let's jsut get to the point' in directing to Bush. He better do something or his citizins will try every possible way to leave the country and follow their freedom.

I feel its a commentary on the sad state of America, and the feelings of its people.

when i first heard this song, i wasn't shaking with an orgasm like i do with the rest of her songs, but i was intriguied as i had no fucking idea as to what the lyrics were. and then i read them and just about cried!! how brilliant. the variety of all of these differents situations make me think that this song is not about one particular thing... i think the lyrics are mocking naive people that are shocked and amazed at things that may seem like nothing to people who have experienced a thing or two. it's supposed to be direct advice towards these types of people. i've actually heard people use some of these terms as figures of speech (especially better call the ships, they've been caught sailing) but in this song they just seem like useless analogies. but it's like all of these analogies are stemming off of one familiar one and then together they blend slowly create the image of the song. the last few lines sum it all up. of course, like everyone else here, i could be totally wrong. i can't believe somebody would be bored with this song!

Well, whatever it's about, you guys better make up your minds, and quick! lol

No, but seriously, it seems like it's about the different crisises (crisi? lol) that we find ourselves confronting and how we deal or are expected to deal with them. You know? It's like, wow, you aren't sure of yourself, or you're out of character or you doubt the choices you've made at some point --people around you are pressuring you to figure it out immediately because you're useless to us if you're unsure. How dare you have an agnostic approach! lol

I see it in politics a lot where you have to take a side and everyone hates you if you say "Well, actually, I don't know where I stand on that."

i always thought it was religous and a bit apocalyptic. The fishermen are like all the disciples. The people on the deck with no feeling are all the rich people that are blind to suffering below. Yeh, dunno though. This song is awesome. Cant listen to it too much though cos its so hauntingly melncholy, id get too depressed. Oh and the last 6 lines remind me of philip pullmans, "His dark materials" lol not sure why.

This may well be my all time favorite Cat Power song period, and I love Eddie Vedder's deep baritone just sort of following after Chan's tremulous lead. To me, this is just kind of brook-like murmurings of an apocalypse, and the various images are glyphic warnings about the way things have all gone cockeyed, leading up to that wonderful last line -- "better make your mind up quick". This is Cat Power as Leonard Cohen.